They were missing the sunset, and Tabitha did not care one whit. There wasn’t quite enough room on the narrow balcony to comfortably face each other, which was one of the only reasons she refrained from throwing herself into Mr. Frampton’s arms and begging for a kiss.
The other reason for her restraint was the fear of rejection. She suspected Mr. Frampton wasn’t the slightest bit opposed to kissing her senseless… if it weren’t for a cursed childhood betrothal remanding her into the possession of his employer.
Mr. Frampton was good at his job. He would not wish to lose it. Which meant abstaining from torrid kisses with the viscount’s bride.
No matter how ardently she begged.
Mr. Frampton tore his gaze away and cleared his throat. “Never mind the sunset. Look at the clouds. That one looks like a hedgehog with indigestion.”
“It does not,” she said with a laugh, then nearly choked on her own chuckle when she caught sight of the cloud he’d been referring to. It absolutely looked like a distempered hedgehog. She pointed in the opposite direction. “And that one looks like a rhinoceros performing ballet.”
He glanced in the direction of her finger and grinned with appreciation.
In no time, they were talking over each other, each trying to best the other’s discovery with an even more absurd comparison, until they were breathless with laughter, their sides pressed together to prop each other up.
Despite the simplicity, it was one of the best afternoons Tabitha could ever remember having. She’d smiled so much, her cheeks hurt. That hadn’t happened in… well… Had it ever happened to her before?
Her life was one of privilege, but it was not often one of joy or laughter. These six days with Mr. Frampton weren’t merely an escape from the usual weight of impending doom. It was her chance to infuse her spirit with as much happiness as she could, in order to draw upon it throughout the long winter of the rest of her life, subsisting on remembered bits of smiles and sunshine as best she could.
All too soon, the sun dipped below the horizon. The sky was still filled with orange and purple, and clouds that looked like an old man’s whiskers, but darkness would fall swiftly.
“Shall we remove to the inn?” she asked as lightly as she could.
The answering weight of his gaze was anything but light. She could feel the absoluteness of his attention, enveloping her, embracing her. Feathering over every inch of her skin, and leaving a delicious wave of gooseflesh in its wake.
“You’re certain this is what you want?” His voice was a soft rumble. A warning. A promise.
She nodded. “It’s the only thing I want. I shan’t change my mind.”
He held out his elbow. “Then so it shall be.”
She curled her fingers around his arm and held on tight. Next stop: the Blushing Maid Inn.
Where they would spend the night as husband and wife.
Chapter 15
As the last of the orange streaks faded from the graying sky, Hudson led Lady Tabitha back to his carriage.
Her grip tightened on his arm and she pointed at the sky. “Look, a shooting star!”
Hudson glanced up just in time to see the white streak disappear. “Make a wish.”
“I did.” She gave him a bashful smile. “You should, too.”
He would not do any such thing. He was far too practical for wishes. Or tried to be. He feared any wish he made in this moment was likely to be of the “I wish I was kissing the woman I’m supposed to be guarding” variety, which was not an act a man hoping to hold onto his well-paying post ought to consider.
And yet, now that the thought had crossed his mind… Oh, who was Hudson bamming? Of course he wanted to kiss her. No other thought had ever crossed his mind whilst gazing down at Lady Tabitha. He had even less control over the direction of his desires when she was holding on to his arm, no more than a perfectly kissable distance away.
“I’ll help you into the carriage,” he said gruffly.
Her face fell. “Can’t I sit up front with you?”
“Up front with me?” he repeated, the words making no sense. “On the driver’s perch?”
“Is there not enough room?”
“There’s room, but it’s…”
