Page 41 of An Enchantress for an Earl

“I see.”

His smile was wry, but his deep amber eyes met hers with a warmth that positively took her breath away again.

“There was a time when I was foolish enough to think that of all young women. Then I met you. I will never be so foolish again.”

Lord Setford gave a bark of laughter.

“You’ve made the first step towards true wisdom, Merryfield. But now, let us search this building, and gather all of the evidence. I’ll want a detailed statement from you tomorrow, about everything that happened, but presently, we have other things to deal with.”

On the floor, Villeham groaned, and opened his eyes. Setford regarded him with that piercing grey gaze.

“You, Villeham, have been caught – you have been observed in the act of perpetrating forgery, knowingly. And that is treason, my Lord. You will be taken from here and incarcerated until your fate, and the fate of your family, can be decided.”

Villeham’s eyes widened in horror.

“No…”

“Yes. You knew what you were doing, but your greed was too strong. Now you will pay the price. And your behaviour here, today, has guaranteed that you will be shown no leniency.”

Villeham groaned again, and closed his eyes. Near him, the forger regarded Setford, his expression one of despair and resignation. Setford met his gaze, and something passed between them, as if Setford understood more of the man than was obvious.

“You, I will speak to privately, and I ask that you answer me honestly when we speak.”

“Yes, my Lord.”

Setford waved for his men to carry the two bound men away, and set off with Lord Canterford to examine the rest of the building, leaving Violet standing there, scandalously alone with Lord Merryfield.

They looked at each other, turning face to face, and Violet untangled her arm from his, only to lift both arms and slip them about his neck. She pushed up a little on her toes, and shamelessly brought her lips to his. For a moment, he was still, then he softened, his lips moving against hers, his arms encircling her, and his tongue slipping out to delicately trace the line of her mouth.

It was wonderful, far more so than she had ever imagined a simple kiss to be, and she melted against him, allowing his warmth and strength to chase away the lingering chill of fear. He deepened the kiss with a soft groan, and pulled her hard against him.

For some minutes, they stayed that way.

When, finally, they drew apart, Violet smiled at him.

“I know this is terribly shocking and forward of me, but I have wanted to do that for quite some time. Have I horrified you?”

He lifted a hand to cup her cheek as he shook his head.

“I do not think that there is anything you could do which would horrify me – well, perhaps apart from intentionally teaching falsehoods, or burning a book…”

She laughed softly, and shuddered.

“Neither of those are things that I could ever bring myself to do. On matters like that, we are in complete accord.”

“I am beginning to suspect, Lady Violet, that we may well be in complete accord on many more matters than that. So much so that I believe that I want to explore the truth of that – extensively. Of course, it is also possible that my desire to call upon you, frequently, may equally have been influenced by that kiss we just shared.”

She felt quite dizzy. He had just said that he wanted to call on her frequently. Did that mean…?

“Lord Merryfield, are you suggesting… are you suggesting that you wish to court me?”

“Directness. Oh, how I love that about you. Yes, that is exactly what I am suggesting. Are you… are you amenable to that idea?”

In answer, Violet slipped her arms back around his neck, and pulled his lips down to hers.

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Lord Setford waited in a small room, in an ordinary building, where many things happened which were not ordinary at all. The door opened, and a man was shown it.