Page 31 of A Sight to Behold
“Where are we going?” Nick asked when the orangery came into view and behind it, the castle walls. Pippa’s home. Nick reminded himself that she was a lady, an aristocrat. She lived in that castle surrounded by a battlement dating back to the Middle Ages, while he lived in a room with an old creaking bed that was probably just as old but not in a good way.
And he was nothing but an oculist. He had to work for his money, hard work for little money, and he could never offer her what she was used to. He mustn’t give in to his body and heart’s desire.
No. She was precious, he had no place in her life. He had to step aside and let her find a man worthy of her. A duke. Or a prince. Didn’t Wendy always say that every girl dreamed of being swept off her feet by a charming prince? No girl wanted a studious oculist, and yet here he was. Intrigued. Aroused. Doomed.
Certainly, he was no prince, but he was unworthy to sweep this gorgeous lady anywhere, so she’d have to do the sweeping—of him, of course. Not that a lady of her station would. But even if she did, or would, he’d have to stop her. For her own good, of course.
She stopped walking under a copse of trees where there was a little pond.
Chromius walked on, and he drank from it.
The wall extended higher here; that and the cover of the trees gave them a sense of isolation with a wall of green on one side and of stone on the other. Even though the bustling London streets were not far off, and Cloverdale House was within view, it was as though they had their own little corner of the world here. Pippa’s cousin, London, and seemingly all of the reasons to stay away from each other had been left behind. All that wasleft was Nick and Pippa, a man and woman with an undeniable attraction.
Pippa pressed her back against the wall. She blinked at Nick and gave him a look just like she had in the orangery.
This was bad. So very bad. But his resolve crumbled as soon as she licked her lips. He was unable to stop himself from reaching for her. And this time, he wouldn’t let her wait.
Chapter Sixteen
Not this time,Pippa told herself. She wouldn’t let Bea outshine her. This wasn’t a ball. She wouldn’t fall and she wouldn’t let another minute pass by without making her intentions known, especially to this man, the one who’d noticed her. Who’d seen her, not as a clumsy goose.
Pippa wanted this one for herself. She’d already tumbled over him in the patisserie, besmeared Nick with whipped cream, and had shared the most tantalizing slice of pineapple with him—better than any seven-course banquet dinner. But beyond that, this time, Pippa had caught the attention of the kindest and most gallant man she’d ever seen—a man who had realized she couldn’t see well at all and had brought focus to her world—and she wouldn’t let the moment pass by without taking action. He wasn’t born into nobility, but his work was noble. Beyond that, Nick was intelligent, not merely educated. Instead of treating her with cold distance, he’d brought her blood to boil with a tender kiss. In the few hours they’d spent together, he’d cured her of her clumsiness with spectacles and awakened her from a sad slumber of loneliness with his kiss. What more was he capable of doing to her?
Pippa decided to find out for herself. Finally, a person gave her, Pippa Pemberton, not Lady Pippa, not the daughter of the Duke of Sussex, a chance. Just her. Coincidence had brought him to her; she’d turn it into fate.
Truth be told, Pippa had recognized Chromius as soon as she’d seen him. The new glasses had some advantages, especiallywhen she could run ahead of her cousin and catch the doctor’s runaway dog.
Pippa maintained her stance and leaned against the wall.
“I owe you an apology, Lady Penelope.” His speech came stilted, almost with a practiced tone and too distant for Pippa’s comfort.
“Pippa. You may call me Pippa. I’m only Lady Penelope for strangers.”
“Which is what I should be,” he rasped with head low like a man who could barely show his face. “You’re far above me, Lady Penelope.” He combed one hand through his golden-blond hair and Pippa wished to touch the strands that now stood upright. backlit by the sun. “I mean, Pippa.” Frustration seeped into his words, each syllable laced with an unmistakable tinge of exasperation. “I shouldn’t call you Pippa, but etiquette demands I acquiesce to your wish I address you so. At the same time, it’s against etiquette to be so familiar with you, a lady of the Ton.” He looked at her, his conflict showing in his eyes. “Honestly, I don’t think I know what to do.”
“Oh!” Disappointment conquered the excitement that had given her the courage to pull him into this secluded corner of the gardens. “But you kissed me yesterday.”
“I did. But I shouldn’t have.” His eyes met hers and his expression was devoid of regret. A fire burned within him that nearly made Pippa catch flame, but he seemed to stifle it because of her station. “You are a lady and such a beautiful and intelligent woman.” He drew out “beautiful” and “intelligent” before it seemed that his voice failed him, and his eyes fell to her mouth.
Pippa knew she never wanted anything more than she wanted his kiss.
Of course, she also knew that it was forbidden. Like a twisted jest of fate, she wanted him and yet she was the forbiddenfruit, an aristocratic daughter with the prospect to inherit more than he could probably imagine and yet it was all of this alleged privilege that stood between them. She’d be sorry for herself if she didn’t realize how absurd the situation was, with privilege as an obstacle to happiness. It was the material for a Shakespearean drama.
Neither was the irony of her debacle lost on her. A duke like her father could marry a commoner like Wife Six but Pippa was a woman and needed to marry a titled man… for what exactly? So that the Ton could mock her indefinitely? Or worse, she’d become an old spinster holding out for a titled suitor who’d give her a fraction of the respect and kindness that Nick already had? Well, Father had dwelled on her lack of allure and held her inheritance hostage by not encouraging her to wed. “I disagree.”
Nick straightened his back. “I beg your pardon?”
“You very much should have kissed me. I welcomed it. You… ahem…” she cleared her throat, “I did like it very much.” She nodded for good measure.
He dropped the leather lead that was still tied around his hand and leaned the same hand against the wall next to Pippa’s head. Their eyes locked like flaming arrows shooting at each other, hot blazing fire from Cupid’s bow. They must not pursue this attraction for so many reasons.
Pippa couldn’t afford to lose her reputation, lest she be theruinedclumsy goose.
Butthisfelt different. He was so right for her that wishing he were the right one became a reality in her mind.
“You,” his voice broke and he cleared his throat again, “you liked it.” She nodded. “But it was your first kiss, wasn’t it?” She nodded again, holding his gaze with her eyes. “And I’m nothing, just an oculist. You are—” he gave her a once-over worthy of a man in Prinny’s entourage—“everything.” He enunciated every syllable and Pippa had to swallow. Her heart pounded so hard,she nearly felt it in her belly. “Yet I must not have you.” Now he just sounded unconvinced.
“Again, I disagree.” But before she could get his reaction, a yelp interrupted them as Chromius barked at a squirrel or a bird that rustled in the tree above them and the moment was over.
