Page 25 of A Rogue's Downfall
He chuckled and tucked her arm more firmly through his.
She was actually enjoying herself, Caroline realized in some surprise as they turned away from the directionthe group was taking and struck out along the emptybeach. Even the thought that she should not be goingoff alone with him unchaperoned did not worry her.After all, he was supposed to be her betrothed or hersoon-to-be betrothed anyway. She had told Roystonevasively just before luncheon that yes, indeed ViscountLyndon had made her an offer but that they had notsettled the matter definitely yet. They were to go walking during the afternoon. The implication had been thatthey were to settle matters then.
She was enjoying herself. There was something wonderfully freeing about being able to spend time with a man without having to wonder if he was trying to thinkof some way to get rid of her. And to be able to talkon any subject that came to mind because she was nottrying to impress him or make any particularly favorable impression on him. They had talked about thingsshe had hardly dared even to think about before—likethe pleasure a man and a woman might derive frombeing in bed together, for instance. Gracious heaven.
And it was fun to be able to flirt without being accused of being fast. It was all for a wager. She was expected to flirt. He would think her a poor creature ifshe did not. And definitely it was fun to flirt with him.With Viscount Lyndon. Alistair. It was rather likesomething from a dream. This time yesterday she hadbeen studiously ignoring him because she had been feeling the power of his attractions so strongly.
“Where did you think you were last night?” she asked.
He looked at her sidelong, his eyelids drooping over his eyes. “In heaven,” he said.
“For shame,” she said, checking the laughter that was bubbling up inside her. “Such carnal pleasures wouldnot be appropriate in heaven.”
“Then perhaps it is as well,” he said, “that my behavior thus far in life makes it likely that I am bound for the other place. A heaven without the pleasures of sexwould be a dull place.”
She should be outraged. She was not, and she was enjoying the freedom of not having to pretend that shewas. “Wheredidyou think you were?” she asked again.
“Never mind,” he said. “That would be telling. Suffice it to say that taking the wrong turnings or opening the wrong doors or climbing into the wrong beds candefinitely have their compensations. Though I could wishthat this particular compensation had lasted longer.”
“No,” she said. “That is nonsense. I was asleep most of the time. Besides, I know nothing.”
“I believe, Caroline,” he said, again with that sideways glance, “that you are fishing for a compliment.”
She was. She wanted to know why he had wanted it to last longer. She wanted to know what her attractions had been. But even her newfound boldness wouldnot allow her to ask the questions aloud.
“You were warm and soft and shapely and inviting,” he said. “And responsive in a languid, highly alluringsort of way.”
“And yet,” she said, “you thought I was someone else. Is she like that too?”
“Let me just say,” he said, “that I was pleasantly surprised.”
She was pleased. Ridiculously so. She wanted to fish further, but there were limits to her immodesty andshe had reached them.
“Are you going to her tonight?” she asked.
“Heaven forbid,” he said. “I might find myself in bed with the birthday lady herself—your Great-AuntSabrina.”
Caroline exploded into mirth. The mental picture his words had painted was just too tickling to be resisted.
“Exactly,” he said. “It does not bear thinking of, does it?” He chuckled and then threw back his head androared with laughter.
They looked at each other and were off into peals of mirth again until he released her arm, took her hand inhis, and laced his fingers with hers.
“Caroline,” he said, “you are a shocking young lady. How could you have found that idea funny?”
She laughed again for answer. Walking hand in hand with a man, especially with their fingers laced, seemedfar more intimate than walking arm in arm. His handfelt very large and strong.
“How did you like London and the Season?” he asked.
“Oh, very well,” she said, “though all the entertainments can be very tedious, especially the balls. One feels all the necessity of appearing to enjoy oneself whenone is without a partner and to be quite bored whenone is not. I always felt the perverse urge to do theopposite.”
“And shock theton,Caroline?” he said. “I hope you never gave in to temptation.”
“Under normal circumstances,” she said, “I behave with the utmost decorum. I always do what is expectedof me. That is why you have never noticed me.” Ifsomeone would just present her with a pair of scissors,she thought, she would gladly cut out her tongue. Whata foolishly revealing thing to say.
“Yes,” he said, “that would have been part of the reason. The other is that even if you had behaved unconventionally you would still have been one of thevirtuous women, Caroline. I tend not to notice virtuouswomen.”
“Because they are dull?” she said.
