Page 34 of To Follow her Heart

He made a sound of desperation and kissed her harder, his hand at the back of her neck as he held her still. Kitty was giddy with it, with the delight of this new pleasure, and just like everything else in life she ran at it full tilt, heedless of the consequences. She forgot her ideas about the value of waiting, of anticipation, too caught up in the moment, in him.

His hands roved over her and she gasped as he found her breast, the heat of his hand burning through the fine muslin of her summer gown. He cupped the soft flesh and then squeezed.

“Oh,” she said, pulling away to stare at him, wide-eyed with surprise. “Do it again,” she said, wonder in her voice.

“Hell’s bells, Kitty, you’ll be the death of me,” he said, sounding torn between laughter and despair. Nonetheless, he did as she asked, with both hands occupied this time as he pressed kisses down her neck.

Kitty sighed and smiled, covering his hands with his and seeking his mouth. A few more moments passed with the delicious feel of his hands on her, and increasingly heated kisses.

“No,” he said, the word wrenched for him as he took a step back. He ran a hand through his hair, disordering the heavy red locks in a most delightful way. Kitty thought his hand didn’t look entirely steady, which was reassuring as her knees had turned to blancmange. “No,” he said again. “Stop. Enough, Kitty. We must go back before we’re missed. This was a dreadful idea.”

Kitty pouted a little but knew better than to tease him, besides which she knew he was right. “Oh, very well. If we must.”

“We must,” he said, his tone stern and commanding.

She paused, a little shocked, staring at him.

“That’s an odd look,” he remarked, taking a moment to straighten his cravat and smooth his tousled hair.

“I didn’t know you for a moment,” she said, blinking at him. “You sounded… rather lordly.” She laughed a little, shaking her head. “There’s so much about you that’s changed, and yet you’re the same, too, it’s… a little disconcerting sometimes.”

“Yes,” he agreed dryly. “I know just what you mean.”

He took her hand and she followed him back down the stairs, admiring as they passed the narrow windows the sun glinting on his red hair, with shades of copper, gold, and auburn. “You sounded like St Clair when he’s being all stiff and formal,” she said, realising that was why it had struck her as being so foreign. “Like a man used to being obeyed.”

Luke gave a dismissive snort. “Well, it doesn’t come from experience, I can assure you. Between Trevick and Mr Derby, I’m nothing more than a chess piece, a lowly pawn manoeuvred back and forth as they see fit.”

Kitty tugged him to a halt at the bottom of the stairs and waited for him to turn to her. “What happened last night with Mr Derby? I wish you’d tell me. I know you’re afraid for me. Please, don’t be. I can face anything as long as I have you. I promise you it’s true.”

His face darkened and she knew he’d been hiding his concerns, not wanting to spoil the day, perhaps, but hiding from problems never made them go away.

“Luke,” she pressed when he didn’t answer.

He sighed and leaned back against the stone wall. They could hear the soft drone of the guide, his voice echoing around the ancient walls he spoke about. These walls had seen wars and intrigue, fights to the death, courage and cowardice… what significance could their little romance have in the face of such history?

Kitty wasn’t certain if that was a reassuring thought or not.

“He’s given me a week,” Luke said, his expression grim. “The fool thinks I can overcome my feelings for you in that time and go on to marry Lady Frances.”

“I see,” Kitty said, sounding calm and composed, whilst in her mind’s eyes she conjured up half a dozen fitting punishments for the vile man. “No doubt he thinks you should take me to bed and get me out of your mind that way?”

“Kitten!” Luke said, and she couldn’t help but smile at his shock.

She’d always enjoyed startling him, saying something outrageous and making him blush. Not that he blushed now, though she didn’t doubt she’d struck close to the mark. Derby viewed her as less than a lady and believed she didn’t need to be treated with the respect he might afford others. Though, if she were honest, she doubted he respected much besides the title he coveted so much.

“He suggested I take you as my mistress,” he admitted, and he did blush at that, though she could see it was anger making his colour rise rather than embarrassment. “So I knocked him down.”

Kitty stared at him, torn between fury at Derby’s insolence and delight that Luke had hit him in her defence.

“Oh,” she said, feeling the strangest rush of desire at imagining Luke thumping the despicable man and knocking him to the ground.

“No,” Luke said, wagging his finger at her and taking a step back, interpreting the look in her eyes with perfect accuracy. “No, Kitty, behave….”

She bit her lip and moved towards him.

Luke hurried away and was laughing when they turned the corner back into the vast, echoing kitchen area and almost ploughed into Lady Frances.

“Oh,” he said, all his good humour vanished in an instant. “I beg your pardon.”