“Let me tether the horses, then we can go inside and eat,” replied Thomas, taking the reins from Cecily’s hand.
Inside the temple, Cecily found not just a room, but a warm and inviting space which was furnished with soft green leather sofas and plush woolen rugs. There was a large open area at the end.
Thomas set the basket of food on the floor.
“I forgot that my father had the dining suite removed last month, hence the empty space. We often invite local families to dine with us here during the summer, but he wanted the table and some of the chairs repaired before our next function,” he explained.
Taking the casual air of their day to its next logical step, Cecily sat down on one of the rugs next to the basket. Thomas followed suit.
She handed him the bottle of ale. Thomas opened it while Cecily unwrapped the rest of the food and lay it out in front of them on the rug.
“So, tell me about this place. How did you come to have a Grecian temple in your garden?” she said.
“My grandfather did the grand tour of Europe many years ago, and when he returned home, it was with plans to create his own private piece of Greece in his garden. I like to come up here late on hot summer evenings and sleep on one of the sofas. With the front and rear doors of the temple open, there is a calming breeze which flows through,” he replied.
Cecily broke off a piece of the cheese bread and handed it to him. She sat and stared at her own piece of bread. “It must be nice to have a place like this that you can call your own.”
“Well, it belongs to my father. But yes, I can come and go as I please. I hope that someday my children will be able to play here,” he replied.
He picked up one of the lamb pies. “Do you know what this fine lamb pie needs? It needs a good French red to go with it, and I have exactly the perfect one.”
He got to his feet and disappeared outside, reappearing a few minutes later with a bottle of wine tucked under his arm and two glasses in hand.
“Where did you get those?” she asked.
Thomas nodded toward the window. “There is a kitchen underneath the temple for when we have guests over. It has a wine cellar which my father keeps well stocked. It saves the long walk back to the main house.”
From his pocket, he produced a corkscrew. After opening the bottle, he poured them both a glass of wine and then sat next to Cecily on the floor.
The bottle lasted the first hour, then Thomas brought a second one up from the cellar. He poured Cecily another glass, but instead of taking a sip, she set it down on the floor next to her. She was beginning to feel light-headed.
When he resumed his seat, she noticed that he had closed the distance between them to a mere matter of inches.
Thomas put down his glass and turned to her. Taking hold of one of her hands, he raised it to his lips. She didn’t protest as he placed soft kisses on her fingertips. Next, he slipped a hand around her waist and drew her to him. Still Cecily said nothing.
Please don’t be like all the others.
“So beautiful,” he murmured.
Their lips met. His kiss was soft and tender. When he swept his tongue into her mouth, a flash of heat raced up her spine. The kiss invited her to drop her guard and relax. The embrace was full of promise.
He shifted closer, lifting her so that she sat on his lap. His lips worked their way down her cheek, then her neck, only stopping when he reached the collar of her riding jacket.
As nimble fingers flicked at the buttons on the front of her gown, an army trumpet suddenly sounded in her brain. She seized his hand and forcefully held it.
Their gazes met, and she held his with a steely resolve, unwilling to let him go.
“Do you think because I ran away from my parents and a respectable marriage that I am easy? What have others told you about me?” she said.
“No. Nothing. I mean. Oh.”
Her grip on his hand tightened. The tips of his fingers turned a deep pink, as did his cheeks. “Tell me what is it that you have heard, Thomas, which would make you think you could take liberties with me?” she demanded. She pushed her hand against his chest and struggled to her feet. Standing over him, she waited for his reply.
He looked up at her. “All I know about you is what I have heard through whispers at parties. That your family has kept youout of society for many years, and that something happened to you in Ireland.”
“Ah, now we get to the truth of it. You men are all the same,” she said.
He got to his feet and took a step toward her. Cecily held up her hand in warning. “Don’t come any closer, Lord Rosemount. I may not be able to stop you if you are intent on ravishing me, but I will certainly do enough damage that you will regret it.”
