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His hand was warm, and the touch sent sparks of desire shooting down into her chest. “So...we’re to prove we’re more than friends? So that my outburst won’t look as ridiculous?”
“Oh, no.” His head dipped in closer. “I hope we might prove we’re more than friends, since that’s all I’ve wanted for a very long time now.”
He was so close, Charlotte whispered back, “That sounds like a plan I can support.”
His lips met hers. Gentle at first, then stronger. Charlotte met him step for step, passion for passion. All the love and desire she’d been holding back flowed into that kiss.
After a time, Charlotte pulled back and asked, “Have you truly been wanting this for a long time?”
With eyes still closed, Seth rested his forehead against hers. “For far too long.”
Charlotte stroked his chin. A day’s worth of stubble pricked against her fingers. The feel was intoxicating. “I thought you cared little for me.”
“I couldn’t stand the thought of an association with me hurting you.”
She pulled back just far enough to look him right in the eye. “An association with you could never be a problem. I know you feel it was your fault your first wife died, but it wasn’t. She was sick. You did everything you could for her. Forgive yourself.”
He leaned in, resting his forehead against hers.
“Seth,” she said, her voice soft. “You have never asked me to be anything less than I am. You have never told me to worry less about Parliamentary matters or spend less time working at the asylum. You don’t wish I fussed more over hosting perfect dinner parties or throwing a better ball.”
“Your dinner parties and balls couldn’t be more perfect.”
Charlotte laughed. “Others would disagree. But that’s what I love about you. You never ask me to be anything different than I am. That’s why you’re so perfect for me. That’s what I mean when I saywewould never be a problem.”
He kissed her forehead, then trailed kisses down the side of her face. “I love you too, by the way.” The kisses continued down her neck.
Charlotte’s eyes fluttered shut. “See—all that talk of you causing me grief. It’s all nonsense,” she sighed.
Seth kissed the tender spot just below her ear. “Nonsense,” he agreed.
“And what do you think of our first plan to argue around others?”
“Nonsense,” he said.
“And then our plan to avoid one another?”
“Nonsense.” His kisses trailed back up over her jawline.
“And all the times we both told the other we were only friends?”
“Utter and complete nonsense.”
His lips captured hers once more. It was heat and passion, release and delight. It was love built on friendship. It was trust, and hope, and pure joy.
The carriage door opened suddenly.
How funny—she hadn’t even noticed the carriage had stopped or that they’d arrived at Blackmore House. Charlotte looked over Seth’s shoulder to find a very puzzled-looking footman standing there.
Either he was puzzled to find her and Seth kissing, or he was simply puzzled because Seth hadn’t opened the door himself. Either way, it didn’t much signify. Seth, without even looking around, reached behind himself, took hold of the carriage door, and slammed it shut once more.
“You’d think by now your footmen would know that when I want a door open, I will open it myself.”
Charlotte laughed. “True. By now, you’d think they would have learned.”
“I may need to explain in more detail, later,” Seth added, gathering her in his arms once more. “Seeing as I plan for us to find ourselves in this very arrangement many times in the future.”
Charlotte smiled. “I certainly hope so.”
And she kissed him again.
