Page 34 of Her Rogue to Ruin
“Is that what your father did?”
A memory flashed in her mind. Concern on her parents’ face. The cajoling tone of their voices.
“In a way, yes. They convinced me that I should marry Hastings. Made it feel as if it was my choice, but I knew that any other option would displease them. So I did what was expected.” Tears welled up unexpectedly, and she wiped at her eyes quickly to forestall them.
Phin laid a hand on her arm, gently, almost tentatively. One sweet, warm spot of comfort.
“Were you not happy in your marriage?”
“I was not.” Portia felt free to tell that truth now, though before joining Fiona’s widows’ club, she would have prevaricated.
Phin slid his hand up her arm and cupped her cheek. “I’m sorry, Portia. You deserve happiness.”
Portia couldn’t hold back any longer. She stepped closer and pressed a hand to his chest, then lifted onto her toes and pressed her mouth to his.
He held still at first, and she feared she’d misread the moment. Feared that he regretted all that had transpired between them last night. But then something in him seemed to alight. He slid his fingers into her hair, curled his hand around her nape, and took her mouth with a kiss that stole her breath.
A knock on the study door stunned them both. Portia stepped away from him, and Phin glanced back at her once before calling for whoever had knocked to enter.
* * *
“There you are.”Mother swept in, her eyes filled with concern, and Phin knew she’d heard about Louisa’s distress.
He prayed his own expression gave nothing of what he was feeling away. Mostly, he wished he could close the world out—even his dear mother—and have a few more moments to speak with Portia. After he kissed her again.
“I’ve been looking for you—” His mother went momentarily silent when she spotted Portia. “And Lady Hastings. I believe Louisa is finally ready. Do forgive her for keeping you waiting.”
“I’ll go and get started.” Portia offered him a nod as she exited his study.
He still needed to tell her about his change of heart regarding the portrait, but it would have to wait. He hoped she knew he still intended to keep their agreement to meet this evening.
Once Portia departed, his mother slid the door closed and turned to face him with the arched brow look that she always used when she expected him to explain himself.
The trouble was that he still wasn’t quite certain what was happening to him. He only knew that kissing Portia had altered something in him.
“Are you not going to explain why you keep seeking out Lady Hastings?”
“I—”
“And don’t tell me some nonsense about a commission.” She took a step toward him and planted a hand on her hip. “Phineas, don’t you dare seduce the woman I’ve engaged to paint our family’s portraits.”
A smile threatened to burst across his face. He felt the urge and stifled it. If she only knew that Portia had been the one to askhimto teach her how to seduce a lover.
“I’d prefer to discuss Louisa.”
She eyed him suspiciously, and he suspected she wished to interrogate him further, but she finally relented.
“All is well with her now. She told me she simply had a sore head this morning.”
Phin frowned but said nothing to refute his sister’s claim. Louisa was practicing a skill he and all his siblings had learned—devising an acceptable excuse for behavior rather than admitting to any sort of unwelcome emotion.
“She’s feeling better,” his mother assured him. “And she especially perked up when I mentioned that Lady Hastings will be joining us at Seastow. Those two have formed a bit of a bond during Louisa’s sittings.”
“She’s agreed to come?” Phin had never thought to ask last evening. He’d been very pleasantly distracted.
“Yes.” Mama shot him a knowing look. “Since you two converse so often, I’d thought she might have mentioned it.”
“No more ribbing, Mama. I am allowed to converse with Lady Hastings.”
