Page 29 of The Earl's Forbidden Governess
Edward felt as though he had had a bucket of ice water doused upon his head. These women knew Catherine—they knew her true identity. Fear gripped at his heart. Was this all an elaborate setup? Had Catherine been sent to spy on him, to infiltrate his household under the guise of governess? Had he been wrong to trust her?
“Ladies,” Catherine spoke as he caught her eye, her voice deceptively calm. “If you will excuse me. I believe I see my cousin seeking my attention.”
She turned smoothly, meeting him halfway—her face a paragon of composure, though he could see the tension set in her shoulders.
“My Lord,” she spoke as his hand moved to grip her wrist. “Perhaps we should step outside for some air.”
His gaze flickered to the dancefloor, where Emily was turning in another young gentleman’s arms.
“Right,” Edward muttered, his fingers like steel around her wrist as he led her through the French doors and into the garden. He did not stop until they reached a secluded spot near a fountain—hidden from view of the other partygoers by a row of meticulously trimmed hedges.
The second they were alone, Edward rounded on Catherine—his eyes blazing with fury. “Who are they?” he demanded, his voice low. “How do they know you andwhatdo they know about me, about my family?”
“My Lord,” Catherine responded, her voice soft. “If you will allow me to explain…”
“Explain?” he burst out, his voice shaking with anger. “Explain what? Tell me, Miss Winslow, are you a spy? Were you sent to gather information on the reclusive Earl of Wessex?”
“My Lord,” she spoke again, shaking her head. “Please, listen to me. I would never betray you. They are my previous charges. Charlotte and Sophia Ashdown. I was their governess before coming to Wessex Manor.”
Edward’s eyes narrowed into narrow slits. “And you expect me to believe that you happened to run into them?”
“No, My Lord,” she explained calmly. “They told me about the ball, and I knew they would be here. I thought I mentioned it. I am sorry.”
“Swear that you will never betray me,” Edward said now, his gaze fixed on her. “I want to hear you say it.”
“I will never betray you or Lady Emily,” Catherine said at once. “I swear it.”
She licked her lips lightly at that, and without as much as a second thought, he surged forward—capturing her lips in a possessive kiss. Catherine gasped against his mouth, her body tensing in surprise before it melted into him. Her hands fisted in the lapels of his coat as she returned the kiss with equal fervor.
Edward’s hands found Catherine’s waist and he pulled her flush against him as he deepened the kiss. She tasted of champagne and something uniquely her—a sweetness that intoxicated him entirely. All thoughts of propriety fled in the face of his overwhelming desire, as her body melted against his.
Chapter 14
Catherine’s world narrowed—melted away to become nothing more than the press of Edward’s lips against hers, the heat of his body as he pulled her closer and the clutching of his fingers at her waist.
Her mind was reeling, overwhelmed by the sensation of his mouth moving against her own, vaguely registering the hardness pressing against her thigh. It sent a desperate ache of desire through her, one far more intense than anything she had experienced before.
This was madness, she knew and yet she was powerless to resist—even if she wanted to.
Edward’s kiss was demanding, possessive. It stole her breath and reason in equal measure. Catherine’s hands, which she was quite certain had been meant to push against his chest in surprise, were now clutching at his lapels—drawing him even nearer. A soft moan escaped her throat as Edward deepened the kiss, his tongue teasing the seam of her lips until she parted them, granting him access.
The cool stone of the fountain pressed against her back, providing a stark contrast to the heat building within her.Edward’s hands roamed her sides, tracing the curve of her waist through the silk of her gown. Each touch sent sparks skittering across her skin and it ignited a fire low in her belly.
Catherine felt as though she were drowning—lost in a sea of sensation. The scent of pine that clung to him, the taste of him on her tongue, the solid warmth of his body against hers… it overwhelmed her senses. It left her dizzy and breathless, her knees weak.
She knew she ought to push him away—that this was beyond improper. But she could not bring herself to end this moment.
Finally, the distant sound of laughter penetrated the haze of desire that was clouding her mind. With a gasp, she tore her lips from Edward’s and her hands moved to his chest to create some distance between them—though an unsettling emptiness immediately took hold of her.
“Edward,” she panted, foregoing his title. Her voice was husky and sounded unfamiliar to her own ears. “We cannot… not here…”
Edward’s eyes were dark with passion as he searched her face. For a moment, Catherine thought he might ignore her protest and kiss her again. A part of her—a far larger part than she cared to admit—hoped he would, and her cheeks heated up.
Instead, Edward stepped back and ran a hand through his hair. “Forgive me,” he said roughly. “I… I should not have done that. It was unforgivably forward of me.”
Catherine’s hand flew to her lips. They were still tingling from his kiss. “My Lord, I…”
He did not let her finish. Instead, he shook his head. “We should return to the ballroom,” Edward said, his tone suddenly formal and quite cold. “Emily will be wondering where we have gone.”
