Page 113 of Courting the Country Miss

As Lady Petre looked up, her glance skittered away, but something in Tristan’s expression captured her focus, and her smile grew, softening her features. “As does yours.” She nodded a farewell and urged her mount forward.

“Delightful lady,” Leticia murmured. “I hope she’s right about her husband. I fear he dominates her.”

“Do you think that’s why she’s so timid?”

“I used to think so, but now I wonder if she’s timid by nature and allows herself to be ruled. Perhaps if she spoke up, she would receive more respect from her relations.”

Tristan’s eyes took on that unfocused look he got when he grew introspective. “Family matters are complicated. I used to think Richard was a thorn in my side. Now I understand he was trying to protect and help me.”

Leticia bit back a teasing comment about how he must be growing up. In truth, he’d been maturing steadily—in more ways than one. Most of her life, she’d been too focused on Richard to realize how much Tristan had changed, especially over the past year. He had become a strong, capable, steady gentleman.

Chatting of inconsequential matters, they left the park and rode to Aunt Alice’s house. After Tristan greeted her aunt, Leticia and Tristan went into the breakfast room and helped themselves to the buffet.

Leticia imagined sitting across a breakfast table from Tristan every morning, listening to the sound of his voice, of his laughter, admiring his handsome face, the two of them teasing each other, discussing interests and household or estate matters. She couldn’t imagine anything more pleasant. Or more desirable.

Tristan leaned back and sipped his tea, eyeing her. That secretive smile returned.

In an attempt to appear unaffected, Leticia added cream to her chocolate and stirred the hot drink. “You look like the cat eying a canary. What wicked thoughts are you entertaining?”

“I’m thinking how lovely you are…how much I enjoy having breakfast with you.”

She blushed. Had he known her thoughts mirrored his own? “It is pleasant.”

“Are you going to the school today?”

“No, we are making calls.”

He hesitated, seeming to choose his words with great care. “I may need to go to Suffolk for a few weeks to see about estate improvements.”

“Oh? How soon are you leaving?”

“Next month.”

A looming separation from Tristan for a few weeks left a hollowness inside. “I shall miss you.”

“Will you?” he softly rumbled.

“Of course I will.”

He leaned forward, then stood and took her by the hand, drawing her to her feet. Odd, but she always seemed to forget how much taller Tristan stood than she, and how broad. Her heart thumped at twice its usual tempo.

“I am reluctant to leave for that long.”

“I…am reluctant for you to be gone so long.” Her voice came out breathless.

He drew nearer. With his bare hand, he traced the side of her face. A place deep inside her sighed at his touch. He leaned in and kissed her, his lips every bit as warm and soft as the last time. However, this time, his kiss posed no question. It made a statement—of possession, of affection, of love.

All uncertainty about Tristan’s sincerity dissolved. His heart thumped against her hand resting on his chest, and his caress grew firm. He slid his hand around the side of her face to the back of her head, guiding the angle, deepening the kiss. Under the power and majesty of their contact, her knees trembled. He looped an arm around her and held her against the length of him.

Tristan kissed her over and over, both hard and tender, demanding and gentle. His building passion fueled a longing inside her she never dreamed she possessed. Each moment, she lost another piece of her heart and became more joined with his until they were no longer two different people, but one stronger, more vibrant entity, whole and complete.

She knew then what she’d known all along but had been too stubborn to accept; she loved Tristan—not as a brother, nor a friend, but as a man with whom she would share her life.

Oh, how she loved him!

Chapter Thirty-Two

Tristan lost himself in the transcendent power of kissing Leticia. He had meant to convince her he loved her, but the strength of their passion and the depth of belonging that overcame him the moment he pressed his lips to hers took him by surprise. She sank against him and kissed him with all the tenderness and hunger also raging through him.