And that same sparky sort of sensation—tingly and warm, and oh-so-curious—traveled up her arm and settled in her chest. And…lower.
She shivered and involuntarily tightened her hold on his hand for just a moment, which, since he wasn’t wearing gloves, she could feel his calluses.
Delightful.
Those dimples were on full display when he lowered his chin in a slight nod and released her hand. While she tried to decide if that was a good thing or a bad thing, he offered her the tray.
“Ma’am.”
That was all he said, but the deep drawl resonated with the warmth in her stomach, andlower, and made her suck in a breath.
And then, a call from the front foyer startled them both. “Are ye coming, man? We have to get ye into yer costume!”
The stranger dipped his head once, as if taking his leave of her, then hurried off toward his companion’s call. After he disappeared, and only then, Ember’s gaze dropped to her hand, the hand he’d touched, which now gripped the tray’s edge.
He’d touched her hand, and she couldn’t recall the last time she’d been so aroused. Perhaps when she’d borrowed one of Bonnie’s books with the girl being captured by the ship of lusty pirates. But this man—this stranger—had merely smiled at her and touched her hand, and now she was pressing her thighs together like a mare in heat.
Wait, did mares worry about that sort of thing?
Lord in Heaven, I am going mad, am I not?
He was just a man; aguestat the inn no less. She’d seen handsome men before, and he was no different.
Trying to pretend she believed that, she hurried to return the tray of empty mugs, then lifted her serviceable gray skirts and took the back stairs two at a time to reach the family’s private sitting room.
The sight which met her pushed the stranger’s touch from her mind almost instantly.
Her sisters werestunning!
“Oh, Bonnie! Tiffany! You look…”
Tiffany preened. “Beautiful, I know.” She ran one slim hand down her pink-gowned hip. “I am certain to catch the eye of the Duke, or one of the Oliphant brothers.”
“But the heir will not be there, will he?” Bonnie asked quietly, looking uncomfortable in her golden gown. “He rarely leaves the old castle.”
“The Beast of the Oliphants? He will be there tonight,” Tiffany promised. “They all have to show their support of their new brother, do they not? So the clan will know the factory is in good hands.” Then, with a little giggle, as if she had no cares about her clan’s future, she swept into a twirl on her stockinged toe. “Is this gown not simply resplendent? I am sure some lord will fall head over heels for me tonight.”
“I do not doubt it,” Ember assured her, exchanging an indulgent look with Bonnie, amused by her stepsister’s vanity. “But speaking of heels…”
“Do you have them?” Bonnie asked eagerly.
With a flourish, Ember presented her stepsisters with their shoes.
“Oh,Ember,” breathed Bonnie reverently, holding her gold slippers up to the light. “They are…”
“They areperfect!” squealed her sister, already seated on one of the chairs to work her foot into the shoe. “They are going to draw so much attention when I waltz—I cannot wait!”
Ember allowed her sisters’ praise to wrap around her, her lips curling into a smile once more. “I am excited as well.”
Before either sister could respond, their mother swept into the room. “There you are, Ember. Have you dropped off the shoes? Excellent.” She didn’t wait for confirmation before continuing. “Come with me. I have something I need to discuss with you.”
Shooting Bonnie a bemused grin, Ember shrugged and followed her stepmother as Machara led her down the hall to Ember’s small room. It had been a storage room at one point, but after Da’s death, when her stepmother began to waste his wealth and make her true feelings for Ember known, it had become Ember’s space. There was barely enough room for a small bed and a cast-off wardrobe, full of equally cast-off gowns she’d managed to mend into serviceable states.
And one other, very special addition.
“What is it, Stepmother?” she asked, reminding herself to be polite. No good would come if the woman suspected her plan to sneak out after they left in the carriage.
“Inside, please,” Machara demanded imperiously, and Ember complied, turning to ask what this was about…just in time to receive a door slammed in her face.
