He moved his mouth over hers slowly, and she let him, closing her eyes to focus only on the sweet sensations overwhelming her. He cupped her cheek and ran the rough pad of his thumb over the curve of her jaw. Oh, the shivers. She wilted. What would she do if he deepened the kiss? No one had ever touched her with such reverence and passion at the same time. She wanted to explore his mouth with her tongue and his body with her hands, but she didn’t dare ruin the moment by doing something too bold. Before she could savour the kiss further, he pulled back, his cheeks blushing a deep crimson.
“I’m sorry.” He passed a hand over his face, horror widening his eyes.
“Don’t be. I liked it.” Was she blushing too? Because her cheeks were on fire.
“I shouldn’t have taken such liberty.” His words came out in a rush.
“I’m glad you did.”
He held her with desperation, and right then and there, she vowed to protect him.
thirteen
THE CLOSER THESteamship Empresssailed to Southampton, the more Hector’s stomach roiled with anxiety. Maddie had convinced him to wear a few garments borrowed from...he wasn’t sure. Anyway, he wore a greatcoat, a pair of socks, and shoes against the cold wind blowing from England, but he’d refused to wear a waistcoat and a cravat.
The shirt already constricted his chest, and the greatcoat felt heavy on his shoulders. Not to mention the shoes squeezing his feet. Had shoes always been so uncomfortable? He didn’t want another layer constricting him.
He gripped the railing as a light fog swirled over the grey sea. The sky was no longer a bright shade of blue, and the air had lost its warmth. Even the fresh scent of the sea had dissolved, replaced by a combination of the smells of burning coal and oil engines.
When Maddie moved closer to him, he released his grip on the rail. In a dark-blue dress and capelet adorned with silver flowers, she was shrouded in starlight. His mood lifted. She’d offered to be close to him once in London, but he’d already taken too much from her. He didn’t want to become a burden. And Lord, he’d kissed her. Perhaps he was as uncivilised as her mother said.
She brushed a dark strand of hair from her rosy cheek and smiled. The sight rent him asunder as a dark desire seized him, causing a sensation to explode below. How could she have let him kiss her?
“I’m sorry.” He fought the urge to take her hand. “I behaved beastly with you.”
“You didn’t.” The colour of dawn blossomed on her cheeks. “I enjoyed the kiss,” she said so low he would have missed the words if he weren’t focused on her.
Enjoyed the kiss? The world tilted. “I thought you were being nice.”
She nodded, her eyelashes fluttering down. “We agreed to tell each other the truth.”
Would she let him kiss her again? The possibility sent his pulse spiking. The question died on his tongue when an attendant announced they were about to dock. A cold sliver of dread put out the fire of his desire. He turned towards the coast. England. He was so close. Yet so distant.
He took her hand and cursed inwardly when she was startled by his brusque gesture. Damn. He had to learn to be gentle again.
“Sorry,” they said together.
She smiled, and his chest became lighter, his head cleared, and the sky wasn’t so grey after all.
“Do you think I’m going to meet my cousin soon?” Fear rose in his chest, and the urge to escape nearly overwhelmed him. He needed her help to face London’s society, at least at the beginning. “I promise I won’t bother you any further after I meet him. I don’t want you to feel obliged to be with me. I’ll manage, somehow.”
She parted her lovely lips, but whatever she was about to say was cut off by her mother.
“Madeline would love to come with you,” Mrs. Debenham said. Her hands were tucked in a fluffy muff, and for once, she didn’t glare at him but smiled. “She’ll help you in every possible fashion she can. Will you not, darling?”
He didn’t care about whatever reason had brought Mrs. Debenham to show kindness to him, but as long as Maddie was with him, he was happy. He waited for Maddie’s answer expectantly.
“Just so we are clear, I don’t think I need anyone’s permission.” Her gaze was on fire. “I’ll be with you, Mr. Wentworth, as I promised.”
“If you want to.” He kept holding her hand, but opened his fingers in case he was trapping her. “I understand it’s not easy to deal with me.”
Her expression softened. “I want to deal with you, and you won’t scare me away. Besides, I’m used to dealing with a worse lot than you.”
He could breathe again, except the air was thick and heavy with the smell of coal. England was close.
Verity joined them, the tip of her nose reddened by the cold. “Are you excited to see London again, Mr. Wentworth?”
“I’m afraid not.”
