Page 41 of The Marquess and the Maiden

“What is the matter?” she asked once they were outside. Concern filled her gaze, and she placed a gloved hand on his forearm. “Oliver?”

The cool air and her presence calmed him immediately. “A ghost.” Nothing more.

“What did you want to speak with me about?”

He pulled her farther into the shadows of the balcony. There were only a few people who had wandered outside, since the ball had barely begun. People were mostly inside eating or dancing, but he needed something else.

It was easy enough to hide her body with his own, she was so small, her head barely coming to his chest. He slid his hand to the side of her face.

“You look beautiful tonight,” he said.

She smiled. “Thank you.”

Then he bent his head and kissed her. Just a taste was what he told himself he needed. Just a reminder that she was here, and this desire between them was hot and thick and always at the ready. He wondered when he’d ever get enough of her. When her soft curves wouldn’t tantalize him. When her pliant mouth wouldn’t tempt him. When she wouldn’t taste so damned good.

His tongue swept into her mouth, and she gripped the lapels of his waistcoat, pulling him closer. She wanted him with a ferocity that met his own and that nearly tipped him over the edge. He slowed down their kiss before he did something to embarrass himself. He pressed his forehead to hers and held it there. Just them, close like this, in the cool evening.

This was what mattered. Not Catherine and her rejection. Hell, it hadn’t taken him long to be thankful she’d walked out on him. But rejection was rejection and it still stung, even if he didn’t want her anymore. Obviously his own rejection of Harriet still clouded how she saw him now.

Yet he was determined to have her. No matter what. He knew she wanted him as well, she’d admitted as much. But for that damned notion of love, she refused to allow herself to accept his proposal.

“Tell me about joining the Ladies of Virtue,” he said quietly.

She nodded. “Let us walk so we are not hidden here and tempted.”

He held his arm out to her and led her down the lantern-lit path that wound to the gardens, the pond, and the maze. Brookhaven had been his playground as a child, all of those elements his favorites.

“I was approached nearly four years ago by Lady Somersby; she’s the leader. She interviewed me extensively before explaining her interest.” She went on, telling him about how the woman had created the organization when she was younger after posing undercover as the queen and needing skills to protect herself. “Her idea bloomed into not only wanting women to protect themselves, but also acknowledging that we can aid in the removal of criminals just as men can. Oftentimes, more effectively because we can do so less noticeably.”

He chuckled. Merely the sound of her voice and the nearness of her had calmed his addled nerves. She was a balm to him, and he didn’t want to examine what that meant. He only knew he needed her in his life.

“Do you ever get frightened?” he asked.

“Of course. Though I’m not as skilled as some of the other members at handling things on the street. My friend Iris can locate a pickpocket in a crowd and effectively stop him in his tracks with nothing more than a hatpin.” She smiled up at him. “We should turn back.”

He nodded.

“My skill lies more in the fact that I seem to make people feel comfortable. They let down their guard with me, tell me secrets. I’ve been able to identify several households where servants were not being treated fairly.”

“You are an amazing woman.”

“Thank you.” She was quiet for a few moments. “Have you found any women you are interested in?” She bit down on her lip.

“More so than you? No.”

She smiled. “You are relentless, I shall give you that.” They climbed the stairs to the balcony.

“One more, sweet Harriet, then I shall let you go.” Making certain no one was there to see, he pressed her back into the darkness and stole another kiss. He’d never get his fill of her taste, the way her body molded to his. He forced himself to pull back before he compromised her.

…

She could still taste him. Still feel his heat. Something had happened, and she could have sworn he’d sought her out because he’d needed her, not merely to scandalize her with a stolen kiss, but something deeper, more real.

But she knew that couldn’t be the truth. She wasn’t certain what was going on, but she needed to gather her wits about her, because this was not what she was supposed to be doing with this weekend. If she wasn’t careful, she’d fall prey to this game of his and lose her heart.

She wasn’t supposed to be indulging in stolen kisses. She was supposed to find him a wife as well as some additional clues into the mysterious Lady X’s identity. But with his head pressed to hers, and his hand still holding her to him, she couldn’t pull her thoughts together into anything cohesive.

“I can’t think when you’re this close to me,” she murmured.

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