Garrett had never desired steady companionship from anybody, let alone a woman.
But as today progressed, a voice in his head contemplated the hare-brained idea planted by Ravensdale.
He could have her in his bed every night.
As she had shown the previous night, she yearned to explore her sensual nature. Under the right circumstances, of course, Garrett would be more than pleased to assist her in this endeavor. He would introduce her to all manner of carnal experiences. He’d hastily dismissed visions of the lady beneath him, or possibly riding him, as soon as he’d begun conjuring them. Physical arousal and riding horseback were not conducive to one another.
Her conversation did not bore him.
In fact, he found bantering with her—well, amusing. Although he’d spent a great deal of his life seeking pleasure, he could not recall any woman who entertained him as much with simple conversation. This thought muddled his mind a bit.
Marriage to Lady Natalie would include the full backing of the Earl of Ravensdale.
Although he’d planned upon undertaking the rebuilding of the Hawthorne earldom alone, the road would be smoother with the public endorsement of one of theton’swealthiestmembers. It was not the wealth that mattered so much as the power and influence the Spencers carried.
He could have her in his bed every night.
Oh, yes, he’d already considered this fact. He pictured her as she had been last night on her knees, in her nightclothes. He remembered the soft feel of her breast in his hand.
Now, sitting beside her, his senses buzzed. She’d been in his thoughts all day. She was becoming something of a possibility. For now, though, he simply wanted to touch her.
He reached his hand over to her lap and grasped her tiny wrist. She did not startle as he thought she might, but he felt her breathing quickene. Each of them continued conversing with the people seated around them as though nothing whatsoever were untoward. Her skin felt like the petal of a rose. Her hand, fragile and delicate.
After several minutes, Garrett began rubbing the underside of her wrist. Her pulse raced beneath his thumb.
Natalie was certain the other guests must be aware of the emotions boiling up inside of her! The instant his hand possessed hers, it encompassed all her awareness. Her entire being suddenly focused on the feelings he created with a simple touch, a light caress. The more he held her hand, the more her body felt drawn toward him. Like a physical hunger, his nearness enflamed and yet overwhelmed her.
As though underwater, Natalie turned her head and watched Hawthorne converse with Lord Malmsteen. Fully distracted by her own inner turmoil, she comprehended none of their conversation. She then glanced around at the other guests near her. Not one had the slightest clue that the man beside her was seducing her with just the touch of his hand. And yet she felt as though she were turning to liquid, as though her bones were melting.
Did Hawthorne know of the havoc he created inside of her? Of course, he must! Unwilling to sit docilely while her heartraced madly, she shook the slipper from her foot and edged it over to Lord Hawthorne’s. Most conveniently, he’d exchanged his boots for buckled shoes this evening. In a daring move, she pressed the arch of her foot onto the top of his ankle. As she did so, both of his eyebrows rose at once. His foot felt hard; his ankle felt hard. She knew from the previous night that his legs were hard all over.
He was not a soft man in any way whatsoever.
Her foot rose slightly when Lord Hawthorne lounged backward and stretched his legs out in her direction. He’d done this intentionally! He was making it so that she could explore his person more thoroughly with the tender sole of her foot. The expression on his face remained impassive.
Feeling the need to participate in the conversation somehow, Natalie met Lord Hawthorne’s eyes innocently. “What did you think of my father’s irrigation system? Do you not think it clever that he extended the canal to transport loads of coal right through the village? Oftentimes, I am amazed by the feats of man.”
Lord Hawthorne appeared surprised by her comment. Perhaps he was as distracted by her touch as she was by his, for he took a moment to absorb her words. Natalie knew her father’s estate covered a tremendous amount of land, and the system designed and implemented was quite impressive. She had paid attention, even as a girl, to what sustained her family’s wealth.
“It is inspiring.” His answer referred to the canal, and yet a zing of awareness shot through her. “Water in Great Britain can be either a blessing or a curse. When managed properly it can, for the most part, be the former. Even so, the powers of nature cannot always be contained.”
Like passion. Like whatever was building between the two of them.
Still holding his gaze, Natalie explored his stocking-coveredankle with her foot. “Before my father took over the earldom, many of the fields often flooded. Under his management, the lake was constructed and the channels dug out in order to contain the water.” She grimaced and added, “It is most effective—most of the time, anyhow.”
“An admirable system,” Garrett declared. “An excellent model to be considered.” He grazed her palm with the tips of his fingers. “Do you swim in the lake?”
His voice sounded low and gravelly. Heat spread from her chest to her thighs. Were they really discussing water? And swimming?
Natalie swallowed hard before answering. “Yes. There’s a beach on the south side. Sand is brought in every two or three years. Father made it a point that we all learn.” She removed her foot and ran the V of her toes down the back of his ankle. “He knew of too many needless drownings and did not wish to lose any of his children thusly.” But Natalie did not want to discuss her father. “Do you swim, my lord?”
He smiled at her with the sensuality she’d always noticed before. “I manage to stay afloat.” Likely he did better than that. “I didn’t learn to swim as a boy. I learned after I’d reached my majority—in the ocean while visiting a…friend. My friend’s late husband’s estate extended along a few miles of both hazardous and swimmable beaches. The process was humbling.”
Just then, Lady Natalie’s mother stood and invited the ladies to join her in the drawing room. The announcement shattered their private cocoon of intimacy. Natalie reluctantly slid her foot back into her slipper. When she went to withdraw her hand from Hawthorne’s grasp, his fingers tightened.
For a moment, a hunger burned in his eyes as she glanced over at him. She stared back boldly before dropping her gaze to their hands. His grip loosened suddenly.
She stood on shaky legs and followed the ladies out.
