Graham smirked at this remark and conceded, “It is true I find myself with much spare time on my hands, and my tenants are pleased to say the least.”
As the two friends continued to talk about the resolution of problems on the Ashford Estate, talking over repairs of the barn and other things, the ladies conversed with ease, catching up on any big news that was not already known through the gossip papers. Eventually, the conversation turned to Georgiana.
“I do hope to see Georgiana soon, now that you all are in town again,” Charlotte mentioned in passing, expecting a quick and simple affirmation from Eleanor.
“We shall see when Georgiana is back in society. She has some of her own family matters to attend to. In truth, I am not quite sure of what they are,” Eleanor responded, causing Alaina and her mother to raise their eyebrows.
As Charlotte and Alaina fumbled with what to say, someone who looked vaguely familiar to Alaina approached Graham and Christopher, clasping the latter on the shoulder in a friendly gesture. Christopher turned to meet the man, and his face lit up.
“Charles! I did not know you were back in town. Rumor was you ran off shortly after I made a short trip to Ashford.”
“Yes, cousin, I fear I was hasty in my retreat to the country, but I am back now, and I hear you may have good news.” Charles’s vision shifted to rest on Alaina. She was unable to place his face still, but had a hard time shaking a sense of unease.
Christopher was quick to make the introductions. “Ladies, this is my cousin Charles Kendall, Baron of Newhaven. He is a country gentleman, with a barony just near my estate. Charles, this is Graham’s mother, Dowager Duchess of Ashford, the Countess of Norwich, and her daughter, Lady Alaina Sinclair.”
Alaina placed her hand in the crook of Christopher’s arm, and joined the other ladies in greeting Charles. “It is nice to meet you, my lord. It is great to finally make acquaintance with some of Christopher’s relatives,” Alaina smiled sweetly, still not able to shake the feeling of disquietude.
Charles turned to the ladies, having long disengaged from Graham, and greeted each one with a short bow. “It is a pleasure to make everyone’s acquaintance.”
The pause in the conversation became longer than acceptable for Alaina, while she peered more intently at Charles. He was as tall as Christopher and quite nondescript for the ton, with blonde hair and light eyes. His build was slimmer than either Graham or Christopher, but he still looked athletic and not gangly by any stretch of the word.
Feeling the weight of her perusal, Charles shifted uncomfortably to one foot and cleared his throat. “Something amiss, Lady Alaina?”
Alaina realized everyone in the group had turned their eyes to her, aware of her odd fascination, and were waiting for her response. She giggled, hoping to dispel any awkwardness. “I am sorry Lord Newhaven, I fear I feel we may have met before, or at least you seem very familiar.”
Alaina thought she saw a slight widening of Charles’s eyes, but then he shook his head and laughed easily. “Dear maiden, we have never been formally introduced, but I would be lying if I said I had not noticed you prior to this evening. Maybe you just recognize me from a chance encounter in passing? And please call me Charles. We may be family someday soon.”
Alaina was amused as Charles caught an elbow in the ribs from Christopher. “Watch it cousin, no flirting.” Christopher chuckled, winking at Alaina to reassure her it was only in jest.
Alaina looked around the group, catching bemused glances, and shrugged her shoulders. “I must be mistaken.”
The group fell into easy discussion, leaving Alaina to wonder if her mind was playing tricks on her. She could not shake the feeling that she had at least encountered Charles before, even if they had never been properly introduced.
The breeze hit Alaina and Christopher as they rushed out the door. Both were dizzy from all the dancing and merriment, and giggling with excitement. There was a chill in the air, and attached to the ballroom was a balcony with gardens below for guests to enjoy a moment’s quiet. Candelabras were set up on a few scattered tables to provide enough light at the outer edges of the balcony, with the light spilling out of the windows and doors illuminating the space immediately outside. It was at the outer edges of the balcony that the couple stopped their flight.
Out of breath from laughter, and with a heady feeling, Alaina looked into Christopher’s eyes, which had taken on a midnight hue in the candlelight. She was barely able to get out a whisper. “Christopher, I fear I will expire from all this fun, truly.” A small giggle punctuated her sentence.
“My dear, I highly doubt that,” Christopher said, raising an eyebrow.
A few other couples were standing on the balcony, each focused on their own conversations, with nary an eye turned in their direction. This allowed Christopher to slowly pull Alaina toward the shadowed edge of the balcony, near the staircase leading into the gardens. With a hand to his lips to stop any questions, and a twinkle of mischievousness in his eyes, Christopher pulled Alaina to the side of a large planter, shielding them from view completely. A walkway lay off to their side and Alaina could faintly make out the outline of a door that would probably lead to a servants’ back hallway. After a quick survey of her surroundings, Alaina turned her attention back to Christopher, who was now standing close in front of her, the heat of his body radiating toward hers, making the cold in the air unnoticeable. A smile spread across her lips as she raked her eyes over his broad shoulders, up to his strong chin, lips, and then his eyes. By the time their eyes met, the rate of their breathing had picked up almost in unison. Christopher matched her smile with a lopsided one of his own. Christopher began to lean in, leaving room for a last-minute refusal, but hoping for none.
Seeing no hesitation from Alaina, Christopher brushed his lips to hers ever so gently, leaving both of them tingling from the contact and in anticipation of more. Christopher pulled back slightly to check on Alaina and found wide pools of umber looking at him in the moonlight.
Alaina struggled with a mix of feelings, and could not help the next words out of her mouth. “That was different.”
Her statement surprised Christopher, leaving him momentarily confused as to what she was referring to. Then it dawned on him. “Yes, this kiss is different, but no less precious. I must apologize for my haste at the first ball, and my desperation in the parlor. I could not help myself then, and it was forbidden before, but now…”
“It is still technically forbidden.” Alaina interjected, a giggle escaping her lips once more.
Christopher chuckled and put his hand up on the wall just above Alaina’s head, unsure of what to do next.
After a moment of silence, Alaina whispered. “You know, I liked it. All of them were lovely.”
Christopher met her eyes and was lost, his gentler manner torn asunder by his need. His lips joined Alaina’s with a fervor surprising to both. Once she got over her initial shock, Alaina instinctively slanted her face and Christopher groaned in pleasure, drinking her in. His hand found the nape of her neck, without thought, supporting her head, while his other arm wrapped around her waist and pulled Alaina toward him. Their bodies connected and each felt heat crackling in the frosty night air.
Alaina’s nipples puckered against the fabric of her dress as it met his muscular chest, and she felt a hardness against her belly. Christopher tested her lips with his tongue, and they slightly parted at the intrusion. Alaina found her hands moving up his arms to rest on Christopher’s broad shoulders, one hand eventually finding its way to the nape of his neck, her gloved fingers burying themselves in his short hair. The couple seemed intent to explore with their mouths, but neither could ignore the warmth that started to radiate from their bellies, a deep throbbing in Christopher’s loins and a pleasurable sensation between Alaina’s legs, one very foreign to her, but delightful.
So lost in the moment was the couple that they did not hear the familiar voices coming their way until it was almost too late. Christopher, only slightly more aware than Alaina, suddenly pulled away from her and turned his head to listen.
