CHAPTER 6
She was late. Michael checked his pocket watch for the fifth time in as many minutes.
Five minutes past eight. Damn her. He had barely slept last night.
Had been here waiting at the maze for an hour at least. And she still didn’t appear.
Maybe she wasn’t coming. After discovering her mistake, she must have been appalled.
She would have said anything to escape his presence last night.
Why would she throw away the heir for the spare?
Because in this case, the spare would treat her much better than the heir ever would, that’s why.
And he needed to make her see that. After leaving her last night, he had sought out his brother.
If Henry had developed an affection for his fiancée, he was willing to step back and let her make her choice without further interference.
But his brother had not changed his mind one bit.
Amid laughter and drinks, he had confessed his fiancée was prettier than he had expected and would at least not be a chore to bed, but he had no intention of changing his lifestyle or giving up his mistress.
Oblivious to the way Michael’s temper was barely leashed, he had then proceeded to describe the woman who currently held the position.
A blowsy actress with bigger tits than talent.
Not that he had anything against big tits, but the woman could not compare to Josephine.
As much as Michael loved his brother, Henry could be such an arse sometimes.
Soft footsteps snagged his attention, and he was off the bench and racing toward the path’s mouth before his brain had consciously given his legs the order. She peeked around the corner, and he immediately pulled her into his arms.
He had planned to go slow. Show her grace and patience.
Give her space to make her decision. But damn it all to hell, he was fighting a losing battle in which everything was stacked against him.
And he had little time to win her over. The only thing he had in his favor was this desire burning between them.
He felt it, and he knew she felt it too.
It was undeniable every time they were close.
If this was all they had, he would stoke the flames until they were both consumed.
She did not protest, immediately wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him with as much eagerness as he felt.
The kiss went on, unraveling his senses.
Her flavor was the most intoxicating elixir he had ever tasted.
The textures of her mouth held him in thrall.
Her perfume—violets laced with something rarer and more elusive—suited her perfectly: as fresh and playful as the flower, yet layered with complexity and mystery he longed to unfold.
He knew when the kiss ended, he would have to face reality.
He would have to ask questions and deal with the answers, whether he liked them or not.
But for these precious moments, nothing existed but the pleasure of them consumed in the power of their mouths joining and caressing, and he would extend it as long as was possible.
But all things must come to an end. If he didn’t stop the kiss soon, it would progress to other activities she was not ready for.
And he would be a cad to pressure her. With great reluctance, he disengaged their mouths, still raining small kisses to the corner of her lips, her nose, her closed eyelids.
“Good morning, little fairy. I was afraid you would not come.”
“I thought about it.” The confession was like a dagger to his heart. Until she added, “But I couldn’t stay away. I’m drawn to you… and we need to talk.”
“Yes, we do. Remember what I asked you yesterday?”
“You want to know what I plan to do?”
He simply nodded. There was no need to repeat the question. She knew full well what he meant.
“Why must I make a decision now? I still don’t know. I feel as if everything is whirling around me and I can’t find my footing. I haven’t had time to think about last night’s revelations.”
“It is very simple, really. Do you want to marry me, or my brother? Do you feel this connection with him?” He knew damn well his brother did not feel even a tenth of what he felt for this woman.
“No, you know I don’t. But I don’t know either of you very well, do I? A marriage is based on more than just mindless passion.”
“It is not mindless. And it is a great deal more than what you have with my brother. You didn’t even know him in person until yesterday, and yet you betrothed yourself to him.”
“My parents did. I never agreed to it. I was, in fact, looking for a way out. But it’s not easy. My parents won’t let me break the engagement.”
“I give not a whit for what your parents want. It is what you want that matters. You must know in your heart.”
“And you? How can you possibly be so sure you want to marry me? You have known me for exactly one day. And if I overheard your conversation with the footman correctly, you were opposed to marriage yesterday. Why the sudden change? You don’t know enough about me to ascertain that I would make you a good wife.
What you are feeling is lust. And it may pass in a few days. ”
“You are wrong. I know all about lust. It takes me just a few seconds to determine if I want to bed a woman or not. And I’ve never wanted to marry any of the women I’ve bedded before.
Lust is simple. Uncomplicated. A matter of pleasing looks and the possibility of pleasure.
I’m not a naive lad who falls in love with every pretty face he sees. This is different.”
She seemed mystified by his response. And he was a bit surprised himself. Until yesterday, he hadn’t been looking to get married. Had not found a woman who made the prospect appealing.
“What makes me different, then?”
“Are you fishing for compliments, my dear?”
She blushed so prettily that he felt the impulse to keep teasing her just to continue seeing that color tinting her cheeks.
“No, of course, not. I’m genuinely trying to understand.”
“Very well, I’ll try to explain. As I said before, I could tell within a few seconds of meeting you that I desired you.
But then we started talking. And somewhere between sharing our hobbies and talking about our passions, something deeper developed.
A kinship, a connection. I know you are creative and whimsical, but also determined and cunning.
You look deeper than the surface, and you seek love above all else.
I know you try to be a dutiful daughter and please your parents but will not settle for less than you deserve.
“I know you have passion and fire, and that we are compatible in that regard.” He leaned in close and cradled her cheek, brushing his thumb across her lips. “Our marital bed would be very satisfying.”
He dropped his hand and didn’t miss the turn of her face, as if she wanted to follow the caress.
“But I also know you are virtuous and loyal. That once you marry, you’ll belong only to your husband.
The only reason you dallied with me yesterday was because you thought I was your fiancé.
You are not a flirt, although you are quick-witted and smart.
You want security and stability, but you are not blinded by status and material things. ”
“How do you know all that?” she whispered.
“Simply by observing, I guess. I saw the horror in your eyes when you discovered I was not your betrothed. If you were interested only in status, you would not be considering throwing away the heir to a dukedom for his younger brother. You’d be begging me not to say a word of what transpired between us. ”
“But I could have hidden vices. What if I’m exceedingly vain?”
He smiled, amused, and brushed a loose lock of her hair behind her ear. “A vain woman would not have come to meet me dressed in her plainest clothes and with her hair half undone.”
She trembled slightly, either from the caress or his words. It charmed him. But she wasn’t done.
“I could have a wicked temper.”
He laughed aloud. “I hope you do. It would just make it all the sweeter to channel that fire into passion.”
“I could be selfish.”
“Hmm. I don’t think so. You accepted a betrothal to a man you didn’t know to please your parents.
Yet you are now considering breaking that betrothal despite it being an advantageous marriage.
But it’s difficult for you to do it. Not because you don’t want to give up the privilege of one day being a duchess, but because you don’t want to disappoint your parents.
A selfish person doesn’t act like that. Are you done trying to convince me you are a bad choice? ”
“Am I that transparent, then?”
“To me, you are. I see you, Josephine. But those are only the tangible qualities. There are other, more ethereal things I can’t explain.
Like how I know I will never get tired of seeing your face in the mornings.
Or how I can look into your eyes, full of laughter and passion, and I can imagine our future children.
How when I touch you or kiss you, I feel a connection that goes beyond the physical. Don’t you feel it too?”
“I do. But how can I trust that? I haven’t had any other experience with men.
I thought I had been kissed before, but yesterday I realized a quick peck stolen in haste in a corner of a balcony is not a real kiss.
You are the first to awaken these feelings in me.
How do I know they are enduring? Other than you being the brother of my fiancé, I know nothing about you. ”
“Ask me anything you want.” He stretched his arms out, indicating he was open. “Upon my honor, I’ll answer truthfully.”
“Are you a rake?”
Of course, she would start with the hard questions first. “I won’t deny I’ve had experience. But I don’t go about seducing every woman I meet. I am discerning. And before you ask, when I marry, I plan to be faithful.”
“I learned you are in the army. Do you like it?”
“The lifestyle suits me for now. I am a good officer and feel I can be useful and make a name for myself there.”
“Would you expect your wife to follow the drum?”
“If she wishes to. It can be a good life, Josephine. Full of adventure and new and exciting places. I think you would enjoy it. But if you wish to live in England, we can arrange for that too.”
“Where would we live? What would we do? What if our families disinherit us?”
“I foresee conflicts ahead, I’m not going to lie.
It will be difficult to break your betrothal.
But, in time, they might come to understand.
You need not worry that we’ll be penniless without our families’ support.
I may not be as rich as my brother, and will probably never be the duke, but I’ll come into an inheritance from my mother’s portion when I turn twenty-four, which is a couple of months away.
It would be enough for us to live comfortably. ”
“You tempt me almost more than I can endure. But as you said, it will be difficult to convince our families. It will cause a great upheaval. Everybody will be mad at us. Shouldn’t we wait a bit? Get to know each other better?”
He sighed. “I already know what I want. And it’s you. But if you need more time, fine. How long?”
“What?”
“How long do you need to make a decision?”
“I don’t know. My head is spinning right now.”
“You know I wanted to ask your father for permission to court you. My intentions are honorable, Josephine.”
“But I’m betrothed to your brother,” she replied helplessly.
“Do you intend to go through with this marriage?” He spoke in a low tone. She wasn’t fooled by it. He was thunderous.
“I don’t know! I can’t make such a momentous decision now. Please, I need to go back. We can’t be discovered together.”
“Let’s wait until the end of the house party. Will you meet me here every day?”
“If I can—”
“You can. I’ll wait for you here. But Josephine?”
“Yes?”
“Don’t kiss my brother.” He drew close to her and his lips brushed against her cheek, her ear. A butterfly caress. “You are mine, and mine alone. Even if you don’t know it yet.”