Fletcher stared at her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. “Louisa.”
“I hate that Daniel is preventing me from starting the rest of my life becauseheneeded a bride.”
“I can’t change the past,” Fletcher said, sounding like he regretted that fact.
“I want it to be you at the church Saturday. I don’t want to see Daniel ever again.”
“I’d marry you tomorrow if I didn’t think Rotherfeld would retaliate by ruining your father.”
“Fletcher, I—”
Suddenly, he swooped over and kissed her.
Thiswas what she’d wanted. Fletcher’s lips were warm and firm, he tasted a bit like tea, and kissing him made her chest warm and her skin tingle. Fletcher put his hands on her waist and pulled her close, and she was reminded that he had experience with women, but she had no experience with men. She trusted him, though, trusted him to show her what to do, trusted him to care for her and not to hurt her. He’d know what to do on their wedding night, though, something she looked forward to experiencing, especially since kissing him was so good. She put her arms around his shoulders and kept him close to her so they could keep kissing.
“We shouldn’t,” Fletcher said when he pulled away slightly. “Rotherfeld…”
“To the devil with Rotherfeld.”
Fletcher chuckled softly. “I quite agree, but I don’t mean to cuckold the man.”
Louisa took a step back. “On my growing list of resentments of Rotherfeld is the fact that I want to kiss you and see what comes next, but you keep stopping me because of my engagement.”
“Trust me, if I had any less integrity, you’d be naked on my settee right now, but I am trying to be a gentleman.”
“I wish you wouldn’t.”
“Louisa.” His tone was reproachful but amused.
“You truly want me?”
“More than anything.”
Louisa frowned at him. “Do you think I’m beautiful?”
“Yes.” No hesitation.
“Have you always thought so?”
“Perhaps not when you were a child, but especially since we started attending the opera together? Yes. I noticed you were beautiful. You have that yellow gown you wear sometimes, the one with the little flowers embroidered on it?”
Louisa was surprised Fletcher had noticed her that much. “What about it?”
“When you wear it, it shows of your… bosom, in a quite appealing way. Since the first time you wore it, I wondered about that. I didn’t want to leer at you, but…yes, I find you very attractive. But I also thought we considered each other siblings, and what sort of lech lusts after his sister?”
“The one who is not actually related by blood.”
“Fair. But for me, half the fun of going to the opera with you, or going to garden parties or dinner parties or balls, is your company. I would like the opera far less if you didn’t attend with me. I would enjoy other social occasions far less if we could not gently mock the other attendants together. I always enjoy myself more when I am with you. That is how I know we will have a very good marriage, if that is what you are worried about.”
“I think you are very handsome. You like to wear your breeches in a way that is…clingy.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Clingy?”
“As in they cling to your thighs in a very appealing way.” She felt heat flood her face, but she pushed forward. “And I like your hair now that you’ve grown it a little long.”
“Oh.” He touched the edges of his dark hair.
“And I am staring down a wedding to a man who does not desire me, but do I not deserve to be desired?”
