Since so many members of thetonwere in town, and it was nearing the fashionable hour for driving, traffic was heavy.
As Michael paid heed to drivers and riders around him, Lilly sat beside him in companionable silence. He was amused to note she took advantage of the ride by gazing all about at the mansions lining the popular route. Most of the residences they passed were owned by London’s wealthiest noble families. Flowers bloomed and trees burst forth with their spring blossoms all along the route. After a while, Lilly settled back and seemed to relax.
“I looked it up, you know,” she said quietly beside him.
“And…” Michael prompted. He knew exactly what she referred to.
“I rather like the notion.”
Michael glanced over at her. A smug little smile danced on her lips. She was a minx. An innocent one, but a minx nonetheless.
“Very unnerving, you must realize, for a military man, such as myself.”
He felt her stare upon him as he focused on the road ahead. At the same moment, the curricle jostled and one of the wheels hit a rut. She reached and grabbed onto his leg, just above his knee. Before she could remove it, Michael covered her hand with his.
“The question is…” He leaned to the side so his lips barely brushed the top of her ear. “Now that you have me, what do you plan on doing with me?” He waited for her to blush.
She did not disappoint.
Lilly stared down at their hands and then back into his eyes. Another slow smile spread across her lush pink lips. This one, almost seductive. How many different smiles did she have? He anticipated the opportunity to find out. “I have no idea, Captain. What do you suggest?”
Michael raised one eyebrow at her. “As you are a lady and I am a gentleman, I’m afraid I cannot say.”
The blush deepened.
“In that case”—she recovered—“I shall devise some special form of torture for you. Hmm…What does a lady do when she wishes to torture a special gentleman?”
Michael chuckled and then glanced over at her. “Make him go?—”
Then they both spoke at the same time. “Shopping.”
Her giggle delighted him. Unable to help himself, Michael turned her wrist and raised it to his lips. He inhaled her scent greedily, wishing she did not wear gloves, before settling her hand back onto his thigh. They had arrived at the entrance to the park, and he needed to grasp the reins once again with both hands.
Directing the horses onto the well-worn path, Michael forced his attentions back to driving. All around them were other curricles and phaetons, some fellows on horseback, and anumber of very fashionable ladies and gentlemen strolling on foot. He would have liked to ride out of the city but would not risk Lilly’s reputation. He wanted time alone with her though.
Lilly was impressed as several people seemed to know Captain Redmond. Some waved, and the captain would stop the curricle to greet them. He introduced Lilly as a dear friend, the niece of Lady Eleanor Sheffield. He seemed to be well liked, a respected member of theton.But he was also well known for his military prowess.
Gentlemen congratulated him on his exceptional service in the war. He had apparently come home with honors and a promotion. Ladies eyed her jealously.
Not until they reached a clearing and had turned down a less populated path could Lilly have any sort of meaningful conversation with him.
“How old are you, Captain Redmond?” He seemed to have acquired a great deal of respect to be as young as she thought he was.
“I am one-and-twenty,” he answered. “Does that sound so very old? You, I am guessing are barely seventeen.”
“I will be eighteen in September,” she corrected him. Hopefully, he would not consider her too young! The thought of going back to Plymouth, to the baron, hardly bore consideration. “This will be my only season.” She would be certain he knew this.
The captain nodded and pulled the curricle to a halt. Turning to face her, he grasped her hands before speaking.
“Then we must make certain it’s a successful one.” Even wearing gloves, she felt warmth emanating from him. For a scandalous second, she thought he was going to lean forward and kiss her right there! And she would have let him! But he pulled back instead and cleared his throat. “Shall we walk along the water?”
Lilly hadn’t realized where they were until that moment.She had been intensely aware of his arms rubbing her shoulder whenever he turned the carriage or pulled back on the reins. Through her petticoat and skirt, his thigh pressed into hers each time they’d turned. The seat was not overly wide causing such necessary intimacy.
“I’d like that.”
She hadn’t intended to tell him this was to be her only season. The words had escaped of their own accord.But he needed to know.
Captain Redmond jumped off and then came around to assist her. She placed her hands upon his shoulders, and he grasped her waist. Leaning down, she trusted him with her weight. He didn’t lower her to the ground right away, however.
