Chapter 10 #2
When she made a pretense of faltering, his voice became gentle despite his palpable impatience. “Go on,” he encouraged her, his gaze intent.
“When I lived at Fairford, I had no desire to go out because it wasn’t my home.
The people there were Aunt Melicent’s friends, not mine.
It all seemed so pointless, their constant card parties and balls.
I always knew I’d return to Virginia one day, and now that I’m here, I’d like to see more of the Tidewater and meet the people who knew my father.
I don’t see any harm in it, Adam. Papa would have wanted me to be happy here.
To make friends. He wouldn’t have liked me to shut myself away from everybody. ”
Susanna sighed softly, thinking how in truth, Camille might have said those words. Feeling suddenly very much an impostor, she looked down at her hands. Her next words, something Camille had shared with her, she doubted she could tell Adam to his face without giving herself away.
“Actually, I’d like to be more like my mother.
Papa didn’t speak of her often, I think it was too painful for him, but he once told me that she was as vivacious as a spring morning, and that she loved to dance.
Everybody liked her, and they used to have parties here a lot, before she and my brothers… ”
Susanna was unable to continue for the tightness in her throat.
Long moments passed during which she still couldn’t bring herself to look at him, but she knew from his silence that he was carefully pondering what she had said.
Finally, when she heard him lean back in the chair, his movement carrying with it a sense of resignation, she knew she had convinced him. She met his eyes.
“All right, Camille, all right. God knows, I want you to be happy and to do whatever you think will make you feel more at home here. I guess I should be thankful that at least I’ll be able to accompany you, unless something occurs here that needs my attention. “
Her immense relief that she could finally shed her oppressive shyness and act more like herself was immediately checked by surprise.
“You will?” she asked, his response not at all what she had anticipated.
Bloody hell! How was she ever going to encourage other suitors with Adam dogging her every step? “Th-that’s wonderful, Adam.”
“Yes, though there’s another thing you should know about your friend Celeste. She believes I’m interested in courting her…in fact, she welcomes it. It wasn’t my idea to walk with her in the garden this afternoon, but her father’s. I think he wants a crop master for a son-in-law.”
Susanna felt unexpected and wholly preposterous jealousy. Celeste was interested in marrying Adam? Surely that had to be another one of his lies.
“She invited me to accompany all of you on your outings, but only after I assured her that I had no interest in courting you myself.” Adam rose from the chair, clearly exasperated, and began to pace the floor, his limp more pronounced now that he had been sitting for a while.
He seemed to be wrestling with some issue when he stopped and faced her squarely.
“Camille, I know you don’t want to be rushed and I have no wish to pressure you, but the secretive nature of our courtship must end!
I won’t have Celeste fawning all over me while I watch you being hounded by her brother…
or any other man for that matter. Dammit, I’ll move into my office, if that’s what it takes to prevent any malicious rumors.
I’ll do anything to protect you and your reputation, but I won’t stand for this charade any longer! ”
Susanna was stunned by his outburst. All she knew was that her plan to keep him at Briarwood for as long as necessary was about to crash down around her like a flimsy house of cards, unless she thought of something fast.
“I-I don’t want you to move out,” she stammered, rising shakily to her feet.
“I want you to stay near me, Adam. I like having you so close, and I don’t want to be in this big house alone.
Please…can’t we go on as we have been for a few more weeks?
Then I promise you we’ll announce our betrothal.
It’s been so lovely…so romantic having our own little secret, just like in the books I used to read.
Please, just for a little while longer…”
Adam was tempted to sweep her into his arms, the plea in her beautiful eyes enough to make him relent, but it wasn’t just the two of them involved anymore.
“What of Matthew and Celeste Grymes?” he asked. “And what of those other gentlemen who’ve been surrounding you all day? Is it fair to so mislead everyone?”
She appeared to choose her words carefully. “I suppose…it depends on whose interests you have at heart, Adam,” she finally said softly, a playful tone creeping into her voice. “Theirs…or mine.”
He regarded her quizzically. “You know my answer to that.”
“Then I don’t see that there’s any problem, do you? It could actually be fun…our deception.”
Adam exhaled slowly, thinking with amusement that he didn’t know this woman very well. It seemed that there was a mischievous vixen hiding within his timid mouse, a spirited and naughty side to her that might prove most entertaining once they were wed.
Adam smiled with keen anticipation.
He had sensed early on that she possessed a passionate nature, but last night her wanton response to his kiss had almost made him forget he was a gentleman, and he could have sworn that her fiery passion had startled even her.
Nor would he have ever guessed she had an impish streak in her, but it was clear that she was trusting him more and more to reveal such a facet of herself.
Damn, if it wasn’t amazing what a little gentle wooing could do; everything was progressing just as he had expected!
She was no longer asking for months of courtship, but mere days.
“A few weeks?” he asked huskily, reaching out and drawing her slowly toward him.
“Yes,” Susanna murmured, her heart pounding as his strong arms went around her in a possessive embrace. “Only a few more weeks.”
“Done.”
Although she was swept by overwhelming relief that once again she had so easily deceived him, Susanna was equally aware of how difficult her search for the proper husband had suddenly become and how little time she had to accomplish it.
Then his lips brushed hers, his breath whispering past her parted lips, and she thought no more of her perilous situation, only how warm his mouth was and how good it felt for him to kiss her.
She melted within his arms, somewhere in her passionate haze hearing the soft swoosh of satin and the crisp rustle of damask as he hugged her more closely.
She scarcely knew when he lifted his mouth from hers and trailed a fiery path down her throat, but she started when his lips found the deep hollow between her breasts and he kissed her there, his tongue flicking a soft, rounded curve.
It was a sensation wholly unlike any other, and she could not deny she liked it… very much.
“You are perfection, my love,” he whispered against her skin, the warmth of his breath heating her lavender perfume so that it drifted around them.
“Sweet, wondrous perfection.” He kissed her breasts again, lingering over each in turn until she was softly moaning, then he raised his head and stared into her half-closed eyes. “A few weeks?” he teased.