As always, when receiving any sort of compliment, he blushed. “I enjoy talking with her. She makes me laugh.”
She felt the tiniest of tightenings in her chest. “Does she?”
His blush darkened. “I mustn’t keep her waiting. I’ll see to things Wednesday when you’re not here.”
Watching him go, she sensed a shift in the air around her and knew Matthew was now at her side. Swerving her attention over to him, she realized they were alone in the room, that Lottie had disappeared. “Lottie seems to be taken with you.”
“She’s taken with all men whom she judges to have a few coins in their pockets.”
“I have the impression you have more than a few.”
“I have enough to see me in good stead.” His gaze roamed over her face and she wondered if he wished it was his fingers taking the journey. She certainly wouldn’t have minded. “I didn’t hear you ask Tittlefitz to escort Marianne home.”
“He’d already informed me that it was his intention to do so.”
“Your matchmaking may be bearing fruit.”
She tilted her nose up in the air as haughtily as possible. “I am feeling somewhat satisfied that my efforts are going well.”
“I suppose you’ll focus on your own matchmaking now.”
Running her tongue over her lips, she took gratification when his gaze dipped to her mouth. “The next ball is Wednesday. After having two gentlemen and three ladies call on me, I’m not dreading it as much as I might have. It could be fun.”
“Avoid going for turns about the garden.”
“Do you think a gentleman would take advantage?”
“He might.”
“We’re alone now and you’re not.”
“But I want to, and because I do, I’m going to bid you good night.”
“Where I’m concerned you don’t have to be so honorable.”
“Lords set high standards for the women they want to marry.”
And if she decided she didn’t want to marry a lord? She didn’t pose the question to him. Just because he was drawn to her, wanted to kiss her, didn’t mean he wished to marry her. Perhaps she was in danger of following her romantically inclined heart toward a man who saw her as only a woman to bed, not wed. “As well they should. Still, where’s the harm in a kiss?”
Lifting up on her toes, she placed her hand at the back of his head and took his mouth as though it was her right to do so. He responded in kind, cradling her in one arm, bending her over slightly, bettering the angle so the kiss deepened. She had a strong urge to ask him to go to the ball, wait for her in the garden. She could join him there so he could ravish her—but in such a way that when she returned to the ballroom no one would be the wiser.
She couldn’t imagine anyone else kissing her like this, with so much passion and yearning, giving so much of himself to the endeavor. His groans mingled with her sighs, creating the perfect music for a waltz. She feared having waltzed with him in her shop, he had spoiled her for waltzing in a ballroom. Would she be able to dance with any other gentleman and not be able to reminisce about how wondrous it had been to dance within his arms?
At her first ball, she’d been comparing other men to him, but now she had so much more to compare. Punting, a picnic, the taste of wine on his tongue. The taste of scotch. The taste of him, dark and rich and so very flavorful. She might even be detecting a hint of toffee. She couldn’t stop herself from smiling with that thought.
He drew back, his eyes heated by passion and desire. “What do you find so humorous?”
“I think you ate a toffee earlier.”
“You’ve gotten me addicted to the damn things, and I can’t have one without thinking of all the sensual movements of your mouth while you suck on one.”
“I enjoy sucking sweets.”
“Ah, Christ.” His growl echoed around her, his hold on her loosening so quickly she nearly lost her balance. He took two steps back, then two more. “I have to leave now before I convince myself that you know exactly what image your words were going to create in my mind.”
Her words had been spoken with all innocence, but his reaction now had her remembering how he’d suckled at her breast and she wondered if she could bring him pleasure in the same manner. “Are there parts of you to suck?”
“God, Fancy.” He spun on his heel and headed for the doorway.
