He left Roderick’s side and stopped as he and Clarissa met in the middle of the big parlor. He kissed her cheek and said something soft to her, something that made her smile up at her cousin. Then she continued to Roderick and when she reached him, all trouble was gone. It was only her.
“May a gentleman take his lady onto the terrace for some air?”
She nodded. “A lady would very much like that.”
They exited onto the terrace and she slipped her arm through his as they walked to the edge and looked out over the pretty gardens, now dormant for the winter about to arrive.
“I think it’s still pretty, even when it’s in waiting,” she said.
He smiled. “I agree. There’s something special about the anticipation of all the beauty and joy and pleasure to come.”
She glanced up at him and her lips tilted in a smile. “Are you talking about the garden or us?”
“The garden, of course,” he said with a laugh. “You will never be in waiting when it comes to me. Though I very much anticipate when we’re alone so I can kiss you.”
She leaned into him, her arms coming around his neck as her gazewent soft and dreamy in the moonlight. “Why don’t you be very inappropriate and kiss me now?”
“Why, Lady Kirkwood,” he said with a chuckle. “Are you certain that would be prop?—”
He didn’t get to finish. Instead she leaned up and kissed him instead. Propriety be damned.
