“So be it.” Her hands trembled and her stomach lurched. If only she wasn’t so ignorant.
“So much for your grand plans,”her conscience sneered.“You don’t have any idea how to go about this.”
“I am sure he’ll help. How hard can it be, after all?”
“He’ll recognize you. Then where will you be?”
“He won’t. Other than that one dance, when Lady Bellamny made him ask me, I am sure he never took a second look at me. I was just one of many girls who came out that year.” He certainly did not remember her now.
“So you say. What if you get with child?”
“Would you cease! It must be fate. After all, what were the odds that we would both be here at the very same time with no one else in the inn?”
Wishing she had something nicer to wear, Grace gave up arguing with herself and washed her hands. When she had returned to the parlor, she called for wine. By the time Worthington arrived, she’d calmed her jangled nerves, and her conscience had decided to leave her to go to perdition in her own way.
He had changed his linen, but not his suit. “I apologize for dining in boots.”
“I do not mind at all.” She handed him a glass of claret. “As you see, I have no other clothes with me. This was only supposed to be a day trip.”
“I expected to be home as well and sent my valet ahead with the rest of my kit.” He gave a rueful grin. “A lesson to me to keep a bag with me.” He took a sip. “This claret is excellent.”
“Yes, Mr. Brown keeps a well-stocked cellar.”
She had wanted to confide in Worthington. Tell him that her father used to bring them all here because of the quality of the wine. Confide the difficulties she was experiencing now. Fortunately, before she revealed too much, the door opened and Mr. Brown entered followed by one of his sons, both carrying covered trays.
The savory aroma made Matt’s stomach rumble.
“My missus thought you might like a nice cream of mushroom soup to begin. Then we have a haunch of venison, with Frenched beans . . .” By the time the man finished the dishes covered the table and sideboard. “And here is a trifle for desert.”
Matt offered the lady selections from the offerings before filling his plate. They were silent for a few minutes as they ate. He, because he was ravenous. She simply appeared a bit shy. That was no wonder. She most likely never dined alone with a man before.
“I must tell you that at first I was not impressed by this inn, but the food and wine make up for it being a bit shabby.”
“I have always found the place to be cozy.”
He gazed at her, mesmerized by the dainty way she licked the cream from the trifle from her spoon. “I think I agree.”
He asked her what she thought of the experimental farm in Norfolk and was surprised to find she knew as much as he did. The hours flew by as they had earlier. Soon the clock chimed ten, and she rose.
Matt stood as well, expecting her to make a hasty retreat. Yet rather than curtseying and heading for the door, she stood before him searching his face, waiting. That was all the invitation he needed.
Tentatively, he reached out and with the back of his hand slowly caressed her cheek. He had never wanted a lady as much as he did her.What would she do if he kissed her?Suddenly, where she was from or who she was didn’t matter any longer. She was his. He knew it in his bones. Fate had created a storm and placed her here for him to find and claim.
She took a small step toward him as with one finger he traced her jaw. She closed the distance between them again.
This is like tickling a trout, but with a much greater reward.
Worthington had proven to be everything Grace thought he would be, and now . . . now even if she wished to resist him, she could not. She shoved down her rising anxiety. Her plan was coming to fruition, and now was not the time to be frightened. After all, what good would her virginity do her in her spinsterhood?
His eyes mesmerized her, and she wanted him. To feel his mouth on hers, his arms around her. How much else there was, she wasn’t sure, but she wanted him to show her. Then he wrapped one arm around her waist, drawing her the few inches to him. He placed his hand on her cheek and brushed his slightly callused thumb over her lips. This was going just as she’d wanted it to. It would be the most perfect night of her life.
“You are exquisite.” His voice was low and sultry.
A pleasurable shiver ran down her spine. She’d never thought to hear a man say that to her. She or fate had chosen well.
He bent his head and moved his lips softly against hers.
She rested one hand lightly on his shoulders. He took the other, encouraging her to wrap her arms around his neck. When he trailed his tongue over the seam of her mouth, she did not know what to do so she puckered them a little. He smiled against her lips. Had she done something wrong? She could not allow him to stop.
