Page 20 of My Lord, My Rogue
“You are chilled. I brought along a blanket. It can cover your lap,” he offered. “Allow me.” He rose from the table and withdrew the folded blanket from the basket. As she reached out to accept it, their ungloved hands touched. A thrill pulsed up his arm, warming him.
Did she feel that?Benjamin regained his seat and then sipped his wine and tried some meats and cheeses. What he really wanted was to know the woman sitting before him. “Honora, why did you choose Bath?” he asked finally.
She looked up from her plate, and green eyes held his gaze. “I did not have any other place to go,” she said simply. “Bridget and Aunt Violet were certain the servants here would keep my secret until it was safe to let my parents know.”
“I have been told that I am too cautious and wait too long to act on things that are important to me,” he began. “I would like to change that. Honora, I would like to court you.”
Her head jerked up from her plate with the startled look of a deer.
“If you are not interested . . .” he stopped, crestfallen and afraid that he had been too forward.How can I fix this?
“No,please. . . it is not that,” she rushed her words out in a low voice. “I feel a bit of shock, is all.”
He watched her face relax.
“I would be pleased for you to court me. ’Tis just that this is wholly unexpected. Honestly, I thought you had asked me to come here today . . .” she stopped.
“To question you?” he finished her words in a low voice. He had suspected as much. “You owed your explanation to Lancaster, not me.”
“Will he be upset? I could not bear to hurt him anymore than I already have,” she said. “I could not do that. I was a very selfish woman, and I cannot like that person. If I have learned one thing through all of this, it is thatIcannot be the center of my world.”
Benjamin watched her lips as she talked, mesmerized by their soft, bow shape. “You are exquisite, Honora. And I realize that there are impediments to our relationship. There is Oliver’s guardianship. I feel sure that Lancaster’s influence, together with your father’s, will have a great bearing in the Court of Chancery. Their rolls are usually fairly bogged down, but he will use their connections, including his with the regent, to move it forward. At least, that is his hope. He cannot promise any outcome, of course.”
“That would be wonderful, should he be able to help me with Oliver. It is my biggest fear that the dowager will maneuver a way to grab him from me.”
“No. That will not happen.” Quietly, he removed to the chair next to her. Benjamin cared not a fig for what her maid was doing, watching or otherwise. He wanted a kiss. “Would you mind if I kiss you, Honora?”
A smile turned up the corners of her mouth. “I would like that very much, Benjamin.”
He liked hearing his name from her lips. Despite the awkwardness of the table, he leaned in and pulled her closer to him. Leaning in, he feathered her lips with small kisses before gently kissing her. His tongue touched her lips, cajoling her to allow more. She opened her mouth, and he quickly pressed his advantage tasting the sweetness of her mouth and swirling his tongue with hers in a dance of pleasure. Reminding himself they were not alone and not wishing to give her anything to regret, he pulled away slowly, lingering a moment to kiss the tip of her nose.
“How was that, Lady Aster?” he asked, covering her hand with his.
“That was nice.” Her teeth bit down on her lip. “I confess I would enjoy another kiss, but only if I can get you to call me Honora.” A smile flickered across her lips. “You have not called me Honora since I was twelve.”
A smile creased his face. “It would be my pleasure, if you call me Benjamin,” he replied, feeling a fissure of pleasure shoot through his body.
“I hate to end this, truly. However, I should probably return home soon. I have not seen Oliver today, and it will worry him.”
“First, we need to take care of this.” He slid his chair closer and gently lifted her chin, touching her lips with his softly before taking them in a passionate kiss.
She threaded her fingers through the blond curls at the top of the collar, fingering them gently as she pulled him closer, still.
Her breathing increased with his. Benjamin needed to break the kiss, even as his body heated with need to have her. Feeling himself losing control, he pushed back, quashing the rising passion in between heaving breaths.
“Shall we?” He stood and helped her up from the table. The two of them moved the leftovers to the basket and placed it on the table.
As they stepped away from the table, she stopped and took another look at the room. “This has been the most wonderful picnic. Thank you so much for making it so magical.”
“It was my pleasure.” He lifted her chin and leaned in for a quick kiss. “I heard Bridget cleaning her table. ’Tis time to get you back.”
Benjamin slowed the pace on the way back, chatting about anything and everything, and savoring the early afternoon. Seeing her safely to her door, he turned and headed back home. His mother would be there soon, and he needed to pull his head out of the clouds before she arrived.
Chapter 9
Honora found her aunt waiting for her in her bedroom, sitting in the rose-and-white-striped slipper chair. “Aunt Violet! I looked for you this morning before I left.”
“I am eager to hear about your day,” she responded without saying where she had been. “Did you have a good time?”
