Chapter 9
Tessa sighed against Titus’s shoulder, breathing in the scent of sandalwood.
She had rested in his arms for several moments—or perhaps an hour.
She couldn’t bring herself to move as she knew she should.
Their position was entirely improper. Still, she couldn’t move.
She felt safe. Protected. Cared for, as she had never been. Had she really heard him say “always?”
When he leaned down and kissed the top of her head, she couldn’t stop herself. She tilted her head back and sought his mouth, saying with her kiss the things she had no words for. He accepted the tender kiss, pulled back a few inches, and searched her face. If he sought permission, he had it.
His kiss matched hers with gentleness at first, but when she responded, he deepened it, pouring out his passion, filling her with need, and leaving her breathless.
“Shocking. As I told you!”
Tessa jerked upright and gasped at the sight of Oswald Neale at the door. Titus held her firmly in his arms when she would have leapt up. “Easy,” he whispered, rising without hurry, helping her up, and holding her arm on his.
Sir Peter and Lady Somerville stood at the doorway, Neale a step inside the room. As she rose, Tessa, saw Prudence and Abigail Danvers come up behind the pair, peering over their shoulders into the room. Tessa felt sick. Only Titus’s support kept her upright.
Neale denounced Tessa in an irrational tirade. “I saw her entice him in here. I saw the maid come to tell him there was an emergency in the ladies’ withdrawing room. I followed and watched her invite him. She—”
“He lies,” Tessa shouted, as the Somervilles followed Neale into the room.
“She was a camp follower,” Oswald Neale shouted back. “You know they are no better than whores and—”
Titus silenced the maggot with one blow to the jaw. Neale fell to the floor, unconscious and blessedly silent. Tessa felt a surge of triumph, all too brief.
For a moment, the only sound was a gasp from Abigail Danvers. Sir Peter finally cleared his throat. “I assume that is your way of disputing Oswald Neale’s words, Brannock?”
“I found him assaulting the lady. He escaped before I could pummel him completely. I’m glad for the opportunity,” Titus said. “He is a lying pig.”
The Somervilles glanced at one another. “You and I will speak about this in the morning, Brannock,” Sir Peter said. “For now, I’ll send a groom to see Oswald Neale to his room and lock him in until I can deal with this.” He shook his head in disgust.
“I mean to make this lady my wife,” Titus declared, startling Tessa. When she started to object, he grasped her hand, squeezed it, and looked down at her, nodding in the direction of the watching Danvers sisters. “We will talk tomorrow, also,” he said. “For now, I think I need to get you home.”
Lady Penelope broke in. “Mrs. Fleming, we will have someone see you safely home. For now, I think it might be best if Major Brannock returns to the ball as if nothing has happened. I hear the last strains of the waltz. Supper will be starting.” She glanced up at her husband who seemed to agree.
“We best see to our guests—if the Misses Danvers will excuse us.” She shooed the notorious gossips out.
Their host nodded, but as they all walked away Tessa heard Sir Peter grumble. “This house party has been entirely too eventful. I will think twice before we have another.”
Tessa had no idea what Sir Peter meant; she had eyes only for Titus.
“You can’t mean what you said,” Tessa told him. His abrupt announcement of intentions bothered her. She cared too much to have him coerced by gossip. She’d been someone’s burden of a wife before. She wouldn’t do it again.
“We’ll talk in the morning,” he said. “As much as I hate to admit it, Lady Penelope had a point. It is better for your reputation if I stay and put on a brave face,” he said.
They certainly had little opportunity to discuss it just then. Lady Penelope didn’t waste time. Servants arrived swiftly to accompany Tessa to a waiting conveyance. One footman glanced down at Oswald Neale. “And I’m to keep this one in here until we can haul him to his room.”
Tessa started to speak, but Titus put a gentle finger on her lips. “In the morning,” he said. He kissed her swiftly and left.