Page 29 of One Night of Scandal
But then it didn’t matter what she was wearing at all because the hack drew to a startling and bitterly disappointing stop.
Jack eased back, his breaths filling the coach and indicating the pace of his heart matched her own. “I beg your forgiveness.”
She felt the delicious heat in her core and looked him in the eye. “Absolutely not. I refuse to grant it.”
He seemed to be at a loss for words, but quickly recovered. “Keep your head down when you get out. Should I come with you?”
Yes, come with me. Stay with me.
“No. I’ll see you—” She picked up her hat from the floor. “When will I see you?”
“Soon.”
“We should visit Hodges.”
“Yes.” Maybe he really wasn’t able to speak at the moment.
“Tomorrow?”
He shook his head. “Wednesday. No, Thursday. Two o’clock.”
“Will you be on time?”
The driver knocked on the roof.
Jack opened the door, smiling. “Saucy wench.”
She kissed him once more, fast and hard, her teeth drawing on his lower lip as she backed away. “Good night.”
The smile on her face didn’t fade as she made her way home, nor did it disappear when she fell asleep. In fact, it was still there when she awoke the next morning.
Chapter 9
The last two days had been the longest Viola could remember. Apparently, she missed seeing Jack Barrett.
And it hadn’t even really been two days. Yet. But it would be longer than two days when she finally saw him tomorrow.
Oh, this simply wouldn’t do. Neither would tossing restlessly at night as she relived his mouth on hers, his hands on her body… Even now as she sat in the library with Grandmama, peering at a map as she liked to do, she began to feel overheated.
Blenheim came into the library. “His Grace, the Duke of Eastleigh.”
Val strode inside, a lock of blond hair grazing his forehead as it was often wont to do when he raked his hand through his hair. Or perhaps it had come dislodged from the style when he’d removed his hat. Whatever the reason, it never failed to give him a boyish charm that reminded Viola of their youth. Though they were five years apart, they had always been quite close, save the years he’d abandoned her to go to Oxford. Then, when he’d returned, she and Grandmama had moved to this house in Berkeley Square.
“How lovely to see you,” Grandmama said, peering at him over the top of the glasses she wore to read. “I’d begun to think you forgot we existed.”
“That’s a bit of an exaggeration,” Val said with a smile. “But I am newly married, and I have been doting upon my wife. Since this is a state you heartily desired, I would expect your understanding, if not wholehearted support.”
Grandmama chuckled, displaying a rare flash of humor. “You are a devil. Just like your father. And your grandfather.”
“Given the esteem you hold them both in, I shall take that as a very high compliment indeed.” Val walked toward Viola where she sat at a table with her new map spread out in front of her. “What far-off places are you perusing today?”
“South America. I only purchased it yesterday. I’m fascinated by the Andes Mountains. Wouldn’t you love to encounter mountains so tall you can’t even see the tops some days because of the clouds?”
“She would much rather spend her time engrossed in such nonsense than do something productive,” Grandmama said, immediately putting Viola on the defensive. The dowager was still annoyed with Viola for dancing with only one gentleman at the Goodrick ball last Saturday. Was it her fault only one gentleman had asked?
Two, really, but she didn’t count Barrett because she hadn’t danced with him. She’d actually wanted to, however not as much as she’d wanted to talk to him.
“Grandmama, when—and if—Viola decides to wed, it will be magnificent and for all the right and wonderful reasons,” Val said cheerily. Spoken like a man who’d avoided the parson’s trap until the perfect woman, the woman he adored, had come along.
