“A kiss.” The words surprised him,
She looked at him, wide-eyed, a blush coloring her cheeks. Then her gaze moved to the greenery her sister had placed over his headboard, and she shook her head.
“Rose is such a mischief maker,” she said. “Can’t we pretend she didn’t put mistletoe over your bedhead?”
He blinked, scrambling for an answer. “That would hardly be in the spirit of the season. Surely you won’t begrudge me a kiss upon the cheek?”
Their gazes met, and she swallowed.
“As long as I don’t have to play another hand of cards for it,” she said softly. “I fear I’m quite spent.”
“Then I won’t insist.” For some reason, his heart was beating heavily in his chest. “Though I’m afraid you’ll have to come to me.”
She rose from her chair and bent over him. Slowly, she lowered her face to his, but rather than turning her head to present her cheek, she brushed her lips over his.
Heat flashed through him, and it was all he could do not to reach up and pull her down atop him. There was something achingly familiar in the sensation, the smell of her, the way a stray lock of her hair brushed his neck.
He lifted his hand, slipping his fingers around her nape and pressing softly, encouraging her mouth to stay with his. Their breaths mingled, and, it seemed, so too did their heartbeats.
When she pulled back, he didn’t try to keep her, no matter how desperately he wanted to. For the first time in days, he felt restored.
“Will that suffice?” Her voice trembled slightly.
“It will have to.” He glanced at the greenery above his head—the small white berries of the mistletoe unmistakable, now that he knew to look for them. “But you’d best remove that, or I won’t be responsible for the consequences. Lady Holly, I would be happy to kiss you upon the lips all night, until the sun rose.”
“You are a rogue, sir.” Her words were not as heated as her blush.
“And you are a gentlewoman. I assure you, I do not presume to toy with your affections. Or ruin your reputation.”
“What, then?” She cocked her head. “I must warn you, I will not marry.”
“You won’t?” Surprise made his words clumsy. “I thought that was the aspiration of every miss of theton.”
“Not mine.” Her manner hardened. “Now, I must bid you goodnight.”
She snatched the greenery from above his bed, scooped up the cards, and swept out of his room before he could marshal his thoughts enough to stop her. All that was left was a forlorn pile of almonds upon the nightstand, and the sinking feeling that Theo had made a grave error.
If only he knew what it might be.
CHAPTER 8
Upon reaching the sanctuary of her bedroom, Holly sank down in the chair before the hearth. All of her was trembling—her hands, her breath, her heart. She set the cards down and then, with only a moment’s hesitation, cast the sprig of holly and mistletoe into the fire. It smoldered for a moment, then caught, emitting a smoky scent of forest mixed with regret.
She wished she had her cashmere lap robe, but she’d neglected to retrieve it from her brother. Instead, she wrapped her arms about herself and stared at the flickering coals, the last berries burning to ash.
What was happening to her?
She’d always thought herself immune to the rogues and rakes who were her brother’s friends. But somehow Lord Theodore Harrington, Viscount Thornton, had breached the moat of serene intentions about her heart.
She tried to tell herself he was toying with her—yet he’d denied it, and she had to believe him. It would take the worst sort of rake to attempt to seduce the sister of his good friend beneath the man’s very roof. And while Lord Thornton had a bit of a reputation, he was not that kind of man.
Which begged the question—what was he about? Not courting her, surely?
She shivered at the thought.
Her reasons for declining to marry were quite sound—and most certainly shouldn’t be cast aside in favor of a handsome fellow with a taste for gambling. No matter how eligible he might be in all other respects.
The only explanation was that he must still be addled in his thoughts. Surely he’d recover in the next few days. Until then, she’d do well to stay far away from him.
