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ueen’s vulnerability.
He wasn’t fooled in the least. “Three moves to checkmate.”
She conceded.
“I hear Fairford approached Miss Bidewell again, and that she has agreed to give him another chance,” he murmured, resetting the pieces for another game.
“Good for her,” she replied, attempting to smile. “I hope they will be very happy.”
“I hear Chadwick has also found a match.”
This time her smile was not forced. “Has he?”
“It seems Miss Chatworth has taken a fancy to him.” He warmed to the subject. “Caused quite a stir by accepting his offer. No one expected him to find a wife this Season, but I suppose you changed all that, didn’t you, my dear? You seem to have a profound impact on everyone you meet.”
He’d said it in admiration, she knew, but his words burned like a hot poker. She’d had an impact, all right. Never for as long as she lived would she forget the look in Henry’s eyes when she told him she’d accepted this man’s offer. Even now, a week later, when she expected the pain to be fading, it was as sharp as if it had only just happened.
Tears welled, and she ducked her head, busying herself with arranging the chess pieces just so until she regained control. She had to stop thinking about him!
“Sabrina?”
The rook in her hand tumbled to the floor as she jerked to attention, a guilty blush stealing up her neck and cheeks.
Percy watched her bend to retrieve the wayward piece. “Is your mother still arguing with you over the details of the ceremony?”
In spite of herself, she nearly laughed aloud, relieved he couldn’t read her well enough to know what was really wrong with her. Had Henry been sitting there, he would have known exactly where her mind had wandered.
“I’m sorry, Percy. I’m just a bit out of sorts today.”
“I’ve just the cure for your doldrums,” he whispered with a wink. He hopped up to reseat himself beside her.
Before she could discern his intent, he kissed her.
A shock ran through her flesh at the contact. It seemed an age since she’d been held this way, and even though it wasn’t Henry, her heart and body craved closeness with another human being.
She wriggled impatiently. It wasn’t enough. He was being so gentle, so agonizingly slow! All she wanted was the feeling of Henry erased from her flesh, for Percy to ravish her and make her forget! Her fingers sank into the hair at the back of his head, pulling him closer.
Groaning, Percy dipped lower and softly kissed her neck. Exposing her shoulder, he traced a path downward with his lips. Before he reached the neckline of her gown, however, he stopped.
“Look at me.”
She pulled at him, demanding that he continue.
“Look at me. Open your eyes.”
Obediently, Sabrina cracked them open to find him staring down at her.
For a long moment, they just stared into each other’s eyes.
Then, with a regretful sigh, Percy released her. “Sabrina, what is it you want of me?”
Taken aback, she blurted out her ready answer. “To marry you, of course. And to care for our home and our children.”
He waved away her words. “I’ve heard that before. I mean, what do you want of me as a man?”
She shook her head, confused. “I don’t under—”
“Do you care for me?”
