“I don’t know what I am,” she admitted. “But I know that what I’ve been telling you is true, Your Grace. I can’t just walk away from what might be the closest thing to love I will ever experience in my life.”
She drew in a deep breath. “I may live to regret saying that out loud, but I see no point in pretending anymore. I’ve already confessed my feelings to you, and you’ve already made it clear to me that you know the truth anyway. All I want is one last kiss.”
His eyes blazed, and Lavinia had a split second to doubt whether perhaps she had asked for more than she could handle. Maybe she didn’t want this kiss after all.
Then he reached out and pulled her into his arms, and she forgot to worry.
She lost herself in the kiss. It was perfect bliss, perfect pleasure, and from the moment his lips met hers, she knew that she hadn’t imagined a bit of it. No one could kiss anyone like this and not mean it. Not even the duke, who was so skilled at pretending in order to charm people, who had taught her everything sheknew on the matter—not even he could put on such a convincing performance.
This was real, and she no longer had any doubt.
Nor did she want it to end. Even though it was real, there was no telling how he would address her once they parted. He might not be learning anything at all about his feelings from this interaction. Perhaps he was perfectly prepared to send her away again, and Lavinia knew that she had promised to go.
She wrapped her arms around him and held him close to her, and he didn’t push her away. Instead, he deepened the kiss, his lips and his tongue showing her things that she hadn’t imagined before knowing him.
It made her wonder—given time—what else he might be able to show her.
It made her sure that she didn’t want to learn these things from any other man.
“What on earth is going on here?” A harsh voice demanded.
Lavinia and the duke released one another and separated quickly, and Matthew emerged from the shadows with an outraged expression on his face.
CHAPTER 31
The punch landed on Seth’s jaw and sent him sprawling. He looked up to see the Earl of Newford, Lady Lavinia’s elder brother, standing over him looking positively furious.
“Get up,” the earl stormed. “Up, you coward, and face me like a man!”
Seth got to his feet, holding up his hands to try to ward off another blow, but that didn’t stop the earl. He swung at Seth again. This time, Seth managed to dodge out of the way just in time. “Stop!” he commanded.
Lady Lavinia jumped between the two of them. “Matthew, stop it!” she said. “What are you doing?”
“You’re engaged to be married! What areyoudoing?”
“I’m not engaged,” Lady Lavinia said. “Lord Hennington has proposed, that’s all. There’s no agreement. Not yet.”
“And you think that makes it all right? Do you think he’ll still wish to marry you when he hears about this?”
“Why would he hear about it?” Lady Lavinia asked her brother. “Surely you’re not going to tell anybody—are you?”
“No, of course I’m not, but—you can’t expect me to allow this rake to get away with taking advantage of my sister in a dark corner of the garden!”
“He didn’t take advantage of me at all,” Lady Lavinia said. “I asked him to kiss me.”
Her brother stared at her. “Youaskedhim to kiss you?”
“That’s right.”
“Lavinia, don’t you understand what could happen if you were seen? You’re lucky it was me who happened upon the two of you. If it had been anyone else out here, they would have run to tell father, and Lord Hennington would certainly have heard about it by morning.” He sighed.
“I don’t understand you. I really don’t. You’ve spent all this time bemoaning the fact that Father is going to force you into a marriage you don’t want, and tonight you receive a proposalfrom someone you can’t possibly have anything to complain about. Don’t youwantto marry Lord Hennington?”
“I want to find love, Matthew!” Lady Lavinia cried. “I’ve told you that! How many times have I told you that?”
“And Lord Hennington?—”
“I don’t love Lord Hennington. I wish I did. Goodness knows that would be simpler. But I don’t.”
