He offered his arm, and she took it. The contact sending frissons throughout her body. He smelled divine. As if he’d taken the best parts of the sea and the forest and blended them together to make the most satisfying scent.
Mary followed them closely as they descended the stairs and made their way to the dining hall. Even with the ire of Lizzie’s parents hanging over her head, her maid fulfilled her duty of chaperone. Lizzie was certain that would be one of the first questions her parents asked. Along with all of the obvious questions of course.
As they made their way downstairs, the most delicious aromas assaulted Lizzie’s senses. Her stomach grumbled embarrassingly, and she covered it with her hand as if the action would make the noise cease.
Beside her, the earl chuckled. “We will satisfy your hunger shortly, Lass.”
She liked when he called her lass. It did weird things to her stomach. That one simple word had way more of an impact on her than when he called her miss. It was almost as if it were more intimate.
Intimate.
She should not be thinking such thoughts of the person that could have her thrown in prison for the rest of her life. Or have her hand for stealing.
How daft did she have to be to grow feelings for the very person that held her life in his hands.
Even if those hands were very large. Very strong. Very capable.
What would it feel like to be wrapped in his warm embrace? An embrace that wasn’t prefaced by her having a fit of panic due to a storm.
Nay. A real embrace. One filled with passion, perhaps?
She almost mewled at the thought and cleared her throat to cover her reaction.
The earl looked down at her, curiosity crinkling his eyes, but he said naught as they were shown to the table and he pulled out the chair for her to sit.
Thanking him, she quickly took a sip from the glass of wine set in front of her.
’Twas going to be a long dinner.
