Page 41 of Made for the Marquess (Second Sons of London 4)

“Hyde Park will seem empty,” he said. “There will not be but a scattered handful there now but come a few weeks when the Season is in full swing, the park will be teeming with others at this time of day.”

“Aunt Phyllis told me that five o’clock is the fashionable hour to drive in the park.”

They entered through the gates and only saw one other carriage for several minutes, along with a nanny who led her two charges along the path next to the Serpentine.

“Might I ask you a personal question, Miss Nicholls?”

“I suppose so,” she said guardedly, wondering what he considered personal.

“You seemed rather upset when Lady Westlake revealed that Lord Kingston would not be joining us for tea today. Are you in love with the marquess?”

Minta jumped as if he had slapped her. “No, of course not. I mean . . . that is . . . I don’t know!” she exclaimed, frustration filling her.

Surprisingly, Lord Boxling chuckled, a reaction she would not have predicted. “My father—who was in love twice—said that love could be confusing, frustrating, and yet the most satisfying thing on the planet. It seems you do hold Lord Kingston in high regard. Have you known him for long?”

“Not really,” she admitted. “He is a neighbor of my aunt and uncle in the country and they invited him for dinner, along with Lord and Lady Danbury, who were visiting him at the time. He did call upon us a few other times before he left for town.”

“He seems to be a good man. I know the set he travels in is a group of honorable men and if you do have feelings for him, I hope they will amount to something and that he will return your love.”

“I don’t know about love,” Minta said. “My parents were a love match. Mama married well beneath her, disappointing her parents. Aunt Phyllis married a peer of her father’s rank. Though she did not love Uncle West, they seem to have gotten along well over the years.”

“Because my father found love, I wish to do the same,” the viscount stated.

Curiosity filled her and she asked, “Were you in love with Lady Danbury?”

He smiled ruefully. “I thought so at the time. I was physically attracted to her and found her to be rather sweet and kind. I do know that unrequited love is not truly love at all, though. Even if what I felt for Lady Danbury was love, it never could have flourished if she did not return that love. Besides, Lord Danbury is her perfect match in every way. She and I had an honest conversation about it, even before Danbury admitted his feelings for her, and we have fortunately remained friends. I count Lord Danbury as a friend of mine, too.”

He looked at her beseechingly and said, “I do feel attracted to you, Miss Nicholls. It seems your heart is already engaged, however.”

“Kiss me,” she said impulsively. “That should let us know if this is something we should pursue or not. It would give me something to compare . . .”

Then Minta realized what she had admitted to this lord and felt the scalding heat sting her cheeks.

He chuckled low. “So, the reserved Lord Kingston has already kissed you.” It was a statement and not a question on his part.

“Yes,” she admitted. “I thought I should compare his kiss to see if I felt the same with another or not.”

The viscount grinned at her. “I have never been one to pass up the opportunity to kiss a beautiful woman,” he told her.

He turned his full attention to the road ahead without speaking, which thoroughly confused her. A few minutes later, they arrived at a lane and he turned off the main thoroughfare onto it. After driving for a full minute, he halted the horses and glanced about.

“No one can see our grand experiment, Miss Nicholls. If you are willing to share a kiss with me, I am willing to do so.”

Anxiety filled her but Minta knew this was an opportunity she could not pass up. Viscount Boxling was marvelously handsome and also very kind to want to kiss her after her admission that she had already kissed Lord Kingston.

“Yes, my lord. If you would please kiss me, I would appreciate it.”

He cupped her nape with his gloved hand, bringing his lips down upon hers. Slowly, he brushed his lips against hers and eventually pressed them more firmly against her mouth. He did not, however, kiss her using his tongue. She broke the kiss and said imploringly, “That is not exactly how Lord Kingston kissed me. He started out this way but it became . . .” Her voice trailed off as she had no idea how to put into words what she wanted to say.

Understanding lit his dark eyes and he said, “He used his tongue, did he? That devil.”

Alarmed, she asked, “Was it wrong of him to do so? I had never been kissed before and so I did not know.” Worry filled her.

This time, Lord Boxling laughed aloud. “No, it is not wrong at all. In fact, when done properly—and with passion—it feels quite right.”

He studied her a moment and then added, “I do not believe that passion exists between us, Miss Nicholls. I am willing to try but I believe you will be disappointed.”

“I would rather be disappointed and know for certain than have a lingering question in my mind, my lord. I am sorry if that sounds bold and causes you to think less of me.”

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