Page 19 of The Marquess’s Forbidden Bride

Somehow, her understanding and empathy made making such confidences seem…right. Natural. Talking about them with her eased some of the internal pressure that discovering his true heritage had only intensified, while voicing the feelings aloud seemed to bring some relief to his tangled emotions.

Still, he’d revealed quite enough for one day.

‘No more about my situation! Sorry to have become so maudlin.’

‘Not at all! I am honoured you felt you could confide in me. As I did in you. It’s a…relief to speak the honest truth with someone who listens with understanding and without judgement. Someone whom one can trust never to reveal a word. So different from the subterfuges and evasions one must usually practice in the world, isn’t it?’

‘It is indeed. I thank you for it.’

‘As I do you.’

How neatly she’d summed it up. And how effectively that sharing was deepening the already-existing bond between them.

‘Shall we return to the practical? I can still count on you to help me resist those who would force me into wedlock?’ he asked.

‘Of course. And you will help me, as we already agreed. Shall we formalise the promise?’ Curling her little finger, she offered it to him.

‘Promise,’ he said, chuckling as he curled his little finger around hers.

That simple touch immediately sparked an intense, compelling and now-familiar sensual pull. Seizing on a way to escape his still-uncomfortable emotions, he held tight, looking down at her hand entwined with his.

‘There is another way to seal a bargain, you know.’

‘Indeed?’ she breathed, looking up at him.

As before, her gaze held his, curious—but inviting. He had the strongest sense that she, too, wanted the kiss he’d been struggling to stave off. He mustn’t take advantage of an innocent…but if she were truly eager to experience his kiss, was it not discourteous to refuse her? ‘Shall I show you?’

‘Oh, yes, please do!’

Her continued encouragement erasing all the good reasons to refrain, he murmured, ‘Like this.’ And bent down to kiss her.

At the first touch of her lips, the imperative to safeguard her innocence melted away. The tentative brush of her mouth revealed her inexperience, but what she lacked in practice, she made up for with enthusiasm, leaning against him and reaching up to grasp his shoulders and keep his lips pressed against hers.

He’d kissed his share of ladies, Charles thought dazedly, some of them highly skilled, but none of their expertise matched the power of her sweet innocence and genuine fervour. There was no artifice, no attempt to use the desire she aroused to manoeuvre him or gain advantage. Only a pure, mutual exchange of pleasure that touched him on some level more profound than mere passion.

For long, lovely moments, there was only her and that kiss. She, too, seemed to have forgotten time and place, but much as he wanted to extend an experience she was obviously enjoying, a warning clanged ever louder in his brain, insisting he must be more responsible. Regretfully heeding that call, he broke away and stepped back, his hands on her arms to steady her.

Eyes opening wide, she looked up at him wonderingly. ‘Oh, my,’ she breathed. ‘Forget handshakes. I shall never want to seal a bargain with you any other way.’

‘Willingly!’ he said with a chuckle. ‘Though in future I must exercise better diligence in safeguarding your reputation. Despite my lapse, I take it you’re not going to slap my face for effrontery?’

‘That wouldn’t be very sporting. I did agree to seal our bargain, didn’t I? And I entirely approve of your method. But you are correct, if we make any further bargains, we shall have to be careful about when and where we seal them.’ She gave him an impish grin. ‘Oh, I do hope we’ll have more.’

‘Minx,’ he said, chuckling, relieved he’d not offended her—and still shaken by how much that simple kiss had stirred him. As when he’d confided his most intimate thoughts to her, the force that was Emma Wellingford drew him powerfully.

A power that attracted—but also alarmed him, making him want to step away.

He should focus on the latter feeling. Had they been in a more public place, that kiss might have compromised her. As neither wished to be forced into wedlock, he must be more careful.

Though he had to admit, if only to himself, he’d still welcome another opportunity to kiss her.

A shame she was well-born and an innocent. If she were one of the knowing matrons he’d encountered in Portugal…

But she wasn’t. Much as that first taste of her redoubled his desire, he’d need to keep that desire—and his emotions—on a shorter rein.

Meanwhile, with a deep sigh, she shook her head. ‘Let us be sensible, then, and continue our walk. And refrain from making any more bargains—at least for today.’

Nodding to that, he gave her his arm. ‘With reluctance, I must agree.’