She lifted her head and met his cool gaze with her own. “Don’t presume to know what I want.” Her tone was filled with bitterness. “But I do have to know one thing before…” She shook her head. “I just need to know.” Iris stomped forward and wrapped her arms around his neck, then pulled herself up so she could press her lips to his.
He didn’t move for a moment, but then he returned the kiss. Almost as if he couldn’t help himself. It was everything Iris had imagined it could be. Sweet, sensual, and filled with heat that threatened to consume her. But it ended before it could truly become the inferno in threatened to be. Lord Hampstead yanked his head away and pushed her from him. “You shouldn’t have done that.” He wiped his hand over his mouth as if the touch of her lips to his had been an insult.
“You liked it,” she told him. “Don’t deny the truth.”
“The truth is, little girl, you are not the temptation you believe yourself to be.” He stiffened. “I don’t have an interest in tutoring the innocent. I prefer a woman that already knows how to please a man.”
“You’re a bastard,” she spat out the words. Pain filled her heart. He had made it very clear she wasn’t for him. When he looked at her, he felt no desire. That kiss had meant far more to her than it ever would to him.
“You best remember that.” He glared at her, but then held out his arm. “Come, I’ll take you back to your sister.”
“I don’t need your help.” She shoved his arm away. “I can find my own way back.”
They walked in silence most of the way back. She almost tripped, and he caught her as they exited the trees. “Let go of me,” Iris snapped at him. He held up his hands and let her keep walking on her own.
Iris stormed away from Lord Hampstead and stopped by Violet. “Let’s go home. This has been the worst day.”
“Of course,” Violet told her. “It’s cold and wet, anyway. We’ll have tea by the fire and warm ourselves.”
“Yes,” Lady Iris said and sniffled. “That sounds wonderful.”
Violet led Iris out of the path and the gentlemen walked behind them solemnly. After a few moments, Lord Merrifield asked the earl. “What did happen?”
“I don’t wish to discuss it,” Hampstead replied in a sour tone.
“That good was it?” Lord Merrifield teased him in a devilish tone. “She’s a pretty chit. Did you try to steal a kiss?”
“I said I don’t wish to discuss it,” Lord Hampstead said through gritted teeth.
They were not talking as quietly as they thought they were. Iris could hear every word. She wanted to scream at them both to be quiet, but she held her tongue. It had been an embarrassing day, and she never wanted to think about it again.
They finally exited the path, and Iris breathed a sigh of relief. There was no one around to gossip about their adventure. Before she had been so thoroughly rebuked by the earl she would have been glad to have been caught. It would have been a good reason for the earl to propose marriage. Now, though…it was the last thing she wanted.
“Should we follow them until they reach home?” Lord Merrifield asked the earl.
“It is probably a good idea. We can ensure they don’t find any more trouble.” Lord Hampstead didn’t sound any happier than Iris felt.
“Surely you don’t think they would decide on another adventure so soon after the last one.” Lord Merrifield said, doubt in his tone.
“With that one it is best to always be on your guard.” Hampstead muttered. He was talking about her. Iris stiffened at his words. Despite that, she didn’t turn around. She fully intended to pretend he didn’t exist.
“Fair enough,” Lord Merrifield said in a light tone. He sounded so happy. Why did the marquess have that amused tone? Had something happened between him and Violet? Doubtfully… He was probably entertained by the earl’s sour mood. Men could be so contrary.
They walked in silence until they reached their home. Once they were inside, Iris closed her eyes and took a deep breath. All her dreams had been shattered, and nothing would ever be the same again. Suddenly, the idea of her Christmas ball didn’t sound as wonderful as it once had. There was no turning back now, though. The invitations had been sent. She would have to see it through, even if her heart was no longer in it. Lord Hampstead had shattered it thoroughly. Iris didn’t think she would ever love again.
One
One year later...
Daniel Andrews, the Earl of Hampstead, leaned back in his chair. Pain had started to pound inside his head. More specifically right behind his eyes. The responsibilities of the Hampstead estate were extensive, but what he hated the most involved the accounting. The ledgers were filled with numbers. All kinds of numbers... Funds going in and out of the estate coffers, the amount of grains needed to feed the animals on the estate, the supplies needed for the kitchen, or even the sheer amount of candles they used on a weekly basis. It never ended. There were too many things to keep track of and not enough hours in the day to go over it all. Overseeing it all had taken up the majority of his time, and he wish he didn’t have to undertake so much on his own. He had been born into the title, and while he understood that it was a privilege, he still hated most of it. Sometimes he wished he had been born a second son with less responsibility.
“Daniel,” a female said in a soft tone.
Speaking of responsibilities... “Yes, Calliope?” He lifted his gaze to meet hers. His sister stood in front of his desk with her hands behind her back and a pensive expression on her lovely face. Her golden blonde curls pinned on top of her head, but most of it was plaited and twisted into a chignon. Her day dress was a cornflower blue that matched her eyes. He adored his sister, but his head already hurt. He wasn’t certain he wanted to add her current dilemma to his already long list of duties.
“About the invitation to the Christmastide...”
“No,” he interrupted her. The last thing he wanted was to attend a Christmastide house party. All right, that wasn’t true, but it was a close second. It would be a fortnight of socializing and putting on a smile, as if nothing in the world bothered him. “We are not going.”
