And with that, he closed the distance between them and gently, delicately—as if he caressed the most tender flower—kissed her. The lightest brush of his lips, but it was enough to inflame her body and send pleasurable tingles over her skin.
She pulled back on a gasp as his hand rose to her chin.
“Trick, ohTrick,” she whispered.
“Please don’t be angry with me…” he cupped her face and his thumb stroked her cheek. “You are an irresistible force, Adalyn. You have an allure that is all innocence and sweetness, yet a man wonders what fires lie unawakened beneath.”
She blinked. “You have a way with words, but I cannot believe myself worthy of them.”
“You hush now,cariad bach,”he reprimanded gently. “You’ll not disparage yourself in my presence.” He let her go and took the canvases from her, putting them back in place. “Come. Tea’s getting cold.”
Adalyn swallowed, fighting for composure, unsettled by his portrait of her, his revelation of what he considered her nature, and most of all, his kiss.
She didn’t want to move, but knew she must. He walked to the table and she rose to follow him, praying her legs would not fail her.
“Now then,” he said, seating her. “Tell me about your invitation to Fivetrees?”
The practicality of his question jerked her thoughts back to the present moment and in some ways she was glad of it. The tea had cooled sufficiently to be perfect, and she sipped, allowing the strong brew to finish the job of returning her to her original purpose.
“Well, as I mentioned, I’m to visit there for dinner on Friday evening. Sir Amery was quite pleasant about it, and his niece Judith is now in residence there, so the proprieties will be fully observed.”
“But?” He raised an eyebrow. “I sense there is a ‘but’ somewhere…”
“There is. Giles is not certain we can rely on Sir Amery to be the gentleman all evening.”
Trick’s face hardened. “If he eventhinksabout laying a hand on you…”
She shook her head. “I can’t imagine him going that far, but apparently he’s proven to be untrustworthy and with one sole aim in life.” She sighed. “He wants Wolfbridge, as you must already know. And both Giles and Jeremy believe he’ll go to any lengths to get it.”
“The bastard,” swore Trick. “Apologies, Adalyn.”
“No matter. I’ve thought worse,” she smiled. “But even though I’ve not seen evidence of such greed, I will accept that it’s there because Giles and Jeremy said so.”
“Your trust is well placed,” Trick approved. “So what can I do?”
“I would like you to help me fall down.”
She wanted to burst out laughing at his expression. The handsome and masculine lines to his face slackened in shock and his eyes widened, making him look more like a surprised young lad than the delicious seasoned man he was. “You want me towhat?”
She choked back her amusement. “Let me explain.”
“I think you’d better.”
“I need an excuse to have someone with me or near me at all times on Friday night. Even if he’s desperate to get his hands on Wolfbridge, Giles agrees that it would be most unlikely he’d risk any kind of scandal to achieve it. If I have a—a guardian, shall we say, by my side…it would assure my security.”
Trick nodded. “True. He’d be unable to compromise you, or even hint at such a thing were you in the presence of one of us.”
“Exactly. But I cannot just appear and demand my footman accompany me everywhere. Were I a dowager or someone of high ranking, I might get away with such a thing and have it marked down to the eccentricity of the very rich and powerful. But I’m not. So we must be creative and find another way.”
Trick’s gaze narrowed. “And I’m thinking a nasty sprained ankle might be just the thing?”
She nodded. “Hence my request for your help with my tumble.”
He paused. “I’m going to hope you’re looking for a pretend tumble. I’ll not be part of anything that might actually result in an injury to you, Adalyn. I’ll say that straight to you.”
“Nor would I ask it, Trick.” She resisted the urge to touch him, even though the warmth and concern in his voice had stirred something inside her. “’Twill all be pretence. I shall apparently require use of a Bath chair for a few days, or someone to assist me in moving around.”
“Should it not be Giles or Jeremy?” he asked, a puzzled look on his face.
