“I bet I can prove you wrong.” He waggled his eyebrows.
“Malcolm…”
He pulled her against his chest, and she gasped. Touching his muscular chest changed his mood completely, making the moment more intimate. A surge of warming tremors shot through him, and he yearned for more. “Kiss me like you did yesterday morning,” he whispered.
“No, Malcolm. Not yet. You must regain your strength.”
“Then just give me a sample of what I can expect when I’m feeling better.”
He met her mouth in a soft kiss. She pecked lightly on his lips at first, but he tightened his hold and deepened the kiss. Heat burned through him, getting hotter by the second. Her sweet kiss ignited flames clear down to his toes. Abruptly she broke away, leaving him gasping for more.
“You are a tease, my darling wife.” Taking her hand, he lifted it to his mouth and kissed. “Do you have any idea what you do to me?”
Her eyes darkened. “I’m truly sorry,” she whispered.
“Oh, no, my sweet. Never be sorry for making me happy.” He pulled her closer again and kissed her, but once again, she withdrew.
“That is not why I’m sorry.” She stroked his chin. “I’m sorry,” she continued, “because I have to stop this before it goes any farther.” She laughed and quickly jumped off the bed.
“Oh, so cruel.” He groaned in mock torture. “You shall pay for that one.”
“Later, my dear.” She moved toward the door. “Now rest.” She walked out of the room.
He relaxed and turned his thoughts to his previous questions. Although he had no solid proof, he actually believedCamilla was the other sister. She’d mentioned she and her sister were very different, and since she had come back from Preston, his wife had done a complete turnaround. Now he was almost convinced the woman he was falling in love with wasn’t his wife. Instead of upsetting him, he relished the idea, and anticipated the moment when he learned the truth.
Chapter Thirteen
Camilla couldn’t endurethe lazy afternoon by herself, and nor could she chance seeing Malcolm so soon. His alluring gaze was too powerful, and lately, she didn’t want to fight it. Never having felt this way with Fredrick, she now wanted to experience the greater joy of being a wife. Being arealwife. Which meant she had to find the courage to tell Malcolm the truth.
She had spent an hour walking through Lady Burwell’s flower gardens, but Camilla needed to return and check on Malcolm. When she stepped across the patio, her attention snapped to Lady Burwell, who sat sipping tea by herself. Camilla wasn’t in the mood to visit her, but she smiled in greeting and approached.
“Good afternoon, Lady Burwell.”
The older woman nodded, placing her teacup on the table in front of her. “How is your husband faring?”
“I believe he is getting stronger by the day. In fact, if the physician will permit, I think Mr. Worthington will be able to travel by tomorrow or the day after.”
“How wonderful.” Lady Burwell motioned to the chair next to her. “Would you like to join me?”
Reluctantly, Camilla sat, but refused the tea Lady Burwell tried to pour her.
“You know, Mrs. Worthington,” Lady Burwell began as she picked up her cup, “I’ll confess my first impressions of you were wrong. You are nothing like I thought.”
Camilla crinkled her brow. “What do you mean?”
“Well, like everyone else, I had heard rumors about you before actually meeting you, so I had formed my own opinion. Now that we have spent time together, I must admit how wrong I was. The gossip circles have judged you unfairly.”
“Thank you.” Camilla paused. “May I inquire to what they are saying?”
A red tint colored the hostess’s face as she lowered her gaze. “Well, I’m certain you have some idea.”
“Does it have to do with my brazen behavior with other men?”
Lady Burwell met Camilla’s stare and widened her eyes. “Yes.”
“Did you hear how incredibly selfish and underhanded I was?”
Lady Burwell nodded.
