Chapter 6 #2
Considering whether she should perhaps hide her interests, Charlotte decided to be fearless, for what had she to lose? This was no courtship. There was no need to impress him. She was already engaged to be another man’s wife.
“I like to take my journal out and sketch flowers. The absolute perfection and intricacy of the blooms are enchanting. I could observe them for hours.” She cleared her throat, waiting for the ungodly pause or the awkward silence as he judged her interests. There was none.
“I find gardens perfectly marvelous. You must be kept busy in the summer months,” he said with a small smile.
Her entire body heated. Her tongue darted out, sweeping over her lips.
Tucking a hair as was her habit when she was nervous, she nodded. The words escaped her, her voice silenced by her immediate fascination with him.
They continued walking, Charlotte revealing her passion for botany and her strong desire to work in the garden when her mother approved, which was only on rare occasions.
“I garden in secret, when the mood takes me. I imagine when I marry, I will be able to garden to my heart’s content,” Charlotte said wistfully. “Then, I will be truly free.”
“Or you will be too busy being the belle of the ton and will occupy your time with dancing, gossiping, and shopping,” he jested.
Charlotte laughed. “Perhaps, only time will tell. I do hope my husband is open to me exploring my interests.” A wistful sigh escaped her lips as she began to climb the stone steps of the country manor.
“Thank you for walking me home, my lord.” Holding on to the wide stone railing as she mounted the steps, she turned to wave him off.
Peregrine climbed one step, leaning toward Charlotte mischievously. As though they were conspiring together. “If we’re to meander together, we must use our given names, surely. Please, call me Perry,” he said, his gaze locked on Charlotte’s.
Goosebumps danced across her skin. “Very well. You may call me Charlotte, or Lottie, if you wish.” She gave him a parting smile and turned to climb the steps before he could hear her heart racing in her chest.
Though she had done nothing wrong, Charlotte was embarrassed by her excitement and wondered if she would ever see him again.
It was not proper for them to interact freely together in the city, but for neighbors on their country estates, the rules were slightly more relaxed.
The Townsend servants were incredibly loyal and discreet.
Regardless, she would have to be careful if they saw each other again.
As she watched him return to his estate, with the dog bounding at his side, doubt encroached her thoughts. There was no way she would—or should—see him again.
The warmth blooming in her chest meant nothing good could come of spending time with Perry. A man like that could only make her want what she could never have…
Sitting next to Perry on the bed, Charlotte laughed at the memories. Alas, they were careful until they were not. She touched her fingers to her lips as the visions of the past came back in full clarity.
After many long days spent wandering and sketching, laughing, and talking, Charlotte and Perry developed a close friendship.
Food stolen from the kitchen for secret picnics, afternoons spent reading poetry and stories of dashing adventures.
Perry was her living daydream, and she had no desire to wake up.
Of course, their closeness undermined any resignation she felt toward her future marriage.
She dreamed of what it would be like to marry Peregrine instead.
No surprise, her feelings got carried away on the warm English breeze as they were set free.
She blushed at the recollection of the moment they had crossed the line into a different sort of relationship…
It had been one of those perfect moments that had punctuated a long stretch of gray, rainy days.
The warm sun had chased away the last dregs of the humidity clinging to the air.
Charlotte was bonnetless and falling under his spell in the most devastating way.
They sat on a blanket in the shade of the ruins.
One of them had stolen crumpets and jam from the kitchen, and the other had carried a blanket.
They laughed as they devoured the sweet treats while sitting in the privacy of their secret hideaway.
Perhaps it was the brush of their fingers, the long, lingering looks, or the tenderness of the laughter—Charlotte wasn’t quite sure.
Somehow, a trace of jam at the corner of her mouth had been too much of a temptation.
Neither of them was a rebel, but in that moment, Perry was seized by his passions.
Charlotte, already halfway in love with him, welcomed the intimacy she was craving.
Their fingers brushed as they sat on the blanket, sending a shock of electricity coursing through her.
Perry must have felt the jolt, since he raised a hand to brush her cheek tenderly.
“Look at you. There is a spot of jam on your mouth, and it makes me wonder if you taste as sweet as the crumpet,” he said playfully, tipping her chin upward.
Charlotte inhaled sharply and blinked, her words escaping her.
His lips brushed against hers, sending shocks of desire pooling in her core.
She had never been kissed. She always believed her husband would be her first kiss, yet in that moment, she would never have relinquished that right to anyone other than Perry.
His mouth touched hers tentatively at first, as though she would break, then pulled away.
A haze of lust gave Charlotte the sensation of falling, yet she was sitting on the ground.
She leaned over and kissed him again, clutching his shirt and pulling him close.
Craving the feel of his lips on hers a little longer.
Forever maybe.
Perry licked the seam of her mouth, and she gasped, allowing him entry.
He stroked his tongue along hers and slowly eased her back on the blanket.
Powerless to stop, her body surrendered completely to the heat of their kiss.
Perry reached a hand to grip her waist, and Charlotte arched, wanting to bring herself closer, but not knowing why.
Perry pressed himself deliciously against her.
A mysterious hardness dug into her side, which she didn’t understand but longed to touch.
So she did.
She stroked him through his breeches, and he hardened more beneath her palm. Perry took her hands in his and held them against the blanket, bringing himself fully over her.
“We are playing with fire, Charlotte. I do not seek to take your innocence, but the temptation is great,” he breathed as he kissed a path down her neck and rubbed himself against her centre. “What an honor it would be to be your first and only.”
Charlotte had sometimes touched herself in her most intimate places, and she blushed at her instantly heated reaction to the friction of their clothing and his body against her.
She had read enough anatomy books that she knew what their parts were; she simply had no idea how they would come together.
The pressure increased as they collided, and her excitement climbed higher.
Her core throbbed, aching to be touched. Every time Perry came up against it, the tension within her rose.
Coming up on his elbow, he dragged his gaze down her body. “Can I touch you?” he asked, the words heavy with heat and desire. His eyes were dark and hungry.
“Please,” she begged, her legs coming apart of their own volition. Her body needed his touch.
Tracing the back of his hand along her collarbone, he brought his thumb to stroke her breast, teasing the stiff peak hiding beneath layers of fabric.
His hand moved to explore beneath her skirts, touching her where she craved it most. The combination of sensations pushed Charlotte to feel a familiar coil tightening within her.
His tongue continued to tangle with hers as he explored her most private and needy places.
She cried out as she came undone on his fingers.
Her hand reached out to touch Perry, his length straining against his breeches.
Though inexperienced, she wanted to give him the same satisfaction he had given her.
He nuzzled the nape of her neck. She whimpered as his pleasure-filled moan vibrated against her skin, and he achieved his own release.
Breathless, he lifted himself off and lay on the blanket next to her, sighing in utter contentment.
Wrapping her in his arms, he pulled her close and nuzzled his face in her hair.
“Lottie…” he spoke breathily. “Everything about you is pure heaven.”
Squirming to tuck herself closer into his body, a small smile tugged on her lips.
She wanted to regret what they had done, but as much as she reached for the emotion, it would not come.
As long as this remained their secret, there would be no harm in exploring that which she would never have with her future husband.
Charlotte squeezed her thighs together at the dampness clinging there, wondering if this was part of what married people did behind closed doors.
Somehow, she doubted it was like this for all couples.
If it were, Charlotte was an apt pupil and would happily learn the arts of love from her eager teacher…
The bittersweet memories still sent a pang of longing tearing through her chest. Charlotte had been so hopeful, so sure.
So confident she could keep their closeness a secret.
A cherished memory to savor on her tongue when she was whisked away to become the Viscountess Dewberry.
Unfortunately, she had learned more about the art of seduction from Perry. Too much. She had paid a high price.
Love was tender. Love was sweet.
Love could tear your life apart.