Page 43 of A Spinster to Heal the Duke
"Careful," he said, steadying her with his arms as he tried to keep hold of the glasses.
"Oh, I apologize," Anne replied quickly.
"No, it was my fault," assured the Duke.
He still had his arms on either side of Anne, and their chests nearly touched. She looked up at him, and Noah looked down at her. They could see in their shared glances from each other's eyes to lips that they both shared the same temptation.
A kiss.
As they each leaned a little closer, they heard the sound of a door opening in the house.
"Miss?" Peggy called. "Your brother and your grandfather have returned, and I believe they might have had a bit too much to drink at the club."
Anne took the glasses from Noah, and they stepped apart. They could hear Charles and Jeremy, loud and slurring their speech as they inquired about dinner.
Peggy entered the room and said, "Nothing a good meal can't either fix or put them over the edge to sleep off."
Anne placed the glasses with the platter in the wash basin, and the Duke did his best to look inconspicuous, but the maid saw through them.
"Pardon me," she said. "I'll just see if they need any help settling in and preparing for dinner."
"Yes," agreed Anne. "Then, meet me upstairs; I need to dress for dinner as well."
"Of course, Miss," replied Peggy.
Then, she excused herself from the room.
"Anne," said Noah, reaching to stop her.
But Anne left the kitchen quickly as well.
He felt strange. He had never felt such closeness nor such longing.
There's a hunger, not only to taste her food but her lips,he thought.Time with her provides a fullness inside that does so much more than satisfying an appetite for a good meal.
He ran a hand through his light brown hair and paced the room a couple of rounds.
"Grandon?" Jeremy called for him.
For now, I need to get through the meal,he told himself. Perhaps she and I can discuss, discuss…
He paused then finished the thought to himself, …the fact that we almost kissed on our walk tomorrow.
His mind seemed to yell the words.
"Grandon, where are you?" Jeremy called once more.
"On the way, Reedley," he called back, leaving the kitchen and following the sound of the older gentleman's voice.
As he passed the stairs, he looked towards Anne's room and saw that the door was closed.
Is she as confused and excited as I am?he wondered.
In her room, Anne had also paced the floor, making no progress sorting her thoughts.
When Peggy came to help her dress, Anne said, "Close the door quickly. We must speak."
Peggy did as she was told and asked, "Is this about what I believe I saw? Clearly you two needed a chaperone after all, but it is not uncommon for a young couple to sneak away and steal a kiss or touch of the hand across the table."
