“Well, we had our one night. And now I want more. Can we renegotiate the terms of our affair?”
She smiled at his way of phrasing it. “I think I could be persuaded to enter a deal with the right inducement.”
He came to her, took hold of her waist and kissed her full in the mouth, stealing her breath, molding their still-naked bodies together, making her knees buckle and her core melt with desire. But all too soon, the kiss ended. Before it could progress to what they both wanted.
“Was that inducement enough, wench? Or do I need to make a bigger earnest payment?”
“I will take that,” she replied, dazed. “For now.”
CHAPTER 16
THE SUN WAS STILL LOWon the horizon when Thalia and the marquess departed the elegant inn. Despite getting little rest, she felt invigorated as she took Liam’s hand to step into the carriage he had hired. At least the rain had stopped, and it promised to be a sunny day.
The journey passed in a blur, the rolling countryside a mere backdrop to Thalia’s racing thoughts. Would they find her sister there? Would she be married already? What would they do if their siblings were not there? So many questions...
Liam’s hand settled over hers where it rested in her lap.
“Don’t fret. I’m sure we will find them soon enough. And if we don’t...” Liam shrugged with uncharacteristic nonchalance. “They are adults. I hope to God they know what they are doing.”
Upon arrival, they found the rectory bathed in the gentle glow of the morning sun, a picture of serene domesticity. The Rector himself greeted them at the door, his eyebrows rising in curiosity after they performed the introductions and stated their purpose.
"Good morning, Lady Renier, Lord Ashford," he said, his voice warm but questioning. “Lord and Lady Andrew are in the breakfast parlor. If you’d follow me, please.”
Lord andLadyAndrew. That could only mean one thing. They were too late.
A quick glance at the marquess’s stony face was enough to know he had arrived at the same conclusion.
They accompanied the rector through winding hallways to the dining room, located in the back of the big and modern house. There, her sister and the marquess’s brother were having breakfast, looking fresh and happy and the picture of blissful domesticity. The smell of fresh bread and tea filled the air.
“Tally? What are you doing here, love?”
“Liam! This is unexpected.”
Her sister and Lord Andrew both spoke simultaneously upon spotting them. The surprise was evident on their faces at the unexpected visit.
“If you didn’t expect me to find you, I daresay you don’t know me very well, little brother,” the marquess replied, his tone brimming with mockery.
“I came looking for you, Mimi.” Thalia said with feeling.
The next moment, a cacophony ensued as they all spoke at the same time, attempting to discern the events that had led to the unlikely event of all four of them meeting here this morning.
The rector’s voice, trained to carry through to the last pulpit of the church, rose above their chorus. “My lords, may I suggest we retire to my study and leave the ladies to speak in private?”
Taking the not-so-subtle hint, the marquess and his brother mumbled their excuses and followed the rector out the door. Thalia watched their retreating backs, noticing the similarity in height between the brothers. Although Liam was broader. And while Lord Andrew’s hair was dark, Liam’s was the palest silver.
Her sister’s hand closing over hers yanked her attention from the marquess.
“Now, Tally, please tell me how you came to be here. And in the company of Drew’s brother, no less.”
Thalia sighed. “It’s a long story, Mimi.”
“Well, fortunately, there’s plenty of tea. Come, have a seat. Join me for breakfast and tell me all about it.”
After Thalia had finished recounting the events of the last twenty-four hours, leaving out a few details, of course—no need to mention the night of passion in Liam’s arms—her sister was shaking her head in amazement.
“I’m sorry that I caused you such concern, dear. But you shouldn’t have worried. As you can see, I’m happy. Andrew and I are in love.”
“But how could you do something so rash, Artemis? You couldn’t have known him long. Before I went to the country, you had not even met him. Or did you know him already and were hiding it from me?” Thalia asked, not doing a good job hiding the hurt her sister’s secret caused her. She had thought they were best friends. Able to confide in each other.
