He chuckled. “Aye, ’tis possible, but here is an instance when determination’s going tae delay it.”
“What do you mean?”
He smiled a bit too sensually, which should have given her some warning of what he was going to say, but it didn’t. “Just that I havena kissed you yet, darlin’, when I’m feeling this powerful urge right now tae do so.”
“Don’t even—!”
That was as far as she got in her protest, because he bent his head and hewaskissing her. For an unexpected happening, this one could have won a prize. Never would Kimberly have thought that something like this was possible, yet Lachlan MacGregor’s lips were moving over hers in a light, hesitant manner, and then suddenly, with no hesitancy at all as his kiss deepened for a full tasting.
Kimberly was thoroughly entranced. She didn’t move. She barely breathed. She certainly didn’t think. She simply stood there and experienced the wonder of that kiss and all the pleasant sensations that accompanied it. Even when his tongue made a foray into her mouth, her shock that he would do such a thing didn’t counter the pleasure of it. There were too many unique feelings coursing through her to be overly disturbed by the unexpected.
When he finally leaned back, she was totally bemused. He could have left right then and she wouldn’t have known it. But he didn’t leave. He was staring down at her rather intensely, and when her thoughts finally returned in a rush, they bombarded her with contradictions. Utmost was outrage alongside a desire to kiss him again, whichreallydidn’t mix at all.
Kimberly had certainly never experienced anything even remotely similar to what had just occurred. Maurice had given her a short, awkward kiss when she was sixteen, which had been her first. Then he’d given her a more manly kiss before he left on his grand tour. Neither had affected her in the least, but she certainly couldn’t say that about the Scotsman’s kiss. And she had no idea why he had decided to show her the difference.
She resolved to find out, asking him frankly, “Why did you do that?”
He suddenly looked as confused as she was. “I dinna ken,” he admitted. “’Tis possible I have overimbibed and should take myself tae bed, afore I make more of an ass of myself than I have.”
She was disappointed in his response though she had no business being so. What had she expected to hear, that he had kissed her because he simply couldn’t help himself, that it was something he had to do because he wanted to so badly? She nearly snorted at her own thoughts.
To him she said, “Yes, that’s a capital idea. And don’t bother apologizing yet again in the morning, MacGregor. Too many apologies tend to weaken the sincerity one should expect from such endeavors.”
She turned about to make another attempt to open her door. His hand came to her arm, stilling her, and he was once again breathing down her neck, sending a shiver down her spine this time.
“I never apologize for kissing a lass. ’Tis something I’m never sorry for, and that ’twas you I kissed doesna make an exception to that. So dinna be expecting to hear that I’m sorry, because I’m no’ the least bit sorry.”
With that he walked away, leaving her even more confused than she had been.
12
Three days later, Kimberly couldn’t quite believe that she was going to the Wigginses’ ball. She could have sworn she wouldn’t be ready for it in time, but she was. The St. James party was to include both Their Graces, Lady Hester—Cynthia was still pouting because she wasn’t old enough yet to attend—and Lachlan MacGregor, all of whom made the journey to London on the morning of the ball. They would be staying at the duke’s townhouse for just short of a week, since a few other London engagements had also been accepted, including yet another ball. And Lucinda and Margaret would be joining them tomorrow, along with Cynthia.
Incredibly, Mrs. Canterby had been able to create a stunning ball gown for Kimberly in only a day and a half, and another one would be delivered later in the week. With the help of an assistant or two, she had also managed to complete two day gowns before they departed that morning, and more would arrive in London daily, she had promised.
With their servants along, as well as the amount of baggage that the duchess traveled with, it took two carriages besides the grand ducal coach to transport them. Even so, the duke elected to ride one of his magnificent thoroughbred horses instead, possibly because he didn’t want to be cooped up with the Highlander for the many hours that it took to get to London. Kimberly wished she could have been spared the same, but she wasn’t that lucky.
She had managed to avoid Lachlan the last two days, except at meals, which was fortunate. The morning after he kissed her, he arrived for breakfast and sneezed, repeatedly, and she had burst out laughing. It was just deserts, in her opinion, that he had caught her cold because of that kiss. But he’d been scowling at her ever since, apparently having a different opinion entirely. And she really couldn’t say why she had found it so funny, but she did. She also assumed that Lucinda had sent him one of her foul-tasting remedies, because he hadn’t sneezed much after that one time.
This morning, sitting beside him in the coach, but nowhere near him as the seat was so long, she was still able to ignore him somewhat. Megan and Hester sat on the opposite seat, and Kimberly could just imagine the looks that Lachlan was passing on to the duchess when Lady Hester wasn’t paying attention. In fact, Kimberly had no doubt that if Hester weren’t along, she would herself be ignored again and the two of them would be discussing, quite openly, his interest in the duchess. She felt certain that he would at least make that attempt.
As it was, Megan maintained a mulish expression that indicated her annoyance with the Scotsman. The only time it left her face was when she had to turn to Hester, who kept up a steady stream of chatter, to make some reply. Kimberly was avoiding those brief conversations herself by admiring the passing scenery, or pretending to.
There was nothing scheduled for the afternoon, and in fact when they arrived in London, Megan suggested they all rest, since the ball would undoubtedly last into the wee hours of the morning. Kimberly was all for that. Trying to ignore Lachlan at such close quarters had been a strain, making the journey very tiring.
But it seemed like in no time at all, they were departing for the ball. Kimberly was actually excited, probably because, she had to admit, she had never looked quite so nice. And that wasn’t only due to her splendid gown, which fit her exceptionally well. The silver-grey satin was interspersed with powder blue lace that circled the narrow skirt at intervals and bordered the lengthy train in the back. It also draped off her shoulders and edged the deeply scooped neckline, which was the current style. A choker of the satin and lace had been made to accompany it, to which she was able to attach a lovely cameo that had been her mother’s.
But it was the coiffure that Megan’s maid had created for her that actually made her feel pretty. And to think she had fussed at the girl when she arrived with her scissors and curling irons, and had started snipping away at Kimberly’s bangs. She was apparently adept at the current hairstyles, which was why Megan had sent her to Kimberly for the ball.
By the time she was done, many long golden locks littered the floor, but the short fluff of bangs that now framed Kimberly’s face and the curls at her temples softened her features considerably. With a bit of powder and rouge added, she hardly recognized herself.
Lachlan didn’t recognize her either, not at first glance. When he stepped out of his room just as she was passing by he began a general greeting, assuming the St. Jameses had yet another new guest. She didn’t stop, didn’t acknowledge even noticing him, continued to sashay down the hall, and his mouth dropped open as it dawned on him who she was.
It wasn’t often he was taken so by surprise, yet Lady Kimberly seemed to be making a habit of surprising him. He wanted to grab her back and ask her what the hell she thought she was doing, looking like that. He didn’t. And he kept his mouth shut before he sounded as ridiculous as he felt.
She’d also surprised him the other night, when he first saw her smile. She was pretty when those dimples made an appearance, really pretty. And he had to wonder how that smile was going to enhance this changed appearance that gave her a unique sort of beauty. He supposed he’d find out during the course of the evening, but hewasn’tlooking forward to the effect it would have on him.
And what surprised him the most was that the woman was affecting him in the strangest ways.
