“She insists I secure an offer for myself before she’ll do anything.”
“Before she’ll elope?”
“Yes.” She twisted her mouth into something between a smile and a scowl. “So, you understand my plight. If I’m to be as faithful a friend as Rhoda, it’s rather urgent that I secure myself some sort of offer. And I suppose I’d prefer Lord Carlisle of the two.”
Marcus considered the situation as they strolled along the sponge-like trail. Women! Always manipulating. He wondered if his mother and sister were as meddlesome. It bothered him. The fact that he didn’t know. The fact that they’d become like strangers.
And then he dismissed the notion. His father wouldn’t allow them to manage such affairs on their own. The duke would always decide such matters for all of them.
Why wasn’t Miss Goodnight’s father watching out for her?
“I suppose I’d take the lieutenant if he were to ask. I’m running out of time.”
He stopped her. “What of your parents? Shouldn’t they have a say in all of this?”
“My mother has given up on me.” She handed him the umbrella and crouched down. “You tied my shoe too tight.” She proceeded to retie his knot. “And my father defers to my mother.” When she rose to her full height once again, she eyed him. “You’ve seen my mother, haven’t you? She’s been a beauty all her life. I’m quite the disappointment.”
He’d had it. Taking her chin in his gloved hand, he lifted her face so that she’d have no choice but to meet his gaze. “You, Miss Goodnight, are a beauty in your own right. You will capture whichever gentleman you wish.”
She went from looking surprised, to hopeful, to doubtful.
He swept the tip of his thumb across her lower lip and then leaned forward to replace it with his mouth.
“Whichever.”
He ran his tongue along the seam of her mouth coaxingly.
“Gentleman.”
He turned his face at an angle and sipped at the nectar of her mouth more searchingly.
“You wish.”
He then pulled at her tongue, wanting to engulf her more fully but also knowing this kiss wasn’t about him.
When he released her, he allowed but a few inches between them. “Do you understand?”
The doubt in her eyes had fled, and bewilderment replaced it. But she nodded nonetheless.
Marcus felt better for injecting some confidence into this serious-minded young lady. But in the back of his mind, a new unease took root. He enjoyed kissing her. These protective instincts were evolving into something more… complicated. He winged his arm. “Shall we join the others then?”
Quarry captured
Emily knew that in order to stand any chance of extracting an offer from Lord Carlisle, she needed to spend some time alone with him. She needed to do so right away so that Lord Blakely would leave Eden’s Court with Rhoda and stop inciting all sorts of carnal imaginings in her own wayward brain!
He’d kissed her again!
Oh, she knew it was only to prove some sort of point. He’d felt sorry for her again. But it hadn’t felt like pity at the time. It had felt like seduction, and romance, and something else… It had incited that heat blossoming in her core, an urge that had her clenching her thighs together.
She could not allow herself to have such thoughts for her best friend’s intended husband!
And so, all throughout the rest of the day, and dinner, she kept her sights firmly focused upon Carlisle. Such an angelically handsome gentleman would make for a fine husband indeed.
It wasn’t until after dinner, however, that the perfect occasion presented itself.
“Let’s play Sardines! Shall we?” Sophia and Rhoda had been conniving again, but this time, Emily quite approved. Interesting opportunitiesalwaysarose while playing Sardines. She’d make sure one arose for her.
Even if it involved cheating. The thought curled inside, but Emily could not afford to put matters off. What if Carlisle left the party early? Or Blakely? She’d learned long ago not to depend upon luck.
