“Are you certain you would not like another lesson?”
Very certain for it was a very dangerous game. “I will let you know if I change my mind.”
When they reached her home, Frances did invite Seth up for tea. Though it would have been wise to send him on his way, she was not finished visiting. However, she had also expected Bethany to be at home; instead, she learned that Bethany had gone out.
“Please bring a tea service,” Frances asked the footman, then took a seat in a comfortable chair instead of on the settee for fear that Seth would join her.
She was drawn to him and wanted his touch and his lips on hers, but she could not succumb to desire whenever she was in his presence or she would never win in the end.
While Frances had decided that one day they would be lovers, she would not rush ahead but be careful in her wooing of him until she was certain of his intentions, which she assumed would one day be marriage, or at least he would once again admit his love.
Chapter Sixteen
As soon as he learned that Lady Bethany was not at home, Seth could not wait to be alone with Frances so that he could kiss, hold and caress. He had hoped she would feel the same, but when Frances settled into a single chair when two settees were available, he couldn’t help but wonder if she felt the same. He was certain she’d been as filled with desire last night as he had been.
Perhaps that was the reason she intentionally kept her distance from him.
Had her passion scared her or was she wiser so as not to tempt that which was forbidden.
“Thank you for the stroll. It was pleasant,” she offered as Seth decided to take a seat across from her.
“Yes, it was. Perhaps we should walk again tomorrow.”
Frances arched an eyebrow. “I have not yet decided if I will be at home.” The corner of her mouth quirked.
Seth chuckled and shook his head. She played a game and though he did not know her intentions, he also did not mind.
“You did not indicate that you already had plans.”
“Perhaps I do.”
“What would those be?” he asked.
Frances shrugged. “Not all plans need to be shared.”
“Therefore, I will not call,” he finally said.
“Did I not say that I have not yet decided if I would be at home?”
“You wish for me to call on you, but you may not be available,” Seth clarified.
Frances grinned. “Yes.”
“Very well.” He chuckled again. “I will call and eagerly wait for you to invite me in or send me away.”
She had waited on him for ten years at the cottage and now Frances had control of her comings and goings and apparently his as well. Seth would give her this and it could simply be because she wanted to be assured of his intentions.
A footman entered a moment later and set the tea service in the center of the table, which was also out of reach of the chair Frances had chosen so she had to move to one of the settees. Unfortunately, she chose the one across from Seth.
“If you were free tomorrow, is there anything in particular that you would like to do?”
She frowned as she poured him a cup of tea and added just a touch of milk, exactly as he had taken it all those years ago.
“I need to visit the lending library. Perhaps that is what I will do,” she said as she fixed her own cup of tea, taking nothing with it.
“I would be happy to accompany you,” he offered.
“Though, I may go in the morning.”
