Page 29 of A Wallflower's Wassail Punch
As she reached for a book, a knock at the library door made her freeze.She looked over her shoulder to find Mr.Fitzjames leaning against the frame.
“Can’t sleep?”he asked quietly.
“I always enjoy reading a bit before bed.”Annette pulled down her selection and turned to face her brother’s friend.“And you?”
He pushed away from the doorframe and walked toward her.Annette wondered what he wanted.She doubted he’d come here to read.
“I always find a kiss makes me sleep better.”He stopped in front of her, gently took the tome from her hand, and let it fall to the floor with athump.“Would you indulge me?”
Before she could answer, his hand was at her waist, trapping her against his length, the other hand moving up and down her arm as his lips smashed against hers.Annette held her breath, smelling the brandy he’d had too much of.
When he ended the kiss, he stepped back with a smirk on his face.His pale-blue eyes were half closed, and he reached out to take her fingers in his hand.Annette resisted the urge to wipe her mouth and pull her hand away.
She’d been kissed before.Chaste brushes of lips on lips.Nothing passionate to make her knees weak or her heart pound.Yet, here was a man full of desire, and she felt no more than she had with those first kisses.
“I bet you’ve never been kissed like that before,” he slurred, moving his head to the side and leaning forward as if he would try again.
Annette pressed her lips together to keep from laughing as she ducked to the side.Fitzjames lurched forward, arms out to catch his fall, and landed on the thick Axminster rug with athunk.He promptly began to snore.She didn’t hold back the laughter now.The poor man couldn’t hear her.
Lucius poked his head in, viewed his friend on the floor, and let out a laugh.“Don’t tell me he tried to kiss my sister, and she showed him her right hook.”He crossed the room and stood beside her.
Annette laughed at her brother’s jest.“No, but he did kiss me.”She wrinkled her nose.“I wasn’t impressed.When he tried for a second, I sidestepped, and here we are.”
Her brother guffawed, and soon, they were both doubled over, wiping the tears from their eyes.This was her second hearty laugh in two days.It was good to be with her brother, good to be wanted by a man in a romantic way.Even if his kisses left her… wanting.
“What shall we do with him?”she asked as they caught their breath.
“Leave him.He shouldn’t drink so much when he’s a guest.Let him wake up and wonder what the deuce happened.”Lucius picked up the book from the floor, handed it to his sister, and put an arm around her shoulders as they left the library.“Blast, but the man has a snore that could wake the dead.”
As they walked to their rooms, he kissed Annette on top of her head.“I’m proud of you, Sister.I’ve seen my old Nettie come back to us in the past few days.Could one of my friends be the reason?”
Annette smiled up at her brother whom she adored.“I think the fact that they are your friends and know my history, yet still wanted to come, set me at ease.I’ve enjoyed myself the past two days, and I thank you.But one will live too far away, and the other really doesn’t…”
“Make your heart go pitter-patter?”he asked, his thick brows waggling.
She chuckled and shook her head.“Not a pitter or a patter.”
“Hm.What of Lord Weston?”He halted and turned to her.“I’ve seen you watching him.And I know that look.Saw it in our Ambrose’s eyes when he met Hester.”
The heat spread from her neck to her cheeks.“I… I?—”
“Does he cause a pitter or a patter?”
“Both,” she said too quickly and silently cursed.“He’s also not as old as Papa.”Why had she added that bit?
“It wouldn’t matter.The heart doesn’t have a calendar or follow age.”His voice dropped to a whisper.“You know how long I have waited.”
“Lucius, will you promise me something?”She wanted him to find love almost as badly as she hoped for herself to have it.
“Depends.”His green eyes narrowed as the weak light from the wall sconces danced golden streaks through his light-brown hair.
Annette considered her brother handsome.And he seemed to grow more attractive with age.He couldn’t continue to pine for some woman from his youth.“If I find a husband, will you open your heart to finding another to love?”
Lucius took in a deep breath.“I have committed myself to looking for a wife once you are settled.But love?I don’t think another could steal my heart.Christiana is the only woman who sparks my soul.”
She’d have to settle for that and hope he was wrong.Annette couldn’t imagine the pain of unrequited love that her brother had endured for so many years.He hugged her outside her door, kissed the top of her head again, and wished her a good night.
As she wiggled under the counterpane later, Annette picked up the random book she’d taken from the library.It would take more than a chapter or two to put her to sleep tonight.Then she giggled, thinking of Mr.Fitzjames snoring peacefully on the library floor.
