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“Ah,” Richard sighed as he grinned at her. “But I should have managed things with more finesse. What was I thinking endeavoring to make love to you for the first time in the lake? I nearly lost my footing out there, and then, we would have both fallen into the water, and that would have ruined everything.”
“Nothing is ruined,” Leticia whispered. He lifted her hand then and began to softly kiss her fingers.
“I promise you…next time, I’ll do things properly. We won’t be sliding all over the place or fighting to keep our heads above water. There will be a pillow and quilts and perhaps even a bed.”
The light kisses he planted on her fingertips while he spoke felt so wonderful that Leticia breathed a sigh of contentment. “Next time? I was thinking it was rather comfortable right here.”
Richard’s lips lingered on the tip of her index finger, and when he looked up at her, she felt a stirring once more in the sensitive area between her legs. “Are you suggesting we try again in the water?”
She reached forward then and trailed her free hand down the length of his body, feeling the muscles go taut as she moved her hand over them. “I’ve never been the type to shy away from a challenge.”
He smiled at her roguishly and whispered, “Nor have I.”
CHAPTERTHIRTY-THREE
“So, you’re living here now?” Leticia had awakened the next morning in her own chamber. After making love with Richard the entire afternoon, they’d both meandered back to the Manor but determined it would be best for everyone if they did not share a bed that night. Leticia saw the sense it that, but when she woke up the following day, her body ached in all the right places, and she craved seeing her beloved once more. So, since Mrs. Phillips had yet to arrive at Braxton Manor with her things, Leticia slipped into one of the older day dresses she kept in the wardrobe, brushed out the snarls in her hair, and floated down to the drawing room, hoping she might find Richard.
But as soon as she opened the door to the room and came inside, she was greeted by Harry, for it was he who had spoken. He was facing the window, but she could tell by the tone of his voice that he meant for her to answer his question.
“I’m staying here…yes.”
He swung away from the window, and she could see that his usually sunny demeanor would not be making an appearance today. His eyes were clouded so much so that they looked almost black rather than hazel, and his mouth was drawn into such a thin line, it practically disappeared. “And what of your friend, Mrs. Hoffingbrooke?”
“What of her?” Leticia asked as she strode into the room. “I stayed with her and her husband for a few days, but now, so as not to overstay my welcome, I have come to Braxton Manor to be with my family.”
“Your family,” Harry snorted. He shook his head, and his expression became even more tormented. “You take your family for granted.”
“I do not,” Leticia replied defensively. She could feel the blood rushing to her cheeks. “How dare you say such a thing?”
“What cause have I to think otherwise?” Harry thundered. “At the Garden Party yesterday, I was defending your honor…fortifying your reputation.”
“No,” Leticia snapped. “You were fighting with Richard.”
Harry stepped toward her, and she could see the desperation on his face. “Please believe me when I tell you this, Letty. The fight I had with Richard yesterday was for your benefit. I needed you to see that he does not care for you.”
“He does,” she sniffed, holding her head up high and lifting her chin so that she could meet Harry’s gaze. “We have talked through our affairs and come to an understanding.”
“Color me astonished,” Harry retorted sarcastically. “I did not think it was possible for you and Richard to ever come to an agreement about anything.”
“That was all in the past,” Leticia replied, and her voice softened. “We have had our quarrels…I will grant you that. And…” she breathed a heavy sigh, “I will not pretend as though we will not continue to antagonize each other further in the future, but for now, we are at peace.” She paused as she tried to decide if she should go ahead and reveal all to her cousin. “We love each other,” she pressed forward with the truth, no longer wishing to conceal her feelings.
“Oh,” Harry groaned as he took a step away from her. “You do not love him any more than he loves you.”
“We do,” Leticia protested.
“No,” Harry whispered. He leaned forward then so that their foreheads nearly touched. “He told me himself—he does not love you. He never will. And he most certainly will not marry you.”
“B…but…” Leticia stuttered, “that was all a lie. What Richard told you about us…about me…it was just a bunch of…I don’t know, I suppose it was foolishness. But you must believe me when I tell you…Richard and I have made amends.”
“Have you?” Harry’s eyes flashed as he moved away from her.
“Indeed,” Leticia said as she began to wring her hands. “And I wish the two of you would as well. Come, Harry,” she said gently, “you’ve been friends since you were in leading strings. You mustn’t let this one quarrel break the two of you asunder.”
“And how am I to reconcile with Richard?” Harry asked. His hand flew to his pocket and slowly he withdrew a stretch of white fabric. He held out her glove to her. “Do you think I might be able to persuade him to my side as you so cunningly did to yours?”
She knew she had lost the glove yesterday. When she ran after Richard toward the lake, she’d flung it aside and as they merrily tripped back to the house later, collecting articles of their clothing along the way, she had been unable to locate it. The urge to slap Harry taunted her, but instead, she stepped forward and plucked her glove from between his fingertips. “You have not the skill.” She lifted her head haughtily.
“Ha!” He laughed wildly. “I thought before that you simply had no shame, but I see now that you have convinced yourself that what you are doing is right. Can you not see? Open your eyes, Letty!” He seized her by the shoulders then and shook her a little. “He does not deserve you, nor does he want you as I do.”
