His eyes narrowed. “Will you run away like a frightened rabbit?”
“No.”
He let go of her.
“Do you deny she came to the conservatory after everyone had gone upstairs to bed?” Brilliance asked, needing to know the entire truth.
“I don’t deny it, but she came uninvited. And I sent her back upstairs as soon as I sussed out her game.”
“I see.”
He took hold of both her hands. “I believe youdidsee. I heard a noise. Was that you?”
“Perhaps,” she said, letting him draw her toward him.
“And what wereyoudoing creeping downstairs?” he asked. “Were you meeting a lover?”
Her cheeks heated. He had caught her. Lord Hewitt knew she had intended to do exactly what Lady Georgiana had done.
“If you had slipped into the conservatory, I promise you, I would not have thrown you out as I did her.”
“Why?” she asked, looking up at him. She wanted him to compliment her, and it must have shown.
“Well, that is a first,” Lord Hewitt said. “Lady Brilliance is flirting with me. Shamelessly, too. I would have kept you locked in the music room with me until all hours. And if you do not know why, then I will show you.”
Without warning, he kissed her. Without a thought, she snaked her hands up to rest behind his neck while his hands spanned her waist.
Brilliance had learned a few things that week, such as how to tilt her head and make her mouth fit against his perfectly without their noses bumping. She’d learned it made the kiss better to part her lips. But when his tongue began its quest, she slid hers into his mouth, surprising him.
It was a delicate dance, and while they performed it, her heart was pounding so hard that the noise filled her ears like a drumbeat. Why it should be pleasurable to crush her breastsagainst him, she could not explain, but it was. In fact, she could not get close enough.
How long they kissed, she couldn’t say. Leisurely, he raised his head and she sighed. Then, seeing how her bonnet brim was half over her left eye, she started to straighten it.
“I nearly forgot!” he exclaimed. “I bought you a gift.”
“Whatever for?”
“For all you have given me, all the fruit and the friendship. And simply because I wished to.” He reached inside his coat. “There was not much selection in the village, and now we’ve crushed the silly thing.”
Lord Hewitt handed her a decidedly flat but lumpy parcel of creased tissue-paper.
Not the least hesitant, she tore it off in two seconds. “A bonnet,” she said softly, staring at the folded hat in the lightest cotton. “And the prettiest shade of blue.”
“To match your eyes,” he said.
“Thank you. I adore it.” She undid the bow under her chin and wrenched off the cream and pink bonnet she was presently wearing, tucking it under her arm. Giving the new one a shake that didn’t succeed in removing its many wrinkles, she set it atop her head.
“How does it look?” she asked.
“Beautiful, albeit crumpled. I am sure your maid will tend to it.” He took hold of the blue ribbons dangling down. “Meanwhile, allow me to tie these for you, my lady.”
Brilliance felt his fingers under her chin as he made a lopsided, clumsy bow. As soon as he had finished, she went up on tiptoe and kissed him again.
Instantly, heat curled through her body, increasing when he pressed one of his thighs between hers. Lost in the ardor of their embrace, she was hampered only by the cotton of her day dress from feeling his firm leg against her most intimate part.
Voices had them springing apart, with Brilliance sucking in a shocked breath while Lord Hewitt tugged at his coat sleeves.
“Walk toward them,” he ordered, “and I will go back to the stream. I shall come find you, and we’ll go riding.”
