Bridget tapped her fingers on her arm. “Now will you kindly explain why you felt the need to”—she swallowed hard—“kiss me?”
His humorous expression was replaced with one of desire as he moved closer to her. She held her breath, hoping he wasn’t going to try to kiss her again. He couldn’t even touch her, because she wasn’t certain how her body would react. She feared that even his close presence would play havoc with her mind, even if her conscience told her Adrian Worthington was nothing but a scoundrel who used women for his own enjoyment.
“You see, my very passionate, sweet Bridget, when I touched my fingers to your lips to keep you quiet, and I felt your ragged, hot breath against my skin, I was caught up in my thoughts and wondered what it would feel like to kiss you.” He stopped very close to her and drew the tips of his fingers across her mouth. “And I must say, I was not disappointed.”
She was weak. He must know that. Why else would he keep trying to seduce her? However, she hated feeling guilty because of what they’d done, so she couldn’t allow him to do it again.
With a trembling hand, she grasped his wrist, removing his hand from her mouth. “The kiss should have never happened, and I hope you don’t think that I’m…” She licked her dry lips and cleared her throat. “That I’mthatkind of woman, because I assure you, I’m not. I’m a true lady. Your kiss took me by surprise, and, well, I…”
“My sweet Bridget, please do not worry your pretty head about it.” He cupped the side of her face. “I still respect you, and I know you’re a true lady.” He shrugged. “And if you want me to apologize for taking such liberties, then I shall. But I’ll tell you now that I would be lying if I told you how sorry I was for doing that. If you must know, I’m very happy to have been able to kiss your luscious lips and experience your delectable passion.”
“Yes, well…” She pushed his hand aside and moved past him. “We should not let that happen ever again. We were most fortunate that nobody caught us, and I don’t want to take that chance again. With my luck, we would be caught, and I cannot have a sordid reputation.” She swiped her palms down her gown. “In fact, I think we should both forget about tonight and keep our distance from each other.”
He stared at her for the longest few seconds she had ever experienced. For a moment, he appeared to be saddened by her words. Her heart softened, but she didn’t want him to see it in her eyes or hear it in her voice.
It was best that they wereneveralone. She would not allow this to happen again, especially since she felt like the fallen women her father had preached about in his Sunday sermons.
Finally, Adrian nodded. “Let’s fix your hair before you return to the party.”
She stood still and allowed him to stand close to her as his fingers plucked at her hair. Then he stroked her cheeks briefly.
“Bridget, my sweet, you might want to wait ten minutes or so before you return.”
“Why?” she asked.
The corner of his mouth lifted in a half grin. “Because your lips are still swollen from our passionate kisses. Anyone who has been well kissed will know exactly what you have been doing during your absence from the ball.”
She gasped, and her fingers flew to her mouth. Her lips didn’tfeelswollen, but she could still feel his mouth on hers. The butterflies fluttering inside her stomach reminded her that this was something she would never forget as long as she lived.
Chapter Five
Adrian should havebeen very pleased with himself, since he could now tell Collin that Miss Hartwell wasn’t the kind of woman to court—because she had fallen easily for a man’s seduction. Yet he knew deep down inside that she wasn’tthatkind of a woman. Remarkably enough, the dejected pain in Adrian’s heart told him that he had somehow allowed her kisses to affect him. The final blow last night at the ball was when she had told him that the kiss should never have happened and would never happen again.
It didn’t take long for him to realize why she had said that. Because to her, Adrian was a penniless, country-bumpkin cousin of the earl, and not a wealthy man. There was no possible way she could have feelings for him. Not when Collin was still unattached.
Adrian leaned forward on his horse and pushed the animal faster as he rode through the countryside. Why had he thought Bridget was different? She wasn’t. She was most certainly a farthing filcher, just as he’d suspected. She would never love Collin, especially since it appeared that she couldn’t stand to touch him while they danced.
As he slowed the horse, Adrian’s mind sped in a different direction. What had repulsed Miss Hartwell about touching his brother during the dance? Yet when Adrian was with Bridget inside the pantry, she had touched his arms, his chest, his neck, and even pushed her fingers through his hair. She had touched his hands a few times, but never once had she acted as if it repulsed her. And her kisses gave no indication that she didn’t want his attention.
He pulled the horse to a stop and stared at the rolling hills in front of him. Over the years he had courted several women, and, of course, by now, he knew the difference between women who couldn’t stand to be with him and women who desired him. Innocent Miss Bridget Hartwell was a woman who desired him, but apparently, she hadn’t yet realized it herself. He might have to help that discovery move faster… without her knowing, of course.
A grin stretched across his face for the first time since this morning. Laughter bubbled up in his throat, and he couldn’t hold back from releasing the sound.
“Oh, Miss Hartwell, you are in for a surprise.” Feeling reassured, he urged the horse into a trot. “My sweet Bridget, I will help you realize that you enjoy the company of penniless men over men who have titles. I also promise to make certain that sure you cherish every minute of it.”
In the distance ahead of him, another rider came his way. At first Adrian didn’t recognize him, but soon he noticed the dark blond, wavy hair and the tall man with broad shoulders. Adrian stopped his horse and waited for his brother, preparing himself for the argument Collin would undoubtedly start.
“What are you doing out riding this early in the morning?” Adrian asked as his brother neared. “I would think the events of last evening would have kept you in your bedchambers until noon.”
Collin scowled. “I would have still been asleep, but because you left the manor so early, and Aunt Beatrice saw you, she forced my valet to awaken me and fetch you back. She didn’t get a chance to speak with you last night, and apparently, she cannot wait to have that chat.”
Adrian tightened his grip on the reins. The old biddy had watched for him all evening long, and it appeared as though she wouldn’t let the matter rest. Impatient woman. “When is she leaving? I pray it will be sometime today.”
A nerve in Collin’s cheek jumped. “Our dear aunt and her son, Walden, just arrived last night. It wouldn’t be polite to ask them to leave so quickly. I thought they could stay with us for a fortnight.”
“A fortnight?” Adrian asked in irritation. “We cannot have them visiting that long. Do you know how difficult it’s going to be to have them around if I’m playing your cousin from Whitby?”
Collin arched an eyebrow accusingly. “And pray, whose fault is that?”
