She glanced over her shoulder, but no one was watching, and she practically ran to him. He extended his hand and clasped hold of hers. They dashed off together, heading deeper into the shadows, and they were laughing like naughty schoolchildren who’d gotten away with mischief.
They kept on until the noise from the manor faded behind them, then he guided her off the path and led her into the trees. Without asking, without furnishing her with a chance to decide what she’d like to have happen, he dipped down and kissed her. She was so astonished that, without hesitating, she kissed him back.
It was her very first kiss, but it wasn’t awkward or strange. She joined in with incredible relish, and it seemed as if she had quite a knack for it. Or perhaps he was simply so good at it that he made it easy for her to participate.
The embrace went on forever, with neither of them disposed to call a halt. How long had she stolen away? Would she have been missed? By her Aunt Millicent most likely. If her aunt interrogated her about her absence, what excuse could she give?
Finally, he was the one to end it. He drew away and gazed down at her, his expression tender and intense. She’d never had a man look at her as he was looking, as if she was amazing and he couldn’t live without her.
Luke—her possible fiancé—had definitely never looked at her like that. In fact, he barely noticed her at all. Whenever he deigned to speak to her, he was unfailingly polite to the point of dullness. So far, he hadn’t evinced by the slightest word or deed that he found her to be exceptional. She definitely couldn’t picture him dragging her into the garden for a torrid kiss.
They were mostly strangers, and it would never have occurred to him that she might like him to exhibit a bit of passionate interest. She, herself, hadn’t realized she’d been hoping for it, and now that she’d dallied with Mr. Falcon, how would she ever view Luke as she had previously?
Her father had insisted Luke would be the perfect husband for her, and she hadn’t doubted him. She’d accepted his opinion, as she accepted all of them. On a topic as important as matrimony, surely he knew best.
A match between them would be about land and money, but clearly, there were facets to a male-female relationship that she hadn’t considered. She felt as if Mr. Falcon had opened a door that only adults could peer through, and suddenly, she was asking herself this question: Why would she settle for a boring, aristocratic marriage?
She was shocked to have asked it. How could a few desperate kisses have rattled her thought processes to such a stunning degree?
“You’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen,” he murmured.
She was used to those sorts of compliments. “Thank you.”
“I was positive you’d follow me out here.”
“How could you have been? I wasn’t certain myself.”
“Sparks fly when you’re near, so it indicates that the universe approves.”
“Approves of what?”
“Of our being together, silly. I want to spend all my time with you. When can you get away?”
“To do what?”
He grinned a cocky grin. “I’ll show you once we’re alone.”
“You’re too vain by half.”
“Yes, I always have been.” He delivered another rousing kiss. “Where is your bedchamber located? I could sneak in later.”
She gasped. “What?”
“Does your maid sleep with you? Or will you be by yourself?”
“I’ll be by myself, but it’s awfully brash of you to suppose you’d be welcome. What kind of girl do you think I am?”
“I think you’re the kind who will fall in love with me.”
She frowned. “This is my engagement party. You’re aware of that. I’m about to be betrothed to Lord Barrett.”
“Are you really? Can you actually picture yourself wed to him?”
“Well . . . yes. I imagine I can.”
He vehemently shook his head. “He’s all wrong for you, and you’d never be happy. He’s so old and dreary. Is that the type of husband you seek?”
He’d uttered so many wild statements that she felt dizzy.
“My father picked him for me,” she said.
“Just because your father picked him, that doesn’t mean it was a good choice. Your father might like him very much, but your father isn’t the one who has to climb into the marital bed with him. You need a husband who is young and exciting and who will make you smile constantly.”
“Someone like you, for instance?” she warily asked.
“Yes, someone exactly like me.” He leaned in and whispered, “Where is your bedroom? I’ll meet you there after the house has quieted down for the night.”
The prospect sent a shiver of exhilaration through her innards. Did men and women behave so scandalously? Was it common? Did they regularly sneak away to romp in bedrooms?
If she went to her bedchamber with him, she had no idea what would happen there. She’d heard plenty of rumors at school, but her fellow classmates had been as naïve as she was. They’d been guessing, sharing gossip. There was physical conduct involved. There was occasional nudity too. Depending on a male’s amorous skills, the event could be thrilling and wonderful or embarrassing, painful, and unpleasant.
She suspected though, with Simon Falcon, it would be on the thrilling end of the scale.
Her curiosity was inflamed, and she almost agreed, but at the last second, better sense prevailed. He was cunning and seductive, and if he visited her, she had no doubt he could spur her to commit acts she shouldn’t. It would imperil her future, so . . .
She had to ponder carefully. What were the benefits of a liaison? What were the risks? Was there a way to proceed, but without any genuine damage occurring?
Mr. Falcon would be at Roland for two weeks, and she couldn’t bear to not be alone with him again. Already, she felt closer to him than she’d ever been to anyone. He’d stirred the sort of avid passion every
