Page 35 of An Earl Like You
They skirted the fountain in the center of the garden. Hugh spied a small building of white stone, tucked around the corner down the hill. He nodded toward it. “What is that?”
“It is the folly, my lord. It’s very peaceful, with a view of the garden.”
“Very good.” He turned his steps there. She said her father was away from home, but Hugh couldn’t shake the feeling that Edward Cross was watching over his shoulder, prodding him onward. The farther he could get from that man, the better. Let him have privacy for this moment with Eliza.
Chapter 14
The folly was a small temple, with a pair of sofas and small tables arranged in the middle. There were also draperies, tied back out of the way. It had a splendid view of the gardens, with the house looming above on the hill. It was perfect. Hugh released Eliza’s hand and began untying the draperies.
“You looked quite fetching with the little girl on your lap.”
“Oh!” She turned red and brushed at the jam stain on her bodice again. “They’re darling girls.”
He gave her a warm smile. “They are, but you’d be even more fetching with your own child in your arms. You should have children of your own.”
“Oh—I—I hope to, some day...”
He undid the knot on the last drape; when he closed it, they were cocooned alone in this little temple.
Eliza stood in the center, looking uncertain. Hugh started toward her. “Miss Cross. Eliza.” He took her trembling hands in his. “You’re still nervous.”
“Well.” She looked up at him through her eyelashes. “Now you are making me a bit nervous, yes.”
“Don’t be.” He brushed his thumb over her cheek, letting his fingers trail around her jaw. Her lashes fluttered, and her head tipped slightly into his palm. “I don’t want to,” he whispered, edging closer. “I don’t try to.”
“I—I know.” She wet her lips, and Hugh felt an unexpected stab of desire. This was his future wife—the bride he’d been coerced into courting—and by God he wanted her naked under him. It was a good omen.
“What makes you uneasy?” He moved even closer, gliding his hand along the side of her waist. She sucked in a breath but made no protest.
“You,” she whispered. “You’re—you’re very handsome, my lord... Far too elegant for a girl like me.”
“Really?” He could feel her quick, shallow breaths against his skin. “That seems unfair.”
“Unfair?” Her hands hovered a moment, then rested lightly on his chest. Her head fell back, all but begging him to kiss her. “How so?”
Hugh threaded his fingers into her hair, holding her in place. When her eyes were glazed with passion and her lips were parted in want, she was mesmerizing. “Deciding I’m too much of anything for you. Don’t you know I want to kiss you again?”
“Do,” she begged at once, and he did. He covered her mouth with his and tasted her, deeply and thoroughly. She made sensual little sounds, pressing unabashedly against him, until he lifted his head and rested his forehead against hers.
“Eliza.” His breath rasped in his throat. Again it caught him off guard how much he wanted her. “I should do this properly...” He set her away from him and went down on one knee. “My dear Eliza, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
Her face was pale, her eyes bright, her smile ecstatic. “Yes, Lord Hastings, I will.”
He came back to his feet and caught her in his arms, swinging her off her feet. Eliza gasped and then laughed, her arms around his neck. He pressed another kiss on her lips: exuberant but also relieved.
He wanted her. Every nerve in his body was urging him to kiss her again. And a small, cold, calculating part of his brain whispered that seducing her right now would seal the bargain. Cross couldn’t object, couldn’t wriggle loose, couldn’t change his mind or impose any other conditions once she might be carrying his child.
He let her feet come back to the ground and cupped her face in one hand; she looked up at him with adoration in her eyes. Hugh stifled the twinge of his conscience. He meant to be a good husband, faithful and kind. That was all he had to offer anyone. Love was too reckless to premise a marriage on. But passion... passion could keep them both satisfied for a long, long time.
Starting now.
His hand came up to her bodice. “This has been tempting me since I arrived.” He drew his finger across the splotch of jam and felt her nipple hardened under his touch.
Her face flamed. “I should have changed—”
“No, I like it,” he whispered, and bent down. Slowly he licked the fabric, swirling his tongue over the strawberry-soaked cloth.
Eliza had long since decided the entire afternoon was a dream. Not only had he come to see her, he went down on one knee and proposed, like the most romantic suitor imaginable. And now he was kissing her, touching her as he’d done before when she nearly lost her mind from wanting him.
