Her brain was still whirling at this unexpected turn, but her heart was thumping so heavily she could feel it in her throat, half choking the words as they sobbed out. “T-tenderness? Oh, Raoul, you d-drive me to d-distraction!”
“That is no answer, for that I know already. For heaven’s sake, Felicity, don’t keep me in suspense!”
She tried to smile, but it went awry as the tears choked her. She struggled to speak, to tell him what was in her bursting heart. “I d-didn’t know. I didn’t think of it. Only I h-had become so shy of you and then, when you asked me to m-marry you, I knew I justcouldn’t, not if I had to hide how I felt. And that’s when Iknew.”
The intensity of his gaze deepened, and Felicity thought a flare of something new appeared. Something strong and passionate that spoke to the deeps within her.
“You knewwhat? Let me have it in plain words or I dare not believe what I’m hearing.”
Her lip trembled. “Can’t you tell? Must I say it indeed?”
“On pain of my deepest displeasure if you don’t.” But a smile of great tenderness was quivering on his lips and Felicity could not speak at all. She caught her breath on a sob. “Oh, come here, you impossible creature!”
She was seized and held so tightly she could scarcely breathe. The thud of her heart was echoed in his chest where her head was resting and at last she began to believe. The aroma of maleness permeated her senses, making her weak. She sagged in Raoul’s hold and he felt it. He relaxed his grip a trifle, leaning back and lifting her head so she had to look at him.
“Can you say it now? Quickly, before I am driven to kiss you into submission.”
At that, she reared up. “Submission! That you will never —?
Raoul silenced her in the only way he could. It appeared to be highly effective, but in the rising heat he straightaway forgot everything beyond the delicious feel of her lips under his.
Felicity’s limbs shook as fire streaked down her veins. A melting sensation engulfed her and thought became suspended. For the life of her she could not refrain from responding with a fervour she had not known she possessed. Raoul’s groan was accompanied by a tightening of his hold so that she was tugged against the hardness of his body in a way that made her nearly lose her senses altogether.
But all at once, he released her mouth, almost pushing her away. “Oh, my God!” Her legs jelly, Felicity stumbled. Raoul caught her and swept her up in his arms. “Steady, my dear love!”
She threw an arm up about his neck, catching at his shoulder with her other hand. “What are you doing?”
He grinned. “Carrying you to somewhere where we can sit down.”
So saying, he walked with her in his arms through the open door at the far end of the room and into yet another saloon. Felicity found she enjoyed the feeling of helplessness and utter dependency and was faintly disappointed when he set her down on a long sofa. But he settled beside her and, with an arm about her, drew her close again.
“That’s better.” Lifting up her face, he kissed her again, more gently, brushing his lips across her mouth and kissing her cheeks too. Felicity’s heart melted.
“Oh, stop, Raoul! You are making me cry again.”
He laughed down at her. “You are allowed to cry as much as you wish.” But he found a pocket handkerchief and gave it to her. Felicity dried her cheeks and sniffed. “Better?”
She nodded, smiling at him. “I still don’t think I believe this is happening. Are you sure I am awake and not dreaming again?”
His wry look appeared. “Don’t speak of dreams! The nightmares I had last night! You ran away and I could not find you.”
A sigh escaped her. “I wanted to run away. I could not decide whether to ring a peal over you or escape at once. You made me utterly miserable.”
Raoul’s arm tightened. “I’m glad. It is nothing to what you did to me.”
She pushed up and turned on him. “How do you know? How can you be so cruel? I’ve a very good mind not to tell you how much I love you!”
A grin split his face. “You are a terrible woman! That’s what it takes to make you say it?”
Felicity could not withstand a giggle. “I did say it, didn’t I?”
“Yes, and I shall hold you to it, so don’t dare think of escaping me. You are my prisoner for life, I hope you know.”
But Felicity’s mind had leapt. “Just think if you had indeed taken me for your mistress as Lord Maskery intended, Raoul.”
“For God’s sake! Are you crazy? You know I —”
“No, listen! The outcome would have been just the same, don’t you see? I mean — I mean the passion there is between us.” She felt her cheeks grow warm. “Don’t frown at me. Shouldn’t I say it? You know I have no social graces. I can’t imagine how you expect me to behave like a marchioness.”
