“Don't apologize, Hyacinth.”
“I should,” she said weakly. “It was…impulsive.”I couldn’t resist how much I wanted to be close to you, she left unsaid.
He still cupped her face, and he stroked her cheek with this thumb. “It was lovely.”
Oh, he didn’t regret it! Air filled her lungs. Her heartbeat began to steady.
“I don’t regret it,” she blurted.
That won her the most beautiful smile she’d ever seen. His eyes glittered, then he glanced down at her lips again. And that yearning he spoke of seeing in her eyes? Oh, it was there in his gaze too.
“There you are,” Emma called.
Tristan released her, lowering his arms. Hyacinth took a step away.
“I thought you’d be in your room,” Emma continued as she approached from across the conservatory.
Hyacinth turned to face her. “You found me.”
Emma looked pleased to find them together. “I take it he’s shown you his collection.”
“He did.” Hyacinth wondered if Emma could see it—the heat in her cheeks, the way her breath was racing from her lungs, the way her heart was thrashing.
“It’s almost time for our gathering. Will you two come with me to the drawing room to make sure I haven’t forgotten anything?”
“Of course,” Tristan said from over Hyacinth’s shoulder.
He took a step closer and a shiver skittered down her back.
“Shall we?” he murmured quietly to her.
“Yes.” Hyacinth glanced back at him, and his gaze slid down to her lips again.
When the three of them strode together out of the conservatory, Hyacinth’s knees felt like jelly, and she had to remind herself that she had a whole evening ahead of her yet.
CHAPTER 8
The first dinner of the house party turned out to be the most miserable dinner of Tristan’s life. And though both he and Emma had hoped their father might join them, he’d begged off. But his father’s absence wasn’t what made it miserable. The seating arrangement did.
In assuming his interest in Lady Felicia, Emma had ensured that she was seated next to him, along with Collier. Since Emma had arranged for her own seat at the end of the table opposite him, she’d also chosen to place her dearest friend next to her.
Thus, the only ladies he truly wished to converse with were at the farthest end of the table from him, whilst the likes of Lord Selwick and his sister, Lady Sybil, were engaged in avid conversation with Collier and Lady Felicia. Collier and Selwick had an interest in horse racing, hunting, and fishing. Lady Sybil and Lady Felicia had a fondness for hats and magazines and going to the opera.
Tristan had an interest in and fondness for Hyacinth Briarwood, and he was thwarted from pursuing either for over two hours and six courses.
By the time the group stood from the dining table and made their way back into the drawing room, Tristan was so pent up, he was contemplating something drastic.
Like finding a way to take Hyacinth out into the garden so they could have another moment alone.
When the dinner was finally done and the group moved toward the drawing room, he thought of nothing but speaking to her. He feared she was embarrassed about the kiss, and he needed her to know that he wasn’t. That he wanted to kiss her again.
He could admit to himself now that he’d thought of kissing her since the night he’d danced with her. There had been a moment in the garden when she’d looked so lovely in the moonlight…
“Brooke.” Collier approached as soon as he crossed the drawing room threshold. “Shall we gather the gentlemen and head to the billiards room?”
Tristan scanned the room, where guests were settling into chairs and settees or gathered in clusters conversing. He spotted Hyacinth in the corner with her sister.
“Brooke?”
