The new kiss was different than the last.Gentler.Sweeter.Capable of stealing both her breath and her heart.
Yet she dare not take such a risk.No matter how enthusiastic her kisses, it would not be enough to keep him.A stolen moment was all this could be.He was a man that could not be moored.
When the tide drew away, he would go with it.
Chapter 9
Gloria was cleaning the gears of the parlor clock when the knock came on her front door.There was only one person it could be.
Christopher.
Here to talk about last night’s kiss.
She took a deep breath and opened the door.
“How’s the pudding?”he asked as he edged around her to head toward the kitchen.
Very well.She inclined her head.No talk.Just pudding.
He reappeared, apparently having reassured himself of the pudding’s continued well-being.“Grab your bonnet.”
She frowned.“Why?”
He lifted her pelisse from the rack and held it out.“Come and take a ride with me.”
“A ride where?”she asked suspiciously.
“Bonnet,” he prompted.
She slipped into her pelisse and snatched her bonnet from its chair.“Madge!”
He shook his head.“No room.I’ve rented a phaeton.”
She stared at him in horror.“One of the le Duc’s high-perch racing phaetons?”
He tightened the ribbon of her bonnet beneath her chin.“Ready for adventure?”
“You expect me to voluntarily climb into one of the le Duc’s racing phaetons?”she repeated in disbelief.“They are considered some of the most skillful drivers around and I’ve lost track of how many times they’ve crashed during races.”
“We won’t race,” Christopher promised.“We’ll just drive.”
Madge poked her head around the corner.“Wouldn’t do her any harm to have an adventure outside one of her books.”
“Go away.”Gloria shooed her out of the parlor.“You’re not helping.”
Christopher lifted her chin.“You said you won’t leave Christmas because you don’t like risk.”
“France is a war zone,” she pointed out.“Reasonable people don’t go on holiday in war zones.”
He grinned.“I’m not planning to drive you to Paris.I’m not certain my horses can swim that far.”
“Under no circumstances will I go anywhere near a body of water,” she said firmly.
“Noted.”He gave a sharp nod.“I’d also like to point out that a phaeton is not a seafaring vessel.It is meant for short jaunts about town on nice days.This is a nice day and a nice town.”He held out his elbow.“Come jaunt with me.”
“Take a small risk,” Madge hissed from the corridor.“The le Duc lads rarely break any bones.”
Gloria took a shaky breath and considered her options.If she said yes, what was the worst that could happen?
