Between them the goblet slipped to the floor.
She gasped, staring as a dark stain spread on the cream background color of the patterned carpet, then dropped to her knees to collect the broken crystal and dab at the blot with the hem of her riding habit.
Trick stared down at her bright head. “Stop,” he pleaded, hard put to keep from laughing at her panic. “You’ll ruin your skirt.”
“I’ll ruin myskirt?” Worried green eyes glanced up at him. “Then will the stain not come out of the carpet, either?”
“I haven’t the slightest idea,” he mused. Surely one of the servants would know how to remove it. If not, he could always bring another rug from his London warehouse.
“But…I’m not usually clumsy.” She gazed at the stain, then sat back and wrapped her arms around her bent knees. “And I’ve got you in trouble, then.”
“In trouble?” he repeated stupidly.
“The crystal and the carpet…” She bit her lip, then her eyes cleared. “Tell the owner I’ll pay for it all. Or rather, my brother will. It won’t be a problem.”
Tell the owner. Oh, she was a precious one. She thought he was a criminal, yet she worried about his carpet and angering his supposed landlord.
She’d be more on target worrying about her maidenhead, he thought wryly, reaching down a hand to help her rise.
At her full height, the top of her head came just to his chin. She tilted her face and fastened her gaze on his. Their hands seemed fused together, and he could hear her slightly uneven breathing over the patter of rain on the roof.
Slowly, her free hand came up to sweep the hair from his eyes. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, then she touched a fingertip to his lower lip, exactly in the center, so lightly he wondered if he imagined it.
Real or imagined, his body quickened. He stared at her soft mouth. “Don’t you worry,” he said low.
She blinked and pulled her hand from his.
He nearly made a grab for her, but reminded himself who she was.
Damn, it had better stop raining soon.
“Come, there’s water in the bedchamber.” He swiveled and headed for the corridor, knowing she would follow. “We’ll rinse the stain from your skirt before it can set.”
Composing himself, he poured water into the washbowl and set it on the low table by the bed, then turned to beckon her near and hand her a towel.
She wetted it and leaned down to dab daintily at her hem. Frowning, she dipped again and dabbed harder. Finally, she sat on the bed, rucking her skirts up about her knees so she could plunge the offending stain into the bowl. She stared into space, holding the fabric in place with one hand.
Thinking she had very shapely calves, Trick sat beside her and grinned. “You’re going to sit there till it comes out?”
She turned to look at him. “It won’t take long this way.”
He watched the water soaking her skirt. A dark circle grew to encompass much more than the stain, but she didn’t seem to notice. Her gaze was riveted on his eyes.
She swallowed and licked her lips.
Despite his best intentions, he moved closer, then closer still when he caught a whiff of her sun-fresh skin and flowery hair.
From the main part of the cottage, he heard the door fly open and bang against the wall. He thought it must be the wind. Though he knew he should get up and close it, his arms stole around Kendra’s waist, and he bent his head to hers, toward that soft, tempting mouth.
She swayed closer and raised her face. Her breath came sweet and warm from between her parted lips.
“Hey, are you here? We need your help to find our…”
Jason Chase arrived in the doorway, his brothers Colin and Ford close on his heels.
“…sister,” he finished weakly.
Kendra and Trick jumped up and apart, taking the porcelain bowl with them. It fell to the polished floor with a loud crash.
