“Yes, I do. But only with Captain West’s permission.”
“What of Lord Huntington’s permission?” Lady Annabel raised an eyebrow at Iris.
Violet flopped down onto the settee next to Iris. “She doesn’t need Lord Huntington’s permission. Only Captain West’s.”
Iris smiled at that. Violet tended to see things in black and white. It would be fascinating indeed when her sister fell in love and found herself awash in shades of gray.
Lady Annabel chuckled. “You’re quite right, but I doubt Lord Huntington will see it that way.”
Charlotte sighed. “No, he won’t. He’ll want to manage everything. Men always do, and Lord Huntington more than most. And I warn you, Iris, they’re particularly troublesome when they’re in love.”
“Well, as to that,” Iris said, “I’ll simply begin with Lord Huntington as I mean to go on with him.”
Charlotte glanced at Lady Annabel. “Indeed? How is that?”
“I will always be honest with him and consider his wishes on every matter, but I will neveraskLord Huntington’spermissionto do anything.”
Lady Annabel’s lips quirked. “Ah. Well, Iris, I daresay your marriage will be an exciting one.”
An image of Finn’s stern face and changeable hazel eyes rose in Iris’s mind.
Exciting, indeed.
* * * *
Finn didn’t see Iris again until the party assembled in the drawing room for tea, and then he was obliged to sit beside her, chat politely like a proper gentleman, and act as if he wasn’t going mad with the need to touch her.
By the time tea was over, he was ready to devour her.
They both lingered in the drawing room afterwards and waited for everyone to wander off to their own amusements. Violet dawdled for what seemed to Finn an interminable time, fussing with the tea things and studying the chess board until she could no longer ignore Iris’s glare, and left the room with a loud sigh.
It took every bit of Finn’s patience not to slam the door behind her. “Good Lord, I thought she’d never leave.” He caught Iris by the waist, pulled her tight against him, and eased her back against the closed door. “I’ve missed you. Where have you been all day?”
She slid her arms around his neck and rested her head against his chest with a contented sigh. “I missed you, too. I rode with Captain West all morning, then had a bath and fell asleep in my bedchamber. When I woke, it was already teatime.”
Finn brushed his mouth over hers, a soft groan rising from his chest as she parted her lips and stroked her tongue against his. He buried his fingers in her hair to bring her mouth closer, and mumbled against her lips, “Come upstairs with me.”
“What, right now? You’re mad. I can’t do that. Someone will see us.”
He hissed a protest when she gently pushed him away. “What does it matter? We’re betrothed.”
She arched an eyebrow at him. “Betrothed, not married. You’re aware there’s a difference?”
He grinned down at her, then nuzzled his face into her neck. “I deserved that, I suppose, but it’s a bit late for the distinction now.”
“Ah, but I didn’t say I wouldn’t come upstairs with you, my lord. I only said notnow.”
Her blue eyes were teasing as she gazed up at him, and Finn couldn’t resist taking her lips in another deep kiss. They were both breathless when he pulled away. “This is going to be the longest afternoon of my life.”
She smoothed her hands over his shoulders, but her smile dimmed a little, and she looked away.
“Iris?” He turned her face back to his with a finger under her chin. “Is something wrong?”
“No, but I need to speak to you, and I’d just as soon get it over with.”
A dark sense of foreboding Finn couldn’t explain crept over him, raising the hair on his neck. “What is it?”
“I took Chaos out on my ride this morning. Captain West wanted to see how I did on him.”
