“But shouldn’t some have more value than others? Let me assure you, they have all been excellent so far.”
He laughed. “I know. You needn’t flatter me.”
“It wasn’t meant as flattery. I thought you would like my honest thoughts.”
He gave her cheek another light caress. “I do like your honesty. Did I not just admit it?”
“What are your thoughts aboutmyresponses to your kisses? This is something important for me to know. If I am wrong about my future and actually do find someone to marry, should I not know whether or not I am putting him off?”
Jonas could not imagine any man resisting Ailis.
Nor could he imagine her married to anyone buthim.
However, that was absurd. He had no plans to marry. And even if he did, how could it possibly work out between him and a vicar’s overly sentimental niece?
Of course, this assumed he was of a mind to marry and upset the natural order of his existence…his barren existence, as these past few days having Ailis in his home had shown.
He was relieved when Jane, one of the younger maids in the household, wheeled in the breakfast cart and brought an end to their conversation.
Ailis appeared frustrated because she wanted to know his thoughts about her kisses.
He, on the other hand, was desperate tostopthinking about her sweet, supple mouth and how irresistible he found her.
How would he rank her kisses among those of the more experienced women he had seduced?
Easily at the top of the list, because hers were given with the fullness of her heart.
This was what he loved and also dreaded about Ailis. She was a lovely, sweet thing, and he felt the full impact of her kisses. They shot straight to his heart because she gave all ofherheart in response. He did not think he would ever grow tired of kissing her.
But was he not making too much of it?
Perhaps kiss number five or six would turn him sour.
He reached into the breast pocket of his jacket and withdrew the bank drafts earlier written out, handing them to her. “Ailis, add these to the other donations safely stored in your reticule.”
She studied them a moment before looking up at him. “Both?”
He said nothing while Jane was obviously listening in as she set out their plates. He thought to send her away, but that would be worse for Ailis. Then Jane suddenly realized she had forgotten milk for Ailis’s tea and excused herself to retrieve it.
Alone with Jonas again, Ailis regarded him expectantly and repeated her question. “Both? But we’ve only gotten to number four and you have just given me the fifth of these bank drafts.”
He shook his head. “Hold on to it anyway. I fully intend to get to number five today.”
This seemed to please her. “Then we are proceeding to ten?”
“Yes, the charity donations shall remain as agreed upon, but you must promise me you’ll stop them if they are hurting you more than helping.”
“I am not going to stop them. Will you kindlystopworrying about me?”
But he could not.
What was it about Ailis that brought out his protective instincts? She was also bringing out his possessive urges. When had he ever felt possessive of any woman?
The answer was never. Quite the opposite—he was usually relieved to walk away.
But he felt differently about Ailis.
She was nothis, even though he was apishly considering her as such during this string of kisses.
