Page 80 of A Momentary Marriage

“Well . . . first there is this hair.” Laura ran her fingers lightly through his thick black locks. Sliding her forefinger down his forehead, she traced the line of one eyebrow. “And these brows.” She laid a gentle kiss upon the eyebrow in question. “These eyes.” Her finger curved down, coming to an end on the prominent bone beneath his eye. “These cheekbones.” She kissed that, as well. “And most of all . . . this perfect, perfect mouth.”

Her kiss lingered there before she sat up, smiling down at him. He gazed back at her, heat mingling with amusement in his eyes. “I see. You married me only for my looks.”

“Not entirely.” She tilted her head as if considering the matter. “I also have it on good authority that you are a man of some wealth, with a gracious home, and a respectable, even honored, name.”

He began to laugh. “Touché. I should know better than to try to trade barbs with you.”

“Where you’re concerned, I have a good deal of ammunition.”

“You do, at that.” His eyes lit with mischief. “But you haven’t my skill in distracting you.”

Laura let out a little shriek as he lunged up, his fingers going to her ribs to tickle her. She giggled, twisting. “Stop that.”

“Very well.” His arms slid around her and pulled her to him, his lips meeting hers. After a long moment, he raised his head. “Now that might be the best way to deflect your arrows.”

Laura rested against him, listening to the heavy thump of his heart beneath her ear. She would have liked to linger, but she was certain that with a man like James, one needed the lightest of touches. With an inward sigh of regret, she pulled away. “I must go. I promised to help your mother with the invitations.”

“What invitations?”

“For the ball she’s planning. Don’t you remember?”

“Ah, yes. Thank God I recovered so she could host a party.”

“James! You shouldn’t be unkind about your mother. I saw how she felt when you were so ill. Tessa loves you. And you love her, admit it.”

“Of course.” He paused in the act of buttoning his shirt and glanced up. “Though I do hope you won’t let anyone know.”

“It will remain our secret.” Laura struggled to restore order to her hair, twisting to see her dim reflection in the glass door of a bookcase. “This would be much easier if you had a mirror in here.”

“Thoughtless of me.” James leaned against the wall, watching her. “Oddly, the occasion’s never arisen before.”

She tossed him a teasing glance over her shoulder. “You mean you aren’t accustomed to ravishing women in your study?”

“Ravishing! I like that.”

“So did I.” Laura flashed a grin and returned to fixing her hair.

Behind her she heard James draw in his breath sharply. Suddenly he was right behind her, his hands sliding around her waist, and even in this poor reflection, she could see the unmistakable light in his eyes. He nuzzled her neck. “You’d best have a care or you’ll find yourself having to dress and do your hair all over again.” He nipped lightly at her earlobe.

His hands slid across her waist and up to cover her breasts. Laura leaned back into him, closing her eyes, but then, with a sigh, she slipped out of his arms. “No. I’d best get to it. Addressing invitations with the others will offer a splendid opportunity to find out things.”

“What things?” He frowned. “Laura, I don’t want you poking about, trying to expose a murderer.”

“That’s a fine thing to say, when you and I have done the very same thing.”

“Yes, but it was both of us.”

“What difference does that make?” Laura pulled away to look at him indignantly. “Are you saying I’m not capable of learning something on my own?”

James laughed. “No, no, no, my dear, I’m not that foolish a man. But I don’t want you dealing with a murderer all by yourself.”

“First of all, I won’t be by myself.” Laura held up her fingers. “Half your family will be there.”

“That is scarcely reassuring,” James said drily.

“Second,” she went on, giving him a repressive look, “I’m not going to be obvious about it. And, third, surely the culprit realizes it would be suspicious to kill me after they’ve tried to poison you. Even you must be safe from another attempt, at least for a while.”

“Hopefully.” James smiled, reaching out and curling his fingers around hers to lift her hand up to his lips. “If I thought otherwise, I would have to take action. I wouldn’t have the luxury of waiting and searching for proof. Claude’s not stupid. I’m relying on that.”