Page 102 of Sinful Persuasion of a Lady in the Making
Chapter Thirty-Five
Shivers ran through Jenny’s spine as she readied herself that Saturday. She was, on the surface, going to the shops. But she had already spoken to Alison about meeting Sebastian and Alison, to Jenny’s great relief, had agreed to their forbidden meeting.
“You think my hair is acceptable?”
“Miss, I think your hair looks perfect,” Fanny said, smiling at Jenny’s reflection in the looking glass.
Jenny could not stop herself from grinning. She agreed, her hair looked just right, and beneath that thought bubbled her excitement at seeing Sebastian. It had been too long, and she couldn’t deny that the illicitness of it made it all the more exciting.
“We will be near,” Alison said to her once they were in the carriage and on their way to London center. “We will chaperone you, even if you cannot see us.”
Jenny took that as both warning and comfort. Alison meant well, and she knew it.
“You have an hour. But then we must meet again. Do you understand, Jenny? I cannot return home without you.”
“I understand,” Jenny said. Her heart beat fast at the thought. She was to see Sebastian again, and she had a race against time.
And yet, when his face appeared at Hyde Park corner, her heart slowed to a perfect beat. It was neither too fast, nor too slow. It was right, and that was thanks to this man stood in front of her. This man who had stolen her heart weeks ago and run away with it.
“Good afternoon,” Sebastian said.
The stubble on his chin was long gone, the fabric that hung around his body was clean and well-tailored. His smile was that of a renewed man, and Jenny struggled to keep her breath steady.
This was the love of her life, and no matter what happened or what he did, that would always be the case.
“Good afternoon,” she replied, her voice barely more than a crackle in the air. “You look—”
“Come, let’s walk and talk,” he said. “We have so little time to ourselves as it is.”
With that, she walked up to him. How she wanted to curl her arm within his, to feel her body so close to him. But she maintained a polite distance, and they walked as those newly suited, uncertain and shy, but wanting to get to know one another.
The tension sparked and fizzed between them, and the silence felt heavy with the unsaid words and the untouched flesh. Jenny was wildly aware of every part of her body, a tingling sensation running through her arm whenever it was in line with his. Her skin prickled with the need of his touch, and she had to concentrate to stop herself from swerving into him and kissing him there and then.
Sebastian, however, clearly had other things on his mind.
“Your brother will not forgive me, I suppose?”
“No,” Jenny replied, honestly but with a hint of guilt that she did not deserve.
“I don’t blame him. I have treated you badly, Jenny.”
“No,” she urged. “Not intentionally, at least. We have both been the victim of foolish misunderstandings. That makes neither of us a villain—or both of us, however you wish to look at it.”
“Perhaps,” Sebastian shrugged. “But if I were your brother, I would act exactly the same. I am hardly a catch.”
“You are the perfect catch. I love you, and that is all that should matter.”
His arm brushed against hers as he stepped aside to avoid a running child. She felt the fabric of his jacket pushing against her, and she had to hold her breath against her desire.
“But that is not all that matters, as much as I hate to admit it. I would love it if all that matters were love. I do not wish to cause problems between you and your family.”
“I love my family,” Jenny said. “But I love you more. I equally do not want to cause problems with them, but if there is no other way of us being together—”
“We will find a way, My Love. I promise you that.”
They walked across the gravel path, the bushes between them growing bigger, more concealing, and as they walked they grew closer, hands almost touching hands, souls so close to touching souls.
“You have been well?” she asked.
