Chapter Eleven #2
And so it went over the next quarter of an hour as they played at bowls until eventually, Laurence won since his ball smacked into the white-painted jack.
“I think you cheated.” She crossed her arms beneath her breasts and leveled a mock glare on her opponent.
“Then let’s reset the balls and go again. If you truly have the skill you say, then you’ll win this go ‘round.”
While her heartbeat increased, Rose nodded, and quickly they reset the balls.
There was something about this man that challenged her and kept her interest piqued.
It was appreciated, but she couldn’t quite figure out why that was.
All she knew was that she enjoyed spending time with him, and perhaps she shouldn’t think past that.
As it was, Rose won that second game, but they both had so much fun that they continued to play, game after game, round after round, with each of them sharing victories until her stomach began to rumble, for she’d worked up an appetite for dinner.
“Did you do all of this to make a liar out of me, Captain?”
“What do you mean?” He turned toward her after gathering all the balls into one place.
Needing to touch him, she gave his shoulder a playful shove. “You have some skill in this game after all, and it’s making me want to challenge you to another match tomorrow.”
“Absolutely I can accommodate you. I’ll do a couple of repairs in the morning then we can meet here in the afternoon, weather permitting.” The intense look in his eyes sent tingles falling down her spine.
“Mmm, I like the sound of your plans, but did you set all of this up to make me remember my childhood?”
“Perhaps that was a bit of it, but I truly mean to give you back some joy you might have lost because life is sometimes a buggar.”
For the space of a few heartbeats, she watched him while her thoughts went into freefall. Did he have an ulterior motive or was he truly a lovely man? Even though they were completely alone, she lowered her voice. “May I ask you a question?”
“I’d prefer it. That is how we learn.” Yet the desire brewing in his dark eyes practically screamed that he wished to do so much more than talk.
So did she, if she were honest with herself. “Why did you initiate carnal relations with me yesterday in the maze?”
Confusion shadowed his face. “I thought it the appropriate time. I also thought that you and I both wished for it.” He frowned. “Was I wrong?” One of his eyebrows rose in question. “If you want an apology, I won’t offer one, since I’m not sorry. That meeting was thoroughly enjoyable.”
Heat went into her cheeks. “I enjoyed it too, and I never asked you for an apology. I merely wanted to know what prompted the coupling.” Knots of worry pulled in her stomach.
“You see, I, uh, well I don’t have the best reputation.
” Only then did it occur to her that he hadn’t withdrawn during that time and neither had they taken any sort of preventative measures to prevent pregnancy.
Yes, she’d just had her menses last week before he’d arrived at Landry Hall, but that wasn’t a guarantee.
“I don’t put much stock into reputations, which are completely dependent on society’s opinions.
I like to come to know a person for myself before making an assessment.
” He shook his head. “What prompted it was I fell under the spell of a gorgeous woman who has fascinated me from the first. The woman who saved my life.”
It was her turn to frown. “Then you feel that you owe me something for that? Was it the reason you seduced me?” Faint anger filled her chest even if she didn’t truly believe it.
“Of course not, but I’m glad that I’m here because of you.
” Another round of confusion shadowed his face.
“Rose, there is nothing untoward about what happened between us. We shared our pasts. The moment was right. I felt the connection between us flare, and once I started kissing you? Well, I knew I wanted you in that way.” Sadness filled his eyes.
“Was I wrong? Did I misread your consent?”
“No, of course not.” The poor man. Her questions were making him feel bad.
Not wanting him to misread her questioning, Rose grabbed one of his hands.
“I was just as interested in the act as you, and truthfully, if you hadn’t gotten things started, I would have.
” When his eyes lit, she couldn’t help her grin. “Come with me.”
“Where?”
“There’s a crumbling folly on the other side of the maze.
” Then she tugged him to set him in motion, barely giving him time to grab his walking stick.
Soon they were running hand-in-hand over the lawn and laughing as if they were both young people.
Yet with every step, she felt every bit the hoyden she used to be.
And she adored every moment of it.
Once at their destination, Rose wasted no time in pulling him deeper into the shadows of the ruined wall, then she kissed him, wild and abandoned, and she thrilled when he bundled her into his arms and kissed her back.
It was quite freeing after the last few years she’d had. In him she’d found an odd peace and an even odder acceptance that she hadn’t had from anyone recently. Could it be that she was, indeed, falling for the captain despite everything? Despite her history?
Perhaps it was too early to tell, and strangely enough, it might be a lovely thing to let herself fall in love again. If she could guarantee different results, that was.
Eventually, Laurence pulled away as breathless as her. “I’d rather not go further out here in the open where anyone can see us.”
“I understand that all too well.” She rested a palm on his chest as her stomach growled rather loudly. “Perhaps we should return to the manor. They’ll serve dinner soon, and I don’t want to miss it.”
“Neither do I.” He took her hand, brought it to his lips, and then kissed the back. “However…”
“Yes?” Flutters danced through her lower belly.
“I do want another game of bowls. I suspect given practice I can best you.”
A lighthearted laugh sailed from her throat as they headed toward the manor. “There are no doubts in my mind that you, but I think if we do anything after dinner once the sun goes down, it won’t be another round of bowls. I have something much more… satisfying in mind.”
What sort of woman does this make me?
His eyes twinkled. “A noble challenge, indeed. Slip a note beneath my door with the details and I’ll make sure I meet you.”
Oh, it was such fun having a man in her life to get up to scandal with! There was plenty of time to consider the cost later.