“It would seem so.” She tucked the fullness of her gown’s voluminous skirt tighter against her and patted the seat. “Please sit beside me. I shall do my very best to be the devoted swan rather than the vicious one.”
He lifted his head and studied her with such weariness that her heart ached for him. “Will you also do your best to remember that I will never intentionally do anything to cause you harm or pain?”
“I will.” She patted the seat again and offered him what she hoped he would take as a smile from the heart. “You have been extremely patient and kind, while I have…not been. But I shall do better. I promise.”
“Forgive me, my lady, but I will believe that when I see it.” He switched seats and settled down beside her.
While she did not appreciate his candor, she understood it and refused to take offense. She had been insufferably mean to him today. “I shall prove it to you, my dearest cob. Just wait and see.”
“Dearest cob?”
“Of course.” She couldn’t resist a teasing smile. “A male swan is a cob.”
The way he arched his brow made him even more handsome. “Then that would make you my precious pen.”
“Indeed, it would.”
The carriage door opened, preventing further reparations as Maman stuck her head inside. “Her Majesty has requested my company for a while longer. Go along home and ensure that Thornton and Mrs. Thornton have everything ready for this evening. I am sure they will, but they appreciate it when we consult with them. I shall be along as soon as Her Majesty tires of me.”
“We shall send the carriage back for you,” Nash promised.
The dowager accepted with a nod, then waved. “On with you now, my children.”
“Goodbye, Maman.” Sophie offered a less-than-enthusiastic wave out the window as the carriage lurched into motion. Something was amiss, and she neither liked nor appreciated being left wondering what it might be.
She ran her gloved finger under the vicious lace of her sleeve, trying to soothe her poor, itching flesh. “If I ever mention pearl-encrusted lace to the modiste ever again, remind me of the torture of this dress.”
Nash set her ablaze with a devilish smile. “Never fear, my lady. I shall endeavor to have you out of that dress as quickly as possible once we reach home.”
She found herself at a loss for words. Apparently, his ill mood had vanished, and he had heartily returned to hismake the best of thingsdemeanor. An astonishingly hot flush ran through her, and she knew she must appear as red as a beetroot. Without a thought of what it might look like, she ran her finger behind the lace along her low neckline. “Oh my. I am suddenly quite warm, and that makes me itch even more.”
“Shall I help you with that, my precious pen?”
“Uhm…here? In the carriage? Absolutely not, but thank you—dear cob.” She fanned herself with her hand, wishing she had brought along her sturdiest fan. Surely he had not meant to… That they would… Surely not here in the carriage, where anyone bothering to glance into the windows as they passed through the streets of London could see?
She swallowed hard and stole a glance his way. Hehadmeant to right here in the carriage. She could see it in his eyes. “Oh my,” she repeated on a breathy exhale.
The rumble of his deep, satisfied laugh chased all lingering doubts from her mind. He lifted her hand for a kiss, then paused and frowned down at it. “The first thing I shall do when we are alone in our bedchamber is rid you of these annoying gloves that bar me from the sweetness of your silky skin.” A thrilling hunger smoldered in his tone, making her catch her breath again. In a voice husky with even more intent, he continued, “Of course, the sweetness of your hands is merely a start. I fully intend to taste every delicious inch of you.”
“But we…we have guests coming. R-remember?” Since when had she developed such an embarrassing stutter? He would surely think her the silliest of ninnies.
He boldly traced his fingertip along her neckline, stroking her flesh and making her completely forget the scratchy lace. “Our guests will not arrive till supper. That leaves us plenty of time to acquaint ourselves with each other and forge a muchstronger truce between us.” He cupped her cheek and leaned closer, trapping her in the intensity of his gaze. “I want you so enamored with our present that you never allow the past to come between us ever again.” His fingers slid up into her hair as he leaned in and kissed her with such tenderness that she prayed he would never stop.
She almost cried out when he lifted his head and looked down into her eyes again.
“We could be very happy together, Sophie,” he whispered. “Would that be such a terrible thing?”
She reached up and touched his cheek, losing herself in the brilliance of his eyes that were no longer icy. “Happiness would be quite nice,” she said. “Happiness for both of us.”
As he took her mouth once more, he slid his arms around her and gathered her close. The hunger in his kiss claimed her heart and soul, rekindling every fierce yearning she had ever possessed for him. It was everything she had ever dreamed a kiss from him would be and even more.
The intensity of the feeling terrified her. If she opened her heart to him, she would be even more vulnerable than that silly, wishful girl of ten years ago.
“Let it go, Sophie,” he whispered across her lips as if reading her mind.
She pulled back and stared at him. “How did you know?”
“You tensed, my precious swan. Almost recoiled within yourself. Like a soldier raising a shield to deflect the attack.”
