Page 60 of The Reckless Love of an Heir
‘Are you ready, Susan?’ he asked as Alethea put on her bonnet.
Susan glanced at him, her grey eyes looking directly into his. ‘Yes.’ She was scared of this – scared of speaking to him.
The rhythm of his heart lifted in pace. He was suddenly scared too. Scared of what was happening to him, the emotion that was gathering.
As soon as Alethea had tied the ribbons of her bonnet, the footman opened the front door. Susan walked forward, as though she were avoiding the chance he might offer her his arm.
He wished to yell at her –you did not refuse my kiss!
She was acting as though this madness was solely his. It was not, she had responded. She had kissed him with passion.
Before he could follow, Alethea walked ahead, probably to ensure Henry had a good view of her with Stourton.
Susan let her sister pass.
He would have lifted his arm to Susan in that moment, but out of sight of her sister she made a bitter face at him, before walking down the steps.
Alethea laughed exuberantly as her beau held her hand while she climbed up to the seat of his carriage.
Susan waited on the pavement beside Henry’s curricle. She could no longer avoid him.
When he reached her side, he lifted his hand, without a word. She held it, without looking at him, and her other hand encompassed the metal bar beside the seat, then she climbed the steps.
Awareness of the simple contact they shared, the first since the moment of their kiss, clasped within his stomach. He needed her, with a desperation he had never felt for another woman.
When she let go of his hand, he left her to settle herself in the seat and walked about the curricle in front of his horses. He stroked their heads as he passed in an idle manner, but within he was not calm. His heart raced. He had returned to London tospeak with her. Yet, he ought to speak with Alethea first and end any expectations.
Damn, this was a mess.
He gripped the rail by the seat and climbed the steps on the driver’s side, then slid into his seat beside Susan. She was his captive audience now. She could not escape.
Yet what should he say?
He lifted the leather straps for the horses, looking ahead.
The Earl of Stourton’s carriage pulled away.
Henry followed.
Susan looked at the houses on the edge of the street, presenting him with the back of her bonnet. She could not hide from his voice, though. He looked ahead as he spoke. ‘I take it you did not come to meet me because you do not wish to talk to me, you have made that very plain today. But that will not change what happened. It cannot be undone nor forgotten simply because we have not spoken of it.’
Her head turned and he glanced at her, but she was not looking at him, she looked at Alethea and Stourton in front of them. ‘It must be forgotten,’ she said.
‘Why?’
‘How can you say any different? Alethea is my sister. I am ashamed of myself.’
‘I have felt ashamed too. But attraction is natural. It is not a choice. We like each other and you an?—’
‘And I am angry with you!’ she interrupted, finally looking at him.
He glanced at her; her eyes were accusing.
‘You should not have kissed me.’
‘Then you should have slapped me and not kissed me back.’
‘Alethea should know how you deceive her!’
