Page 26

She had believed herself foolish.

Worse, entirely alone in the experience.

Yet he remembered her too.

She tried to steady herself with a slow, measured breath. Suddenly, being alone with him felt perilous in a way it had not moments before. He could tempt her into behaving foolishly. The awareness was shocking and preposterous, for she had no liking for scoundrels and rogues and would never welcome one into her life.

“I ought to leave and never return.”

George’s slow smile chased every sensible thought from her mind.

“If you do, I shall miss our conversations.”

Cordelia stared at him. For the first time since she had climbed through his window, he appeared caught off guard by his own words. His smile faded slightly, and something shifted in his expression, as though the admission had escaped before he could decide whether he intended to make it.

Delight bloomed inside her. “Truly?”

“Truly,” he murmured.

Something warm and reckless unfurled inside Cordelia. No gentleman had ever made her feel quite like this. Not beautiful exactly, though he had called her remarkably pretty, nor merely clever, though he had praised her skill at chess.

Wanted was too dangerous a word.

Seen, perhaps. Mr. George was not merely handsome; for one startling moment, he allowed her to experience herself as an intriguing and desirable woman before society’s usual judgment could intrude. The realization loosened the last fragile tether upon her good sense, and the most outrageous impulse seized her.

Cordelia set down her glass before she could spill it. George remained seated opposite her, the forgotten chessboard between them, and before good sense could intervene, she leaned toward him. Something sharpened in his expression, though he made no move toward her. His scent enveloped her, a heady blend of sandalwood, clean linen, and brandy, and her heart raced so wildly she feared he might hear it.

He merely watched as Cordelia drew back, set one hand against the carpet to steady herself, and rose to her feet. She moved around the chessboard until she stood before him. George rose then, slowly, but made no move to approach her.

Good heavens, what am I doing?

She drew a deep breath and released it shakily. Somewhere in the back of her mind lingered the knowledge that, had she not imbibed the brandy, she would never have been quite so brave or so senseless, particularly with a rogue. Yet even now, when only inches separated them, Mr. George did not reach for her or attempt to close that final distance. A nervous little giggle escaped her. Then Cordelia rose slightly onto her toes and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek, perilously close to the corner of his mouth.

CHAPTER 7

George jolted as though struck by lightning, then went utterly rigid. Mortification burned through Cordelia from head to toe.

Oh, dear God.

What had she done? Heat flooded her face, her chest, her very bones, and in that instant, she vowed never to touch another drop of liquor again. Not brandy. Not sherry. Not wine. She would drink lemonade and tea for the remainder of her natural life and consider herself fortunate if she could somehow survive the next thirty seconds.

She retreated at once, nearly upsetting the chessboard in her haste. “I…I… I do not know what came over me. I was very presumptuous and should not have…”

A faint smile lifted one corner of his mouth, as though he found the entire affair far more diverting than she did. “You did nothing wrong.”

Cordelia stared at him.

The wretched man was smiling.

She could still feel the warmth of his skin against her lips, and the recollection only made the fire in her cheeks burn hotter. Desperate to look anywhere but at him, Cordelia turned a scowl upon Sir Charles, who had once again curled himself contentedly beside George, as though it were his company he preferred.

“I forbid you from ever coming here again, Sir Charles.”

George glanced down at the traitor. “You must accept that Lord Wellington has adopted me. My window will always be open to him.”

“His name is Sir Charles.”

“I believe we have already established our disagreement upon that point.”