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“I … we …” Her face darkened, and her eyes darted everywhere, trying to look anywhere that wasn’t at him. “I think I’d better go.”
“What? There’s no …”
“There’s every need to go.” Clutching the book to her chest, Dorothy began to back away. “We’re not dressed appropriately, it’s night, and we’re alone. If anyone came in …”
Lucas started towards her. He didn’t want her to leave.
“There’s no need to panic. Dorothy …”
“Thank you for helping me find the book, but I have to …”
Dorothy let out a little shriek as her foot caught in the rug. She stumbled and started to fall. Lucas darted forward, grabbing her before she hit the ground. He swung her up and put her back on her feet. He chuckled at Dorothy’s startled expression as she clung to him.
“I seem to be rescuing you from a lot of things tonight, aren’t I?”
Dorothy didn’t respond. She was staring at him, mostly at his mouth. Lucas could feel her breath tickling his jaw, and he saw how dark her eyes were, much darker than earlier. Was she aroused?
She should have pushed out of his arms by now. Lucas was expecting a slap, a push, and then Dorothy would be storming out of the room. That’s what she should have been doing, especially with how she treated him. And yet she hadn’t moved.
She was still pressed up against him, her breasts unencumbered and rubbing against his chest. Lucas was sure he could feel her heart beating. Her nipples were hard, and from the way she was shifting against him, she could feel it as well.
Lucas took a chance. He leaned towards her, gently brushing his lips against hers, and Dorothy didn’t stiffen, nor did she pull away. She seemed to kiss him back.
Lucas got a little more daring and kissed her more firmly. Slowly, very sweetly, Dorothy made a small sound that could have been a sigh, and she put an arm around his shoulders, opening her mouth to his ministrations.
Was this actually happening? Was his former fiancée kissing him back? And tasting sweeter than he could have imagined?
Suddenly, Dorothy broke away, pushing away from him with a gasp. She looked shocked and slightly panicked.
“I … God, I …that …”
“Dorothy …”
“No, I … I really should be going.” Dorothy picked up the book, which had dropped to the floor by the settee. “Goodnight, Lord Dashwood. Thank you for finding the book for me.”
Lucas watched as she practically scurried from the room, forgetting to grab one of the candlesticks on the way out. When she was gone, there was a bit of a chill in the air. He went over to the settee by the fire and slumped onto the cushions, staring at the dancing flames and wondering what had just happened.
He had planned to get Dorothy to soften to him, but he hadn’t expected her to feel like someone had just slammed into him at the same time.
What was wrong with him?
Chapter 10
Dorothy was aware of someone knocking on the door, but she ignored it. It could have been something in her dream, after all.
Who are you trying to fool? You haven’t had any dreams unless it was about Lord Dashwood. And, even then, you run away from them.
The knocking came again. Dorothy groaned and pulled the blankets over her head.
“Go away.”
But the door opened instead, and footsteps padded across the floor.
“Come on, Dorothy, wake up,” Frederica said. “We’re going to Carsington and have a walk along the edge of the reservoir. You said you wanted to go and visit there, didn’t you?”
“I don’t want to go anywhere,” Dorothy grumbled.
“Why not?”
