Page 29 of Empowered By the Earl (Second Sons of London 3)

A smug look crossed his face. “It was good. Very good.” He paused. “I would like to kiss you again, Louisa.”

“No,” she said firmly. “You may flirt with me. Even teach me something about flirting back. But there is to be no more kissing. We cannot stay friends and do so.”

“You would rather be friends than kiss me?” he asked, his gaze dropping to her mouth.

More than anything, she would like to kiss him again. Repeatedly. But the scoundrel didn’t need to know that.

“Yes. Definitely friends. You are close to Spencer and Everett. I am close to my cousins. It would be too awkward being around one another if we continued... doing... well, kissing. Besides, I am looking for a husband. Not a kisser.”

“A husband should be a good kisser,” Owen pointed out matter-of-factly.

She arched one eyebrow. “While I would prefer that he be skilled in that area, it is not one of my requirements.”

“It should be,” he told her. “Kissing is important in a marriage.”

She sniffed. “You know nothing about marriage,” she accused.

“I see how Ev and Adalyn are. How Spence and Tessa behave. They seem to think kissing is quite important. I know—because I catch them at it all the time.”

“They are also in love,” she said, a bit wistfully. “I am not looking for love, Owen. I am looking for a good man who will be a good father.”

He frowned. “You deserve to find love as much as your cousins, Louisa.”

“What I deserve is a chance to live my own life,” she told him. “For too long, I have helped Papa live his. I am ready to be on my own. Run my own household. I know what marriage in thetonconsists of, Owen. It is not what my cousins have found with their remarkable husbands. They are definitely exceptions to the rule.”

His frown deepened. “Then you won’t care if your husband has a mistress? Or takes lovers?”

Louisa shrugged, feigning indifference. “That is the way of Polite Society. As long as he practices discretion, I won’t complain. If he provides for me and the children—and especially if he spends time with our children—then I won’t begrudge him finding someone else. If that’s what makes him happy.”

His hands tightened on her waist. “Do you hold yourself in such little regard, Louisa? You deserve more than a husband with a roving eye.”

“I am four and twenty, Owen. I cannot make too many demands or I won’t find a husband at all. I have already just gone through a very unsuccessful Season and I’m not getting any younger. I can’t be as choosy as fresh young girls making their come-outs.”

She ignored how it felt to have his hands on her and pleaded with him. “Please, let us go outside. Adalyn and Everett will be wondering where we are.”

Owen swept her off her feet. “No arguments. If we are to get there quickly, you will allow me to carry you.”

Louisa merely nodded, looping her arms about his neck, inhaling the sandalwood soap clinging to his skin.

They stepped out into the sunshine of the late July afternoon and she saw the teacart already there. Adalyn and Everett were seated.

“There you are,” her cousin said. “Let me pour a cup of tea for you. What took you so long?”

“Louisa thought she could walk the entire way here, stairs and all. It was taking forever and so I finally scooped her up and brought her outside,” Owen lied smoothly.

“Is your ankle troubling you that much?” Everett asked, looking concerned.

“I am afraid I was babying it too much,” she said. “I will practice putting more weight on it after tea. It really doesn’t hurt at all and there is no swelling today. I will be right as rain tomorrow.”

“In fact, Louisa wants to ride again tomorrow,” Owen interjected. “We are going to do so every morning at eight o’clock. That way, I will have the bulk of the day to do what needs to be done on my estate and she will be free to help Adalyn in planning the house party.”

His announcement was a surprise to her but she doubted she would be able to get rid of him. Louisa knew she did need practice in riding in order to feel comfortable. If Owen was willing to take her out for an hour each morning, that would be pleasant. She could then send him on his way and not have to worry about him the rest of the day. She would put him out of her mind.

Or so she told herself.

*

Owen entered theCliffside breakfast room. His habit of the last week had been to start his day with Ev, Adalyn, and Louisa at breakfast and then take Louisa riding. Nothing untoward had occurred between them since he had kissed her. If anything, Owen had bent over backward to show absolutely everything was right between them.

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