“Even so, I would like to apologize.” She bit her lip and furrowed her brow. “You’re perfectly nice and—”
“Apology accepted,” he said, preventing her from making matters worse by pointing out all his wonderful qualities – none of which would cause her to fall in love with him. Not that he wanted her to, because he most certainly didn’t. “Now about the bedchamber. Shall I show you up?”
She stood and gave him a nod. “Yes. Thank you.”
He went to help her rise and saw that his jacket collar was flipped up at the back. Instinctively, he began to adjust it, his knuckles grazing the back of her neck. She shuddered slightly and moved away from his touch. “Sorry,” he murmured, completely overwrought by her sudden disinterest in him when his own awareness of her only seemed to be growing.
Hell.
He was in absolute hell.
Because he’d kissed her and liked it in spite of its chasteness, and now, damn it all, he wanted more. Except she clearly didn’t, even though she’d invited him to kiss her again. But that had obviously been to appease her own curiosity and not because she actually wanted him. Indeed, she hadn’t seemed to care one way or the other thathehad kissed her. For all he knew, Mr. Bale’s lips would have served just as well from an educational standpoint. Which made him want to hit something. Like, Mr. Bale. Even though he knew damn well that the man did not deserve it.
Frustrated, Griffin opened the dining room door and escorted Miss Howard toward the stairs. They climbed them together until they reached the bedchamber she’d been allotted.
“Where will you be sleeping?” she asked as they paused outside her door.
“Right there.” He jutted his chin toward the room next to hers. “Lock your door, Miss Howard, and shout if you need me.”
She licked her lips then, which gave an entirely different meaning to what he’d just said. Although only in his own depraved mind, he wagered. “Good night,” he told her swiftly, before he did something stupid, like give her a more thorough lesson in kissing.
“Good night.” She slipped inside her room before additional words could pass between them and closed the door behind her with a click.
Griffin blew out a breath. He could finally escape the charged sensations assailing his body while he was near her. His muscles, which had been strained since he’d seen her with Mr. Bale in the Camberly garden, could relax at last. But as Griffin climbed into bed and laid his head on the pillow, closed his eyes and prepared for sleep, he could not rid his mind of Miss Howard. She was like a lighthouse blazing brightly in the night, impossible for him to ignore.
When Emily wokea few hours later, it took her a second to figure out where she was. But then she spotted her discarded ball gown, hung across the back of a chair, and it all came tumbling back with the force of an oncoming carriage. Oh God. Lord Griffin had kissed her and now he meant to escort her to Clearview.
Taking a long, deep breath, she tossed the counterpane aside, flung her legs over the edge of the bed, and stood. His jacket was visible beneath her gown, the dark wool a stark contrast to the smooth silk. Masculine versus feminine.
She shook her head, reminding herself there was no time for fanciful notions. Only practicality would serve her well in this instance. So she dressed with crisp movements and put on his jacket to cover herself, even though it was much too wide across the shoulders and the sleeves so long they hid her fingers.
A knock sounded at her door, followed by a low, “Miss Howard?”
Emily’s pulse quickened in response to Lord Griffin’s voice. She took a deep breath and swung the door open. And froze. Because there he was, exactly as she’d expected, except he was somehow more masculine, more roguish, more tempting than ever before.
Emily swallowed. It had to do with the fact that he hadn’t shaved, which lent a surprisingly attractive ruggedness to him. She couldn’t help but stare.
He did not seem to notice. “Forgive the intrusion but I feared you might still be sleeping, and our coach departs in less than one hour.”
“Do we have time for a quick breakfast?”
“I expect so.” He gave her a once over and nodded as if she’d just passed inspection. “Ready?”
“Yes.” She grabbed her reticule and followed him into the hallway. “Do you know if anyone came looking for us?”
He shook his head as they started down the stairs. “No. They did not.” He glanced at her briefly. “I’m sorry.”
“You need not be.” They reached the foyer and she stopped there to add, “It does not surprise me is what I mean to say. And since I am not surprised, I am not disappointed either. Truth is, I’m rather glad to avoid an argument with my parents and to just be on my way. It simplifies matters.”
“It also suggests that they’re not especially worried about you, which ought to be of some concern, don’t you think?”
She scoffed and crossed her arms. “I’m the disappointing daughter – the one who cannot be saved.” Lord Griffin raised an eyebrow at this and opened his mouth as if to comment, but Emily cut him off by adding, “My mother may have glimpsed a brief chance at doing so last night, but she will have realized that attempting to make us marry because of a mere kiss would have been a futile endeavor. After discussing matters with my father, I’m sure she will have acknowledged that the best way forward is to let me go. As far away from them as possible so my indiscretion in the Camberly garden can quickly be forgotten.”
“For the sake of your sister,” he murmured.
“Precisely.” Emily’s stomach grumbled, reminding her that she was really quite hungry. “Perhaps we should eat something now?”
He nodded and led the way to the same supper room they’d used the evening before. Their breakfast was simple, consisting of toast, ham, and cheese, which they washed down with tea.
