“Of course, you weren’t,” Julia replied. “Enlighten me, my lord. What would you call the brisk pace you used to bolt from the library? A saunter?”
“Do be sensible and go to bed, Lady Julia,” Rayne replied. “Someone could hear you.”
“Ilongfor them to hear me. I’d love to hear you explain why you are pushing me up the stairwell. You shouldn’t even be touching me, Rayne. I’m only wearing a dressing gown.”
“You aremad, Julia. Stark-raving mad.”
“On the contrary,” Julia replied cheerfully. “I am entirely reasonable when dealt with reasonably.”
Rayne exhaled, swift and sharp. “Do you know what would happen if anyone found us together?”
“Fate, I hope.”
A shocked wheeze escaped Katherine’s lips.
“What was that?” Rayne hissed.
Giles placed his mouth over Katherine’s in a silent kiss. To keep her quiet, of course. But no matter how noiseless, their swift kiss was as exhilarating as it had been expedient.
Begrudgingly, he ripped his lips away, forcing his other parts to remain still.
Breathing as one, they waited for sound. Katherine’s breath made gooseflesh of his neck.
After a moment, Rayne continued, “All right, you confounding minx. I told you to go to bed.”
“I waitedan agefor Lord Bromton to retire.” Julia’s voice grew husky. “I know you want what I want.”
“Oh God,” Katherine spoke into Giles’s ear.
“You haveno ideawhat I want,” Rayne replied.
“Oh, but I do, and I believe I’ve made my desires perfectly clear.” Fabric rustled. “I’m merely asking for a trifle. Hardly anything to a man like you.”
Rayne made a wheezing sort of sound. “I said no.”
Katherine made a motion toward the door, but Giles’s arm shot out, blocking the panel.
“If you open this door,” he spoke directly into her ear, “Markham will be honor-bound to force them together. Do you want that?”
Katherine’s hair tickled his cheek as she shook her head no. Lord help him, if Rayne didn’t resolve this soon, Giles was going to implode. He adjusted his hips and felt, rather than heard, Katherine’s silent whimper.
Outside the panel, Julia huffed. “Well then, you leave me no choice. I will just have to ask Farring.”
“You will not ask Farring!”
“Honestly, Rayne,” Julia said. “Asking Bromton would be beyond the pale. My sister is quite enthralled.”
Katherine rested her forehead against his chin. He rubbed his thumb reassuringly along her spine.Enthralled?He rather liked the idea.
Of course, before he could question her on the matter, he was going to have to throttle Rayne.
“It will have to be either you or Farring,” Julia sighed. “As a matter of fact, I do believe I prefer Farring. He has a divine laugh. Yes, I think—oof!”
“You won’t ask Farring.” Rayne’s voice held a dangerous edge. “You certainly won’t ask Bromton. And you will not—I mean this—”
Julia let out a genuine gasp.
“Askanyoneelse.”
