His Scandalous Kiss: Secrets at Thorncliff Manor: 6 (22 page)

“Perhaps because he knew that it would attract men like Rotridge?”

“I suspect you might be right.” Turning slightly, Mary smiled up at Richard. “Now that this is behind us, we can hopefully
start focusing on all of the wedding preparations. Did I mention that I have written to my brother informing him of the good
news?”

One side of Richard’s mouth edged upward. “No. You did not.”

“Oh. I am sorry. It must have slipped my mind.” Around them, the other guests began moving off in different directions while
Lady Foxworth went to speak with Lady Duncaster.

“I cannot say that I am surprised. You have had a lot to think about lately.” Catching Mary by the arm, Richard guided her
away from the seats and toward a darker corner of the terrace where a bench stood waiting.

“I am so relieved that it is all over now.” Lowering herself onto the bench, she waited for Richard to join her, a little
bothered by the distance they were forced to keep for the sake of propriety. Discreetly, she placed her hand upon the seat.

“As am I.” His hand found hers, filling her with warmth and the assurance of his deep affection. “Do you think your brother
will join us once he hears that we are to be wed?”

“I hope so. Family has always meant a great deal to me and with Mama and Papa so far away I would appreciate his support.
Besides, I think it would be wonderful for the two of you to become acquainted with each other, especially since I think he
would benefit greatly from your friendship and guidance.”

“You are hoping that I might have a positive influence on him?” When she nodded, he said, “I will tell you this—your brother
will never take advantage of you again once we are married.”

“But you will help him somehow? Please, Richard. I cannot bear the thought of him living in poverty when I have been blessed
with so much.”

“I understand, and as I have told you before, I will do what I can, but he has to be willing to do his part as well. If he
earns his fortune rather than relying on gratuity, then perhaps he will take better care of it.”

Knowing how sound Richard’s reasoning was, Mary turned over her hand beneath his so that they were palm against palm and curled
her fingers around his. “Thank you.” They sat in silence for a short while enjoying the quiet that was settling around them
as the few remaining people on the terrace dispersed. “I think I will have to abandon my singing,” she finally said.

“Why? I would never demand that you do so, Mary. You know this.”

“Yes. I do. But I fear that while we may have averted disaster this evening, it will eventually find us again, and what then?”

“Then we will get through those troubling times as well. Together.” He stretched out his legs and leaned back a little.

“You are the best man in the world. Do you know that?” He seemed to wince, but when he said nothing in response she chose
to interpret his silence as proof of his modesty. “I love performing at the opera, but I cannot keep taking the risk. Especially
not when there is no longer a reason for me to do so.”

“Because your husband will be able to supply your brother with the funds he needs?”

She bit her lip. “I do not mean to sound mercenary, but yes.”

His eyes left her and he looked up at the night sky instead. “Just as long as you promise always to sing for me.”

“And for our children,” she blurted without thinking.

His face jerked toward her, surprise bouncing in his eyes as if it were a living thing that wished to be set free. “Children?”
His voice was but a slight whisper.

“Forgive me. I should not have—”

“Oh no, Mary.” He dropped his gaze to her lips. “You will not retreat from me now. Not when you have just broached the one
subject that I look forward to discussing with you in far greater detail.”

Heat rose to Mary’s cheeks while a funny unbalanced sensation took hold of her stomach. Was it possible for her to burst into
flames right there on the terrace? An unsteady inhale of breath did little to calm her racing heart. “We should not discuss
such things here.”

“Would you rather discuss them somewhere else?” His thumb traced the edge of her hand.

Feeling dizzy, Mary shook her head. Somehow, in the space of a second, Richard had managed to make it seem as though her gown
was shrinking. Her chest rose and fell against the now unbearably restrictive fabric. “I think it might be best if I were
to retire for the evening.” Trembling, she slid off the bench and rose to her feet.

He rose as well. “I have offended you.”

“No,” she whispered. She glanced toward the doors leading back inside the house. “You are tempting me, Richard, and if you
do not stop doing so, I . . .” Her courage failed her. She was a well-bred lady after all. She could not speak of such things.
So instead she told him decisively, “We will be married soon enough.”

He didn’t look convinced but he inclined his head, submitting to her wishes. “Of course we will.”

They started back toward the house, but there was something in his tone that Mary found unsettling. “What is it?” she asked.

His brow creased in a contemplative frown. “You do not trust me.”

“Of course I do!” How could he even say such a thing after all the faith she’d placed in him since their very first encounter.

“I was not speaking of ruining you just now, Mary, but that is how you chose to interpret what I said.”

Baffled, she drew to a halt. “How else was I meant to interpret it? The implication seemed very clear to me.”

“Perhaps,” he acquiesced, “but hopefully you know me well enough by now to realize that I would never try to convince you
to do anything against your will. What I said . . . All I was suggesting was for us to enjoy a little privacy the way we used
to before our engagement.” Lowering his voice to a soft whisper, he added, “I miss kissing you.”

An unexpected smile tugged at her lips. “Do you have any idea of how irritable you look right now?”

He raked his hand through his hair. “I feel frustrated. In more ways than one.”

“What do you mean?”

He shook his head. “Nothing.”

Puffing out a breath, Mary resumed walking. “As it stands, there are three weeks left until our wedding. I know my aunt will
not approve of this idea and that your mother will likely be opposed to it as well, but what if we were to procure a special
license?”

“What about all the preparations? From what I gather, just ordering your gown will take time.”

“I have no issue with wearing one of the dresses that I already own. Especially since I am beginning to fear, judging from
my recent conversations with your mother, that any wedding gown I order will be more to your sister’s liking than it will
be to mine.”

He laughed at that, but grew instantly serious once more. “Are you certain? Because if you are, then we can be married in
just a few days.”

“In that case, I have never been more certain of anything else in my life.”

Drawing her to a halt, he looked down into her eyes. “Truly?” Her nod made him smile. “I cannot believe how fortunate I am.”

Alerted by the chatter of other guests approaching, they continued their progress, passing through the French doors and heading
down the hallway that would lead them to the grand staircase. A moment passed until she quietly admitted, “I miss our kisses
too.” Gathering her courage, she then said, “Perhaps another rendezvous in the Roman villa would not be so bad.”

His hold on her tightened ever so slightly as they climbed the stairs, sending a thrill straight through her. There was something
wonderfully possessive about it that spoke to her feminine side. “Meet me in the stairwell next to the interior courtyard
two hours from now.”

Reaching the top of the landing, they parted ways, her footsteps falling softly against the floor while his louder tread faded
into silence. Her nerves were a complicated tangle of foreign sensations. She loved this man, desperately so, and because
of that she feared for her ability to resist the temptation he offered. And yet . . . they were to be married after all. Perhaps
a few more stolen kisses would not be the worst thing in the world.

The next two hours were, in Richard’s estimation, the most torturous he’d ever endured. They were worse than the ones he’d
spent chained to a table while glowing red iron was being pressed against his cheek. Worse still than the days it had taken
for him to make his way from Brussels to Antwerp with a broken leg.

Pushing the unpleasant memory aside, he thought of Mary instead, of how bad she’d felt about deceiving her aunt and of how
worried she’d been about the
ton
discovering her secret. Crossing to the window, he eased the curtain aside and peered out at the moonlit garden. Her transgressions
were nothing compared to his—a mere masquerade performed with the best of intentions while he . . . all he’d wanted was another
man’s downfall. He had that now, and just as he’d feared, it wasn’t enough to cleanse his soul of darkness. Mary, on the other
hand . . . her smile alone could make him forget all else.

It was almost two o’clock in the morning by the time he made his way back downstairs, his heart lurching slightly with expectation.
Before, when they’d been alone together, there had been rules to follow. This was still very much the case of course, though
not so much to the same degree. He wondered if she realized that. Of course she did, which was why she’d been so concerned
about being alone together. She was worried that he’d be tempted to do things . . . things that the gentleman in him would
not have permitted before.

Naturally, he’d balked at the insinuation, even though she’d been right to be worried. The truth was, he was finding it bloody
difficult, thinking of little else than what she might look like with decidedly fewer clothes on.

Stepping into the stairwell, Richard was greeted by the faint glow from a lantern. “I was hoping to arrive before you,” he
said as he closed the door softly behind him.

Illuminated in a golden haze, Mary’s face reminded him of an angel in a Raphael painting. The corners of her mouth lifted,
dimpling her cheeks. “My impatience got the better of me. I could not wait.” Swinging her lantern around, she allowed the
light to fall upon the stairs. “Shall we?”

“Allow me,” he said. His fingers traced the outline of her hand as he took the lantern away from her, his heartbeat quickening
in response to her sharp intake of breath.

With measured steps, he moved past her and began his descent, aware of her presence behind him—of her warmth and of her scent.
His chest tightened, as did his grip on the lantern. Guiding them back through the chilly passageways beneath Thorncliff,
to the next set of stairs, they descended toward the hidden villa below while darkness closed in around them.

“It seems so different from how I remember it,” Mary said as she stepped down beside him. “The lack of light makes it almost
gloomy.”

Agreeing with her, Richard went to retrieve the nearest torch, holding it to the lantern until it was fully lit. He did the
same with three more, brightening the hall in which they were standing before heading toward the room in which they’d enjoyed
their picnic. Pausing in the doorway, he glanced toward the floor where he’d spread out the blanket and laid out the food.
It seemed unbelievable to him that it was only a week ago since that had taken place.

“Perhaps we should continue to explore Lord Duncaster’s study instead?” Mary asked. “I don’t believe that we are likely to
discover anything else in there.”

“And I do not believe that we are likely to discover anything else at all.”

The silence that followed was palpable. And then, “Maybe if we were to look—”

He spun toward her, his eyes meeting hers. “We have looked in every drawer already, leafed through every book, and we have
discovered some vital information regarding not only Lord Duncaster, but my grandfather as well. You know that we were planning
to share this with Lady Duncaster, but before we had a chance to do so, your aunt received that damning letter from Rotridge
and then . . .” Expelling a breath, he stared back at her, acutely aware of the energy simmering between them. “We are not
here because of the notebook, Mary.”

A second passed, and then she nodded. “I know.”

Holding her gaze, Richard reached for her hand and silently led her into the room beyond and over to the sofa. He placed the
lantern on a table and then offered her his full attention. “Do you have any idea of how beautiful you are?”

His hand captured her cheek, caressing the skin there until she leaned against him, her eyelids closing on a sigh of pleasure.
“I have missed this,” she said, not answering his question. “I have missed you.”

“So have I.” Dipping his head, he pressed his lips to hers, desperate for the contact, the nearness, the all-consuming need
to be with her. The softest murmur escaped her, followed by a shared breath as their mouths melded together, her arms reaching
around his neck and holding him close. Richard’s chest expanded. He could feel the rhythm of her heartbeat leaping rapidly
against his own, the soft contour of her breast as he trailed his hand along the length of her side.

Perfection. No other word would ever suffice.

Breaking contact, he reached for her hand and pressed her knuckles to his lips. He wanted so much.
Too
much. Wincing, he took a step back, releasing her hand and adding distance.

“What is it?” she asked, her eyes wide with innocent wonder.

He shook his head. “Nothing.”

“Would it offend you to know that I do not believe you?” Crossing her arms, she gave him the most defiant stare that he’d
ever seen.

A smile tickled his lips. “No.” A moment of silence stretched between them. “This is harder than I had expected,” he eventually
said.

She scrunched her nose. “What is?”

He paused a moment before saying, “When I invited you to join me here tonight, I thought it would be just as before—that we
would enjoy each other’s company and perhaps share a kiss or two.”

“And so we are.” She seemed to study his face as if she hoped to find his innermost thoughts written upon it.

“And so we are,” he agreed.

“Except it is not the same as before.” She took a step in his direction. “Is it?”

“No. It is not.”

“We are betrothed now.” She bit her lower lip, completely unaware it seemed, of the effect that she was having on him.

Shifting slightly, he coughed, hoping to mask his discomfort. “So we are.” It was becoming increasingly difficult for him
to think about anything else, not to mention the fact that she was here with him, alone and far away from anyone who might
happen to find them in each other’s company. She took a step closer still and he held up his hand, halting her progress. “I
thought that I would be able to exhibit better self-control,” he said by way of explanation, “but now that we are to be married . . .
Forgive me, Mary, but I fear that I may do something regrettable if you come any closer.” Squeezing his eyes shut for a second,
he did what the gentleman in him insisted he do and reluctantly said, “Which is why I think it might be best if we return
upstairs and retire.”

She gave a pensive nod. “If what you say is true, then that would probably be the correct thing to do.” She turned her face
away, but not before he caught a glimpse of the joyless smile tracing her lips.

Unable to bear it, he caught her by the wrist and gently pulled her back toward him. “Tell me what you are thinking.”

She refused to look at him. “I cannot possibly do so.”

“Please?”

Silence was her only response. It stretched between them, altering his perception of time until he no longer knew how long
they’d stood there. Just when he thought she would never give him an answer, she raised her chin and met his gaze, her brown
eyes shimmering like a lake dressed in moonlight. “How do you do it?”

“Do what?” The words were softly spoken, just as hers had been—a mere exhalation.

Raising her hand, she drew the tips of her fingers across his cheek, her lips trembling as she quietly whispered, “One look
from you, and my insides melt, the slightest touch, and I can scarcely breathe let alone think. You torture me with the most
delectable kisses until my soul begins to burn.” Pausing, she slid her gaze toward his mouth, quickening his pulse. “You have
seduced me in every conceivable way.”

“Mary.” Her name was rough upon his lips, like waves breaking against the shore.

“I do not understand it. Indeed, I have never felt like this before.”

“I should certainly hope not,” he muttered in an effort to dampen the effect of her words. The storm of emotions raging inside
him was threatening to ruin his sanity.

“Are you saying that what I am feeling is wrong?” Her eyes widened, her face flushing with uncertainty.

“No.” The word drifted through the air as he drew her closer. “Between you and me, it will never be wrong.”

Her lips parted ever so slightly, the wonder in her eyes compelling him to surrender. So he did, freeing his heart and his
soul to accept the beauty that she offered, his mind no longer filled with concern, but with her and only her. “You are all
that I have ever wanted.” Pulling her into his arms, he ran his palm across her cheek, savoring the warmth of her skin as
she leaned against the caress. “And now you are mine.”

“I have always been yours.” A hushed murmur of words that almost brought him to his knees, weakening his resolve until he
was left with no other choice but to kiss her again. The pull was simply too great—too impossible to resist. So he gave up
control and captured her lips until the simmering heat between them erupted like claps of thunder, tossing him headfirst into
the awaiting storm. It tore apart the pain, the broken dreams, and the anger, scattering them until all that remained was
Mary, clinging to him as he clung to her.

He drew a shuddering breath, loving the feel of her tremulous touch against the edge of his jaw. Dear God, it was all too
much. “You will stop me if I go too far,” he heard himself say, aware that he needed to slow his pace before the fire in his
veins consumed them both completely.

Dark lashes fluttered against her cheek. “Of course,” she replied, her trusting eyes imploring him to guide her.

So he raised his hand to a stray lock of hair that had somehow managed to escape her coiffure, savoring the silky texture
as it slipped between his fingers. “Incredible.” His gaze dropped to the softness of her lips and a ragged breath escaped
him, torn from somewhere deep within—a rush of emotion that could not be put into words.

Relishing the moment, Richard carefully lowered his mouth over hers more slowly than before. A gentle gasp transformed into
a mutual breath, allowing him to deepen the kiss and partake of the sweetness she offered.

Moments later, his hand found the curve of her back, his fingers spreading against the fragile fabric of her gown as he held
her steady. Against his chest, he could feel the rapid beat of her heart, more so when he placed his lips upon her neck—a
sensuous string of kisses caressing her pulse.

“Richard,” his name was but a murmur—a benediction of sorts—the moment his lips touched her shoulder. Her skin was smooth
like cream, glowing in the dim light. She was so inviting that he could easily imagine falling against her embrace and remaining
there forever. Instead, he whispered her name, his breath ghosting across her skin until she arched against him, offering
him all that she was and all that she ever would be.

Humbled by her essence, he kissed his way across her chest, tenderly conveying what was in his heart. “So lovely,” he whispered
as his hands moved over her, hesitantly exploring every aspect of her being while silently imparting his complete and utter
adoration.

Light slipped against the shadows in a mystical effect, just as gently as his fingers slipped against her contours. “Please.”
One word that seemed to set the room ablaze.

Unable to deny her, he lowered himself to the sofa and pulled her down with him. His mouth met hers, so full of love for this
extraordinary woman who’d brought joy back into his life. He would give her the world if he could and he would cherish every
second they’d been granted with each other. With profound reverence, he reached for the delicate curve of her ankle, the intimate
touch tormenting him with its divinity. “Beauty, you tempt me beyond compare.”

Saying nothing, she trailed her fingers along his arm, mirroring his touch as he worshipped all that she encompassed. A sigh
of complete and utter pleasure escaped into the darkness while soft light from the lantern spilled across her face.

The temptation to lay her down on the sofa and claim her completely was greater than anything else that Richard had ever experienced.
Squeezing his eyes shut, he took a fortifying breath and set his mind to less amorous thoughts, like the memory of his body
on the cold hard ground in Belgium as he studied his enemy from a distance—waiting, assessing and planning his next move.

“Are you all right?” Mary’s voice broke through his thoughts, returning him to the present.

Opening his eyes, he glanced down at her, noting the look of concern in her eyes and instantly hating himself for having caused
it. “Of course.” Leaning forward, he placed a tender kiss upon her lips. “You are everything that I have ever dreamed of,
Mary. A truly magnificent woman.”

“And you are . . .” She bit her lip but was unable to mask the smile that threatened.

Her expression was so adorable that Richard couldn’t help but smile as well. “The luckiest man in the world,” he told her
sincerely.

“I was going to say extremely talented, but—”

His laughter interrupted her and then he kissed her again before easing her off his lap and helping her to her feet. “Just
wait until you see what else I have in store for you,” he teased.

She gave him a pert look while smoothing the skirt of her gown. “Your modesty astounds me.”

Reaching out, he grabbed her by the waist and, lowering his head, he whispered in her ear, “Modesty has no place in the bedchamber,
Mary.”