He leaned into her, she lifted her head toward him, and he kissed her with a hunger and a force that both surprised and excited her.
Just as suddenly he stopped, slowly releasing her bottom lip, and smiled. “Now you’re going to tel me you didn’t faint.”
“I never faint.”
“Clearly.” He moved in for another kiss, and that was when Chloe noticed a cameraman sidestepping down the ravine toward them.
With Henry’s help, she staggered to a standing position and turned to face the camera. Blood was rushing to her head. The cameraman hadn’t got her head lol ing in Henry’s lap, had he? Henry, shirtless. Her, without her chaperone. Them kissing! What had possessed her? She broke into a shiver and her teeth began to chatter uncontrol ably. This was not how she wanted it to end, not at al .
Chapter 10
The cameras panned from him to the five women in gowns perched in front of the pianoforte in the drawing room at Bridesbridge Place. Their chaperones sat near the game table, fidgeting. Mrs. Crescent lowered her head to look at her locket portrait of Wil iam while Fifi twisted and turned at her feet, unable to settle down.
Even though Chloe had changed into a jonquil gown and put an ostrich feather in her hair, she stil smel ed of horse and muck, and she couldn’t shake the thought of Henry kissing her. Okay, she was attracted to him for some reason, but what a mistake! She didn’t think the cameraman had captured the kiss, or she would’ve heard about it. For four years she didn’t have a man in her life at al and now she had two? That was one man too many. Kissing Henry? It never should’ve happened and she swore to herself that it never would again. Thankful y, she wouldn’t have to see him tonight, because of the Invitation Ceremony. It would only be Sebastian.
But it was Henry who set her, despite his hurt leg, back on her horse, and led both horses back to Bridesbridge, with a camera in tow. He got her back in time to change, wash up, and even attend to the last-minute details of the hunt tea she was hosting. If only it had been Sebastian.
Here she was dwel ing on the men, and not the money!
She fingered the reticule she had sewn and trimmed herself during her sewing lessons, made of vintage maroon silk, embroidered with golden horses. It was barely big enough to hold a girl’s cal ing cards—but able to carry a simple wish. A wish to stay.
“We have five ladies,” the butler said. “And three invitations.”
A footman promenaded into the room and set a silver tray on the marble table in front of the fire. Three crisp invitations lay fanned out on the tray, each sealed with a red wax
“Two of you wil be sent home immediately.” The butler looked Chloe smack in the eye.
Chloe looked down at her reticule. It was over. Tonight she’d be on her way back home, and the best she could hope for from this ordeal would be some PR for her business.
“Might I remind you,” said the butler, “that Lady Grace won the foxhunt, Miss Tripp placed second, and Miss Harrington third.”
Chloe sucked on her lower lip, which didn’t matter because she had no lipstick on.
“The fifteen Accomplishment Points for winning the foxhunt wil be awarded to . . .” He paused for dramatic effect.
Grace stood on her toes, ready to leap forward and accept her award.
“. . . Miss Parker.”
Chloe looked up.
“Miss Parker?” Grace whined.
The butler nodded.
Al heads, with feathers and headdresses, turned toward her.
“Miss Parker wins the Accomplishment Points for making the most ladylike choice of al the contestants by stopping to help a wounded horse and Mr. Henry Wrightman, who had been thrown. Only one other lady considered helping, and that was Miss Tripp, who wil be awarded five points for her considerateness. Congratulations, ladies.”
Chloe smiled, Mrs. Crescent and Julia’s chaperone clapped, and Chloe thought for a moment that there might be a glimmer of class in this circus of a reality show after al . She credited Sebastian, who had to be behind this turn of fate. He was a true gentleman.
“I wanted to stop, but—” Gil ian started to say.
Grace gave Chloe an icy stare and whispered, “It’s obvious that you care for Henry. Perhaps more than just as a potential brother-in-law?”
Chloe could feel her pinned-up hair practical y standing on end. “I care for a lot of people,” she replied. “But I’m here for Sebastian. I’ve put everything on the line for him.”
The butler cleared his throat and looked into the cameras. “Before Mr. Wrightman presents these invitations, Miss Parker has arranged a posthunt tea in the back drawing room. This wil al ow al of you ladies to make any last impressions before he announces his decision. Best of luck.”
The footmen opened the doors to the hal . Sebastian stepped in, radiating heat, and Chloe could feel herself gravitate toward him. His crisp white shirt and cravat enhanced the effect of his sun-kissed skin. He offered each of
