She released a small breath as if of surprise and looked at him at last. Her gaze was wide, but she forced a smile and spoke in a polite, though strained, tone.
“Oh, yes, my lord,” she answered. “Quite pleased. I do enjoy the country.”
“I am glad to hear it,” he replied, not really knowing what else to say. “I…I hope you will be as comfortable at our country estate as you have been in our townhouse.”
“I have no doubt I will be, my lord.”
Edward wanted to slap himself for being so tongue-tied with her. He was only making the situation between them worse by acting like a frightened schoolboy. Still, as he gazed down into her lovely face, he could not stop his heart from racing or his mind from wandering back to their kiss. I had been so…arousing.
He flinched at that being the first word to come to his mind, but it was true. He could not remember ever being so overwhelmed by a mere kiss before, and he could not help but consider doing it again. Not that she would ever allow him to, but…the desire was there, and he could not deny it.
“Is everything all right, my lord?” she asked, snapping him from the haze he had not realized he had fallen into.
Blinking, he stared down at her. “What? Oh…I am sorry, Miss Clifford. How rude of me. I was just lost in thought for a moment.”
She studied him for several seconds, and he wondered if she could see right through him. Could see just how confused and unbalanced he was because of her.
Finally, she gave him a small nod and said, “Well, do not let me distract you from your thoughts, my lord. I am quite content to ride in silence. Do not feel as though you must entertain me during our ride.”
Edward was not certain how to take her statement. Should he be offended? Was she telling him to leave her alone? Or was she able to see how uncomfortable he was and was giving him the opportunity to extricate himself from their conversation?
Deciding to give her the benefit of the doubt, he replied, “That is generous of you, Miss Clifford. I do have quite a bit on my mind, in truth. Much business to consider for the family.”
She gave him a small nod. “Then take this time to consider those important matters. I am quite content watching the countryside go by.”
Still, he could not tell if she was trying to brush him off or if she genuinely wanted to give him the chance to lose himself in his thoughts. This woman was proving more and more difficult to understand and read.
Why did she have to be so fascinating as well as lovely? It made it increasingly difficult to pretend he was not drawn to her.
Before he could say another word, though, she turned away from him and gazed out the window of the carriage, effectively bringing their conversation to an end. He pressed his lips together, startled by how much he wanted to keep talking to her, but in truth, he could think of nothing significant to say. Perhaps this was for the best. They appeared to have an understanding of sorts between them.
Silence. Yes…silence was good. Silence meant he would not say anything to make a fool of himself. Trying to relax, he turned to look out his own window, but no matter how hard he tried, he could not ignore Miss Clifford’s presence. It was like a tangible thing, wrapping around him like a cloak. Her warmth…her scent…it was impossible to pretend she was not sitting right there with him.
Was she having as hard of a time ignoring him as he was her?
He could not be certain, but he most definitely was not going to ask her. He would undoubtedly look like a fool if he did. So instead, he sat back and did his best to pretend that she did not affect him. That her presence did not have his entire body on edge and that their kiss did not continue to replay over and over in his head.
***
They finally reached the inn well before sunset, and Edward had never been so relieved for a carriage ride to come to an end. Things had remained silent and tense between him and Miss Clifford, and even when Emily and Lily had finally woken, he had not been able to relax. At last, though, they would be able to put some distance between them, and he would be able to breathe properly for the first time in hours.
Emily took hold of Lily’s hand and said, “Come along, sweetheart. Let us walk around a bit before we go into the inn. We have been cooped up in this carriage for far too long.”
Lily grinned and nodded. “Yes, mama!”
Giving him and Miss Clifford a smile, Emily chirped, “Go on and get out of rooms, yes? We will just be a moment. I just need to stretch my legs, and Lily should run around a bit.”
“Yes, good,” Edward replied. “We will be right behind you.”
Emily and Lily left the carriage, and then it was just him and Miss Clifford alone. For a moment, he felt the urge to kiss her again. They were all alone for the first time in days…there was no one to see them.
Edward shoved the thought away, however. I would be far too dangerous. At any moment someone could walk past the carriage door at any moment and see them. Truth be told, they should not be alone inside the vehicle for much longer. Edward got up to leave the carriage, but Miss Clifford started to move at the exact same time.
They knocked into each other, and somehow, Miss Clifford’s skirts became tangled in his legs. She tripped and fell into him, knocking him back onto the bench. He wrapped his arms around her to catch her, and she ended up sitting on his lap, and their faces were so close he could feel the warmth of her gasp when her lips parted.
He held her waist more tightly than was proper and did not immediately let her go. They stared at each other for long moments, neither moving an inch. Edward’s gaze dipped down to her lush lips, and his fingers clenched, making her whimper ever so slightly. He looked back up to meet her eyes and was surprised by what he saw in her gaze. There was a longing there that called to him. He thought perhaps…perhaps shewantedhim to kiss her. Was that possible?
She did not try to push away from him, and when he tentatively pulled her closer, she gave him no resistance. Their lips drew closer and closer, and Edward knew there was little that would stop the kiss that now seemed inevitable…
