While Lady Twitchard must have anticipated a kiss or two would occur, she couldn’t have predicted what had happened in the conservatory.
“Look at yourself,” she said and tugged up the neckline of her gown until it lay evenly across her chest. Her body was still sizzling and humming — not to mention throbbing, too, in places.
And she couldn’t wipe the smile from her face.
It must look as though she’d allowed no liberties to be taken, nothing greater than a kiss, anyway.
First, she took the pins out of her hair and considered the wreck of her ringlets, skillfully crafted by Belinda.
Belinda!It had been hours since she’d thought of her maid. Seeking her out to repair the damage would be impossible as she might run into Lady Twitchard, or even any of Vincent’s staff — people who might one day be her own servants. She didn’t want to give them a questionable early impression. Brilliance would have to come up with her own solution.
Her curls were decidedly wispy and frayed, and many had straightened. Having no comb, nor any other accoutrements, there was little she could do but scrape her messy locks back with her fingers and wind them around into a bun. It took her three tries for any semblance of order, and then she rammed inthe pins. Her hair wasn’t truly styled, nor was it even particularly kempt, but it would have to do.
Resetting her bonnet, she tied it in place, hiding as much as she could under the fashionably small cotton and lace creation.
What an eventful afternoon it had been, she mused. Truly enlightening in many regards, both musically and otherwise. Mostly theotherwisepart interested her, as she’d learned more about the man who had captured her heart. He was so talented and knowledgeable — in kissing and such.
Finding herself beneath the hard, strong body of Vincent Hewitt, Brilliance had momentarily lost herself and forgotten her surroundings. She could gladly have stayed there for hours, feeling his heat sink through her gown, relishing the weight of him pressing her into the divan, enjoying both his mouth upon hers and his skillful touch on her breast.Her breast!
She widened her eyes at her own reflection. Why, she’d been reduced to a quivering heap of sensation.
“Delightful!” she exclaimed, smoothing her gown with her hands one last time before crossing the room to the door. The swish of her gown moved the air and in turn swept the pages from the lap desk.
Halting, she bent down to retrieve them and realized what she held.
With only the tiniest of hesitancies, Brilliance folded the sheets before sliding them under her gown and into the pocket hanging beneath. Satisfied, she left the little salon and made her way along the passage toward the foyer so she could enter the conservatory from the main hallway.
“Here she is,” Lord Hewitt remarked at her entrance. Colonel and Lady Twitchard were seated on the very same sofa on which —
Her gaze darted to him. With her mouth suddenly dry, she cleared her throat.
“I apologize for taking so long. I hope I didn’t keep anyone waiting.”
Despite having been underneath him, Brilliance didn’t feel a modicum of awkwardness when she looked into his eyes. She adored him and hoped they would have the opportunity to repeat the experience in the very near future.
“I thought you brought another gown to wear for dinner,” Lady Twitchard said.
Only then did Brilliance recall it, still folded in a case, somewhere in the house with Belinda. If she had feared for her wits before, she could expect to lose them entirely when mesmerized by Vincent Hewitt.
She shrugged.
“I think she looks perfect just as she is,” her brand new suitor said.
Brilliance knew she was the luckiest woman in the world.
“Be that as it may,” Lady Twitchard continued, “you cannot wear your sunbonnet to the dinner table. You must remove it.”
Vincent’s expression appeared stricken. She probably wore a similar look.
“Must I?” Brilliance asked.Why hadn’t she thought of that?
Lady Twitchard laughed as if Brilliance were speaking in jest.
“Shall I go find my maid and change after all?” she offered.
“No, no,” said the Colonel. “We don’t stand on ceremony. I don’t see what the fuss is about over wearing a blue bonnet, but I am hungry. I know what happens when you ladies go off to change, and I won’t allow it.”
With such a decree, Brilliance could do little but untie the ribbons under her chin and remove it. Lady Twitchard didn’t gasp, but her gaze sharpened.She knew!
