Page 27 of Tempting a Lonely Lord
“Grandmère!”
“What? I may be old, but I’m not blind! Now, hurry before Anna and I make fools of ourselves,” she said, chortling as she closed the door.
Oh no!Bella glanced once more at herself in the mirror and winced. Her hair was in disarray, and she had only one pearl earring on. Fumbling for the jewelry box, she added the second earring. Then she quickly grabbed a brush, ran it through her tangled locks, and decided to leave them loose around her shoulders. After straightening her dress and taking one final glance at her reflection, she pinched her cheeks for a touch of color and hurried out of her room.
Leaving William alone with her grandmothers was a dangerous prospect. There was no telling what they might say to him. Still feeling awkward over her own outburst just days ago, she could only imagine the mortification she’d face if her grandmothers decided to meddle or speak too freely.
A few minutes later, Bella entered the parlor. Lacey trotted in behind her and curled up on the rug in front of the fireplace.
“My dear Bella, we’ve been entertaining your viscount,” Viscountess Harrington said, her eyes twinkling. Bella felt hercheeks flame at her grandmother’s words. She chanced a peek at William, who gave her a wink.
“Elise and I enjoyed our little chat,” Countess Bridgewater added. Her gaze strayed to the bottom of Bella’s skirts, and she smiled.
“As did I,” William said with a charming smile. “Countess Bridgewater and Viscountess Harrington, I hope you will both save a dance for me at the ball,” he added.
The two older women giggled like debutantes. “Most definitely,” the viscountess said. “Consider it done. It will give me an excuse to wear one of those little dance cards on my wrist. Oh, Anna… How long has it been since we’ve done that?”
“Too long—since our weddings, I believe,” Countess Bridgewater said in a cheeky tone. “I look forward to our dance, Lord Dudley.”
Leaning over to her granddaughter, Grandmama whispered, “You have two different shoes on, my dear.”
Bella blushed as she quickly adjusted her skirt to cover her shoes.
William turned to Bella as her grandmothers left the room, both women chatting excitedly about the finishing touches for their gowns. “Good morning, Bella. I wondered if you might have time to take a walk. And before I forget, Michael insisted on picking these Lenten roses, declaring that I should bring them to you,” he said, handing Bella a bouquet that had been sitting on a side table.
“They’re beautiful,” she breathed. “The pale green color is lovely. Thank you, and please thank Michael for picking them.”Can I walk without drawing attention to my mismatched shoes?
“I will,” William said. “The color matches your eyes,” he added in a soft voice.
Bella felt another blush heat her cheeks. She put the mismatched shoes out of her head. There was no way she would let an opportunity to spend time with William go over anything as silly as mismatched shoes.
Lord, I’m forever blushing when I’m around him.But she couldn’t help it—each day her feelings for him deepened.
Her eyes fluttered closed as she inhaled the fragrance of the roses, letting her mind drift back to that unforgettable moment—her first kiss, one that replayed like a special melody in her heart. The kiss seemed plucked from the romantic pages of one of her favorite novels—a perfect blend of warmth, tenderness, and passion. It had taken Bella completely by surprise, and it had been completely unforgettable.
Every detail of his kiss replayed in her mind—the soft yet firm press of his lips, the scent of sandalwood and citrus that was a part of him, and the way his eyes had sparkled with mischief just before his lips met hers. It made her knees weak. She’d relived it at least a dozen times—upon waking each morning, and as she readied for bed each night. Even during meals, she often found her mind drifting to thoughts of William, which only made her shrewd grandmothers take notice and make teasing comments.
“Shall we go for our walk?” William said, offering her his arm. “I thought a stroll through your gardens would be enjoyable.”
“Yes, that would be lovely,” she replied. From the corner of her eye, she noticed Lacey stretching before trotting over to stand beside her. “I see Lacey is keen on joining us.” She giggled.
“Lacey is always welcome,” William said, crouching and petting the little black dog on her head.
“Although I’m not sure there are too many flowering plants in bloom at this time of year,” Bella said. Her trips to the garden during the winter were limited to walking Lacey.
“I had assumed the same. So, imagine my surprise when Michael stumbled upon the Lenten roses flourishing in an unassuming garden tucked away behind the stables—a hidden gem waiting to be discovered.”
She smiled up at him. “You could be right. We might discover some lovely blooms in our garden as well.”
She accepted her dark rose pelisse from Garrett, who stood by the door, patiently waiting. She smiled her thanks at the thoughtful butler. Garrett had a knack for anticipating the needs of everyone in the household. She had learned long ago not to ask himhowhe knew things, because she suspected he also had a knack for listening at doors. She didn’t mind, however, as the butler was a loyal member of the family and had been with the Bridgewater household her entire life. Everyone depended upon him… and his ability to anticipate and deliver what they needed.
Garrett strode ahead with his usual brisk efficiency, his posture as straight as a poker, and pulled open the door leading to the backyard gardens. “Enjoy yourselves, my lady, my lord. And… you as well, Lacey,” he added, his voice stiff as he addressed the dog.
Lacey stopped in her tracks, lifting her head to give him a long, deliberate look—a look that could only be described as that of a regal queen—before trotting past him with her tail held high as if to remind him exactly who ruled the household.
Garrett’s lips tightened ever so slightly, but he recovered quickly, stepping back to allow Bella and William to pass. Bella suppressed a laugh at the butler’s obvious discomfort, while William smirked, clearly enjoying the interplay.
Lacey, seemingly entirely unbothered, made her way to her favorite spot beneath the jasmine bush, now in full bloom, its yellow flowers cascading like a cheerful carpet onto a neighboring dormant bush.
