He lifted his head from her shoulder and smiled at her. “I’m famished.”
She laughed. “I would assume so. You worked up quite the appetite.”
He dropped his lips to hers and the kiss was gentle and brief. “Why don’t we go down for the famous supper spread Mr. Fergus couldn’t stop talking about?”
She stared up into his face in surprise. So often her interactions with men had been in secret. There were places where women like her belonged and it was rarely at a man’s table. Even a protector’s. So even though Ripley had pretended she was his wife, somehow she had expected he might put up that same wall between what was proper and what wasn’t.
“Are you in there, Jane?” he asked, his brow wrinkling. “Have I pleasured you to the loss of reason?”
“You are quite full of yourself, aren’t you? No, I have reason, just found myself woolgathering. I’d love to share supper.”
“Good.” He got up and quickly tucked himself back into place. It took him all of two minutes to look ready to go.
“I think it will take me a bit longer,” she said, rising and stretching muscles sore from pleasurable use.
“Then let me help.” He swept up her gown from where she’d discarded it on the floor and shook it out. She smoothed her wrinkled chemise and then gripped his forearm as she balanced herself to step in.
He was gentle as he helped her dress. Fastened the buttons he’d watched her strip for him earlier. When he touched her, it wasn’t meant to seduce, even though even the grazing glances did just that. This man drove her wild, that was all there was to it.
But at last she was dressed and she moved to sit at the dressing table. She laughed at her cock-eyed hair, messy from his fingers. “This won’t do. I think I lost some pins. Will you look for them?”
He gave her a mock salute and did that as she used her fingers to comb out the locks since she didn’t want to find her brush in the portmanteau she hadn’t bothered to open once they’d entered the room. He brought her a handful and watched as she swept her hair up in a loose bun at the nape of her neck.
“You’re very good at that.”
She smiled at him in the reflection of the mirror. “It comes with the trade, I think. A woman like me has to know how to fix herself with speed and efficiency.”
“I suppose that’s true. It certainly gives you advantage over ladies who need so much help.”
She laughed. “You should have seen Esme when she first left her old life. She was useless with gowns and brushes. I had to teach her how to take care of herself.”
“You did a fine job,” he said softly. The compliment warmed her more than it should.
“So did you.”
They stared at each other in the reflection for a moment. Until it became a little uncomfortable for Jane because it was far too close. She got up and faced him with a false smile. “I’m ready now.”
“Very good.”
He took her arm like he truly was her husband and together they went down to the dining hall where others were already seated. Staff brought out wine and food that smelled so good Jane’s stomach growled. It was all Scottish fare, probably because of the owner’s heritage, and she practically bounced at the idea of finely fried fish and potatoes.
Mr. Fergus waved to them after they were seated and Ripley returned the wave. He pushed back from the place he’d just taken and said, “I want to discuss something with the man. Give me a moment.”
She nodded and watched him as he crossed the room. She’d always loved to watch him move through a crowd. Ripley carried himself like a warrior, no matter how long it had been since he fought in a ring. He had a command of the room that everyone bowed to and people moved in his wake. Plus, now that she knew the exact arrangements of the glorious muscles beneath his clothes, she enjoyed watching them ripple all the more.
The two men talked for a moment and Fergus looked at her for a brief moment before he nodded and rushed away to do whatever Ripley had asked when it came to their horses or accommodations.
Ripley returned and settled into his place, draping his napkin across his lap. “He seems a decent fellow, even if he talks ceaselessly.”
“I suppose he’s in the right business for it,” Jane said with a laugh. “It’s always a trick to know when to speak and when to be silent when one is serving the needs of others.”
Before Ripley could answer a very pretty lady with dark hair and a round face with a wide smile approached them. “Oh, good evening Mr. and Mrs. Ripley,” she said.
Jane was startled by being called his wife again, even if she’d known it would happen. She kept her gaze away from Ripley’s so she wouldn’t see his reaction.
“Good evening,” he said in return.
“I’m Mrs. Fergus. I hope your finding your accommodations well?”
