AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Rosalind loosened the grip on her skirts, smoothing the muslin back into place. She felt dizzy. Warm. Aroused. Disappointed. Mildly horrified she’d been so bold with Torrington to the point he had to inform her he wasn’t going to ruin her.
A throat clearing sounded from the door.
“Excuse me for the interruption, miss,” Jacobson intoned. “But Mrs. Hadley has a problem in the kitchen which requires your attention. It cannot wait until Lady Richardson’s return but must be dealt with immediately.”
Rosalind nodded, knowing there was no issue which would require her presence in the kitchen. She hadn’t realized Jacobson would be so concerned for her virtue, although he probably hadn’t had a reason to worry before now. Thank goodness he hadn’t decided to make an appearance when Torrington’s finger had been in her mouth. “A moment, Jacobson.”
I would have been compromised and forced to wed Torrington.
An unpleasant, bitter knot drew tight inside her chest at the thought of marriage.
The butler bowed, shooting Torrington a look of warning before retreating.
Torrington gave a soft chuckle. “Your butler has impeccable timing, Miss Richardson. You’ve done a fine job on the custard. And while I appreciate the addition of the cherries, you may wish to reconsider the anise.”
“I will, my lord. Thank you,” she replied in a clipped, precise tone, knowing Jacobson had only retreated a few steps. Once Torrington departed, Rosalind planned to return to her room, possibly with the remainder of the custard, and contemplate whether she could be seduced by the earl without it resulting in a more permanent attachment.
He pulled a piece of paper from his coat pocket and held it out. “Orange sponge cake.”
“Sponge cake?”
The half-smile appeared on his lips and the lovely creases, the ones at the corners of his eyes, appeared. “Yes.” He leaned over, pretending to push away his plate of custard. “And when you present it to me, Rosalind,” Torrington’s breath tickled over her ear, “do not wear a corset or I will cut it off you.”
Rosalind’s lips parted in surprise. A pulse of pure longing shot between her thighs. “I see.”
His voice was low. “I certainly hope so.” Torrington stood and pulled on his gloves. He bowed and took her fingers, his mouth hovering along her knuckles, tongue flicking between her middle and ring fingers.
Her knees buckled. She reached out with her free hand to take hold of the table for support.
Torrington’s eyes glinted at Rosalind. “I bid you good afternoon, Miss Richardson,” he said in a loud voice for Jacobson’s benefit. Releasing her hand, he strode out, his steps echoing as the butler showed him out.
Rosalind kept perfectly still, holding her breath and the table, not trusting herself to move until the sound of Torrington’s carriage departing met her ears. Taking a seat, her limbs continued to tingle. Lifting the spoon, she took another mouthful of the custard without the cherries.
She frowned. He was right about the anise. It only made sense with the cherries added. Looking down at the slip of paper he’d given her, she saw the recipe for an orange sponge cake written out carefully in a masculine hand.
Torringtondidhave excellent penmanship.
There were comments along the edge of the recipe from him on preparation. The proper way to extract the juice from the fruit to maintain some of the pulp. A tiny orange was scribbled in the corner. Her fingers traced the shape of his letters as she remembered the feel of his hand on her thigh.
Torrington wanted to seduce her. Rosalind intended to allow him to do so.
Neither of those things would be at odds with her ambitions, Pennyfoil’s, or escaping whatever older gentleman her mother deemed suitable for her. Logically, men and women had physical relations all the time. Marriage and affection weren’t requirements. The fact that she liked Torrington would only make the experience more pleasurable.
She scooped the remaining cherries into the bowl with the custard and took up her spoon. It was possible the custard tasted different when eaten off the finger of a splendid, amber-eyed gentleman with silver in his hair.
Rosalind smiled to herself and made her way to her room.
There was only one way to find out.
