Page 81 of Irresistible
Kat slid Jess a suspicious look. “You still owe me an explanation about Lord Fallin.”
After Kat had called her name last night, Jess and Dougal had gone inside and encountered her in the library. She’d asked, with her typical lack of pretense, what they were doing. Dougal had responded that they’d enjoyed a walk around the garden. Later, Kat had pulled Jess aside and demanded to know why a walk around the garden had taken so long. Jess had jokingly told her they’d circuited it more than once, but Kat had not been amused. So Jess had promised to explain later.
Apparently, now was later.
“There isn’t really anything to explain. He escorted me for a walk around the garden, and we got caught up talking. He’s, ah, charming.”
Kat stared at her a moment. “A gentleman has turned your head.”
This would be so much easier—and better—if Jess could tell her everything. But she was, of course, forbidden from discussing anything to do with the Foreign Office.
“He’s interesting.”
“He’s also a new viscount who is probably in search of wife,” Kat said heavily. “Be careful. Dark gardens are perfect locations for compromise.”
Jess laughed. “That didn’t concern you when you met what’s-his-name in the garden at the assembly in Gloucestershire so you could examine the activity of kissing.” This was how Kat had become the center of a scandal. As if being caught in a kiss wasn’t bad enough, the gentleman was already betrothed.
Kat lifted a shoulder. “I knew I wasn’t in danger of having to wed him. He was already promised to another.”
“It was still a risk. There was every possibility the other young woman would have cried off, and then you may have had to marry him.”
“Bah. That was never going to happen. The alignment of their families had been planned for some time. I plotted my course with great care. Is that what you’re doing?” she asked. “Or are you dazzled by him and making foolish choices?”
“There is nothing between Lord Fallin and me.” That was the best Jess could do. “You know full well I am destined for spinsterhood.”
“As am I, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy the forbidden—so long as we are discreet. I don’t plan to stop my mating research with just a few kisses.” Kat wrinkled her pert nose. “They weren’t very good, in my opinion.”
“What do you have to compare them to?” Jess was under the impression they were her first and only kisses.
“Given the way people seem to almost universally enjoy and seek sexual acts and the fact that I didnotparticularly enjoy his kisses, I can deduce there are better kisses to be found.”
“An excellent conclusion, actually. I’ve kissed more than one gentleman, and their skills are not all equal.” Indeed, after kissing Dougal, she could barely remember what Asa kissed like. She was confident in assuming it wasn’t as good as Dougal.
“I am not surprised to hear that. Did you kiss Fallin?” While Jess contemplated how to answer, Kat waved her hand. “I assumed you must have. You were too flushed.”
Damn, she’d been worried about that. She’d thought enough time had passed between their kissing and when they’d entered the house. But in truth, the heat in her body had remained. It was still there—a low thrum reminding her of how last night had only stoked her desire. She’d told him they weren’t finished, and she’d meant it.
“Have you continued your investigation?” Jess asked.
“Do you mean have I kissed anyone else? Not yet. I did consider Lord Fallin after he arrived last night. He’s very attractive. Is he a good kisser?”
Jess saw no point in prevaricating. Kat would only persist. “Yes.” She also didn’t want Kat trying to kiss him. Which wasn’t fair of her. He didn’t belong to her, nor did she want him to.
Or did she?
Shoving that thought away, she said, “You make a compelling argument about discreet…indulgence.”
“Spinsters can’t be expected to remain celibate. Unless they want to.” Kat cocked her head and adopted the expression that meant an idea had rooted in her brain. “I think this requires investigation too. I confess I did wonder if perhaps I wasn’t meant to enjoy kissing. I felt no anticipation, no thrill. You felt those things with Fallin?”
Most definitely. Indeed, the current anticipation was tying her in knots. “Yes.”
Kat looked over at her. “Are you going to kiss him again?”
“I don’t know when we’ll have occasion to meet.” And that was a problem. How could she convince him to conduct an illicit liaison if she didn’t see him? She needed advice. Or help. Or both. Lord Lucien immediately came to mind.
She doubted he’d help her execute an assignation with Dougal. Evie helped people too. She’d helped Jess,andshe was aware that Jess may have spent time pretending to be married to someone.
“Then perhaps we should put our focus to that,” Kat said with great enthusiasm. “I’ll think on it.”
