But whatever he had imagined, it had somehow been better tenfold.
Christopher had kissed many ladies in his life. But this… this was different.
He groaned loudly, distracted again. He knew that he was never going to be able to forget what kissing her felt like.
He had opened a Pandora’s box.
God, what had he done?
CHAPTER12
Frances could not sleep that night. She kept one hand glued to her lips, thinking of Christopher.
She had her first kiss. After marriage, mind you. Which was late for many people. But it did not really feel like they were married at all.
As he had said before, they were more like friends. Which made this feel all the more exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time.
She paced the length of her room, her fingers absentmindedly touching her lips. What did it mean? She had never imagined such a moment with Christopher, yet now she couldn’t stop thinking about it.
The butterflies that erupted inside her stomach told her that something was brewing in her heart. The kiss had brought it to a boil, and it was threatening to tip over at any moment.
She had to contain it. Cool herself down.
Yet, that felt impossible.
Frances sank into a chair by the window, cranking it open to let the fresh air in. She needed it badly.
She closed her eyes, trying to push the memory aside, but it was impossible. The kiss had felt right in a way she couldn’t explain, and it frightened her.
Why had he kissed her? And why had she kissed him back? It was so unlike her, the shy, reserved woman who had always dreamed of love but never dared to go looking for it.
She had married Christopher to provide a home for the twins, not to fall in love. Yet here she was, her heart racing, her thoughts consumed by him.
This was not going according to plan at all.
She wished at that moment that one of her sisters was nearby. She would run to them for advice. But at this hour, it was impossible to do. Still, she needed someone to talk to.
So, she called for her lady’s maid. Only a woman could understand the feelings of another woman, and right now, she really wanted a listening ear.
“Is everything alright, Your Grace?” the maid asked, concerned at being summoned at such a late hour.
“Yes, yes.” Frances gestured for Clara to sit beside her. “I hope that I did not ruin your slumber.”
The maid shook her head. “I am available for you at whatever hour you require me. Please, let me know if there is something I can help you with.”
Frances pursed her lips. Even though she really wanted to speak freely, she knew that she would have to be discreet. She had not known the maid for long, but she still felt that she could trust her.
“Well, let me start by asking you a question. Are you seeing anyone?”
The maid looked surprised by the question, and then blushed. “Well, there is someone from my village. We have known each other for very long, and he hopes to propose to me when he finds a proper job.”
Frances nodded, smiling. “Perfect, then you perhaps have some experience in what I am about to ask…”
The maid nodded encouragingly. “I can try.”
Frances hesitated. “Have you ever… Well, pardon me, it seems that I do not know how to phrase it well…”
The maid only blinked, waiting.
