thirteen
Effie ran the tip of her tongue over her bottom lip that kept tingling after Tristan had touched and kissed it. She didn’t know what to think of his behaviour, her behaviour, and the whole world. But whatever had happened between them had been intense and shocking.
In the carriage with her friend, she was still shivering from the kiss. He’d stared at her with passion and hunger, as no man had ever done before. She hadn’t had any choice but to stop him before the kiss went too far.
Actually, she didn’t have a proper reason for having stopped him aside from the moment of panic that had caught her. If he’d kissed her properly, he would have found her lacking in technique. She’d kissed a few boys when she’d lived in the country, but the Marquess of Montcrest didn’t seem like a man who would be satisfied by a simple country-style kiss. And kissing him would have been inappropriate.
She was a coward. She was a liar as well, because she had no idea why she hadn’t kissed him back.
The rocking of the carriage caused the bag to slip from the seat, and she was so focused on thinking of Tristan’s eyes she let it drop.
“Did something untoward happen with Montcrest?” Jane asked, picking the bag up while Turi stuck his head out of the window and enjoyed the breeze.
“No.”
“I beg your pardon, but you were and still are flushed, and there was an awkward silence in the room. I shouldn’t have left you alone with him. There are rumours about him being a rake, and rumours are usually true.”
She tried again. “Nothing happened.” And she was debating if she was disappointed or not. “You listen to rumours too often, and they’re usually wrong.”
“They can make or destroy your reputation. What’s more important?”
“Honesty. Lord Montcrest is very honest in my opinion.”
Jane looked taken aback. “Heaven, do you fancy him?”
Good question.
“I’m not sure.” She rubbed the spot between her eyebrows. “He confuses me.”
“You shouldn’t have danced with him, especially in that scandalous fashion.” Jane held Turi in place as he tried to lean over the window. “You two were practically hugging and became the talk of the evening.”
“He isn’t as terrible as everyone thinks. Sometimes he’s serious and cranky, but other times, he looks fragile and vulnerable.” And his lips were surprisingly soft, gentle, and deliciously wicked.
“The marquess? Fragile and vulnerable? He’s a grinder.”
“That’s what I thought until I saw another side of him.”
Jane put Turi on the seat next to her. “Well, I hope you don’t see any other side of him.”
Effie couldn’t stop thinkingabout Tristan as she lay on the sofa with Pepper and Kettle.
Pepper had his head on her lap while Kettle was busy with a thorough cleaning of his glossy black coat and sharp nails while showing off his sense of balance and flexibility.
Tristan had stared at her as if she’d been the most attractive woman in the kingdom and he couldn’t resist her, and she would be lying if she said she didn’t find his look fascinating. That look alone had made her feel desirable and…powerful?
He was such a commanding man that having the power to make him ache for her was ridiculously heady. How vain of her. But admittedly, he was attractive, scary at times, but definitely attractive. He could also be cold, and she didn’t understand his relationship with Rowan. He was a lovely boy but seemed terrified of his brother.
Did Tristan mean to become her suitor? She had no idea what she was supposed to do with that possibility.
“Darling?” Papa entered the library.
“Papa.” She closed the book she’d been pretending to read and stroked Pepper’s head. “You’re early.”
“I gather you visited Montcrest today.” He had the same tone as that morning, and she didn’t like it.
“Yes, well, not exactly. As I told you, I met with his young brother, Lord Rowan. He wants to learn everything about horses and animals.”
There was no need to mention her second visit.
