Page 27 of Awakening a Lord's Desires
As the warmth of the room and the people around her made her skin flush, she wished that she had not worn the light pink muslin for she feared she looked like a shrimp, pink from cheeks to skirt. It was warm, but she was also flushing at the knowledge that Lord Spencer would be arriving soon, if he was not already in the room.
Having never kissed someone before, it felt strange to have to face him again. And so, she did not turn her eyes anywhere else but first sought out Matilda. She stood speaking to her mother in a corner. Caroline feared that Matilda’s mother would send her away again, but instead, she smiled when Caroline approached.
Caroline greeted her, and then she took Matilda’s arm as they spoke in low voices.
“I know you have come over to warn me about Mr Thornhill. Do not worry yourself, all will be well. I do not think Mother seems all that impressed by him, for all his handsomeness and his charms.”
“Oh, that is a relief,” Caroline whispered, and together they watched as Max began speaking to a young Miss Mortimer in the far corner of the room. She was shy and rather docile. And so if they did wed, Caroline knew that Max would be the one to control everything far more than he would be able if he was married to Matilda. That was perhaps the ideal match in his mind.
“We are safe for now, I see. Although I feel for poor Miss Mortimer. Ah, Alexander is looking well this evening,” Caroline said, watching as Alexander entered the room, his eyes moving across everyone as he did.
She knew exactly who he was looking for. First, he saw Max and his expression darkened, but then he spotted the both of them from across the room and smiled. Caroline turned her head slightly to watch her friend. Matilda seemed pleased at Alexander’s arrival. Caroline hoped she was giving thought to the idea of Alexander being the right sort of man for her.
“Yes, but he is always looking well, is he not? As you said, he is a handsome man,” Matilda replied with a dismissive air.
“And there is Lord Spencer,” Matilda said, and Caroline’s head whipped around to see him entering the room with Mr Blackwell.
He greeted Mr Merryweather warmly, as well as his young nephew Lord Martin, and her heart was racing so fast, she felt a flutter in her throat. It was just as odd as she believed it would be to see the person she had kissed only the day before. Strange thoughts filled her mind, and she could not stop them for the moment.
I have felt the softness of those lips. I have tasted that mouth. I have known the feeling of his tongue against mine.
She shook herself, a little trickle of heat sliding from her chest, down her belly, and lower, making her legs feel as though they were ready to weaken at any moment. She thought she had forgotten the heat of that kiss, the memory of it. She had tucked it away and forgotten, but seeing him again only brought the intensity back.
Her lips parted. She could just imagine him coming to her and kissing her again. That was what she wanted. To let him know with words and body that it was only he she thought of. That there was no one else who had ever turned her head as he did hers.
“My goodness, are you all right?” Matilda asked, chuckling a little under her breath. “You look as though you would very much like to eat Lord Spencer, such that a tasty dessert has suddenly entered the room.”
When Caroline turned to her friend in horror, Matilda laughed out loud, and Caroline shook her head.
“I beg of you, do not say that to anyone else.” She put a hand over her mouth. “And you are wrong, I do not look like that. He is a man, not a treat or dessert as you call him. I was simply surprised.”
“I believe expressions such as yours do not lie. You were always a terrible liar, Caroline,” Matilda continued to tease, and Caroline pulled away from her, trying to act as calmly as she could. “I must get some refreshment, my friend,” she said. Matilda kept on chuckling. “I will see you later. I hope your evening is very pleasant.”
“Oh, come now, Caroline,” Matilda called after her as Caroline hurried away.
Trays of cool lemonade stood in one corner on a table, and she took a glass and sipped at it greedily. The room felt as if it had grown in heat so much that it was as if they were out in the middle of a field under a bright sunny day. Sweat covered her palms and her hair lifted on the back of her neck. She did not look in the direction of Lord Charles. She did not want to think about that kiss while the room was filled with people like her stepmother and father and Mr Merryweather.
Forget it. Do not think of it. You’ve been taught for so many years about deportment and control, and yet here you are unable to control a simple memory.
When Alexander appeared at her side, he tapped at her arm. She was grateful for the distraction.
“Here’s your chance, Alexander,” she said, slowly feeling the heat ebb away a bit.
She could focus on this: Alexander and Matilda and making sure that Max did not make any sort of move or declaration. That way, she would not have to think about her own situation. At least not for a few minutes.
“Caroline, please,” Alexander said with only slight impatience as he took up a glass of lemonade and turned to face the room. “I do not know why you think I should care so much about the situation and, as I told you, perhaps Mr Thornhill is much better for her.”
Caroline rolled her eyes, watching as Max took his leave of Miss Mortimer and began to search the room, no doubt for Matilda. At that very moment, Mr Merryweather announced that there would be some music before dinner and the young should begin dancing. Max grinned when he found Matilda and began to make his way toward her.
“I would say that now is your chance, Alexander, or Max will claim her for the first dance and perhaps for many others…”
She stifled a satisfied chuckle as Alexander nearly rushed across the room to get to Matilda first.
Chapter 28
Charles was standing on his own in the sitting room of Mr Merryweather, watching as Max spotted Lady Chatsworth and made his way toward her. Perhaps that was the advantageous marriage he sought, the one that Miss Caroline had spoken of.
Lady Chatsworth certainly had a large dowry from what he had heard, but he did not like the idea of Max taking advantage of that. Slowly and hesitantly, his eyes moved around the room, and he spotted Lord Fitzroy speaking to Miss Caroline.
