Page 24

Gwen nodded, hoping that a warmer temperature would occur in multiple locations, and not just in the weather. “Yes. We shall have to hope.”

The three of them sat in silence for another few minutes as the carriage rattled slowly along the street until it drew to a stop just before the Pernrith townhouse.

Teddy immediately flushed a deep red. “I—I will let the two of you say your goodbyes.”

She had stepped down from the carriage the moment the driver had opened the door, something Gwen was almost certain their mother would not have approve of. To be sure, the Dowager Viscountess Pernrith had permitted to the two sisters to go out on the carriage ride with Lord Ravenshurst without additional chaperoning due to the engagement that had now been announced in The Times, but still. Teddy should have known better than to merely abandon her sister to him.

But then, Gwen could not help but think as the marquess next descended from the carriage, turning to offer her his hand, she could hardly imagine the man doing anything untoward.

Even if she wanted him to.

“Thank you,” she said cordially as she took his hand and stepped down from the barouche to the pavement. “This has been a lovely afternoon.”

“It has been most suitable,” said Lord Ravenshurst.

Gwen bit her tongue. ‘Most suitable’? Was that all?

Had he not enjoyed her company? Did he not relish the opportunity to spend time with her? Did he not long to be with her again, any moment apart an agony?

She did not feel any of those things, most unfortunately, but it was dashed rude that he did not.

Gwen smiled up at him and saw out of the corner of her eye that Teddy had already slipped inside. The front door had been left ajar—probably, she thought with a wry smile, for their housekeeper, Mrs. Kinley, to keep a subtle eye on her.

Well, Mrs. Kinley notwithstanding, Gwen was determined to get something from Lord Ravenshurst that she had never gained before.

Her first kiss.

Gwen glanced up at his reasonably pleasant face, his distant expression. She would be spending the rest of her life kissing this man, after all, and they were engaged. Why not gain an insight into the man’s kisses now, before their wedding day?

She did not want the entire wedding night to be a surprise.

So, how to begin?

Lord Ravenshurst smiled briefly. “You are not too cold?”

“No,” said Gwen softly.

No, but she was not warm, either. All these hot stirrings that her sisters Jessy and Reeny had talked about—topics Gwen had asked them swiftly to desist speaking on—had not yet arrived when it came to the Marquess of Ravenshurst. Which was most odd.

She most certainly did want to marry him. She just…didn’t feel hot around him.

Which was understandable. It was a particularly chilly autumnal day.

“Well, what a pleasant afternoon,” said the marquess brusquely. “Good day, Miss Chance.”

“Lord Ravenshurst?” Gwen said hastily as she—

Placed her hands upon his chest.

Oh, dear Lord, this was unnerving! She had never touched the man like this before; in fact, now that she came to think about it, she had only slipped her hand into the crook of his arm twice, and both times, the man had stiffened, halted in his steps, and carefully disentangled them before continuing to walk.

Gwen had admired it at the time; the way he had clearly been holding himself back from a great passion.

But in this moment, she wanted him to let go. She wanted…more. More passion, more need.

Lord Ravenshurst stiffened. “Miss Chance—”

“Now that we are engaged to be married, and the banns will start to be read this coming Sunday,” Gwen said hastily, half to prevent him from saying anything, half to force herself to keep going, “I wondered if we might…kiss.”