Page 21 of Make My Wish Come True
She had no idea why she’d trusted him that day in the Two Owls inn. Respectable, sensible Gwen would never have dreamed of getting into a carriage with a strange man. Now that he’d said it, though, she realized that was why: he hadn’t felt like a stranger. He never had. That night in the Kittridges’ spare room, he’d felt achingly familiar and dear to her.
In the cold light of day—literally—her behavior seemed mortifying. She’d tried to think why she did it, and had considered in turn the gooseberry wine, the strain and difficulty of the journey, and the fact that she’d lost her post and felt a bit mad. All those had been discarded. Deep down, she knew she’d turned into his arms and welcomed his kiss… and more… because she’d felt an instant attraction and connection to this kind, handsome gentleman with the faintly impish smile.
Even today, when she’d felt awkward and unprepared to face him, they had instantly fallen into easy conversation. French hedgehogs, indeed. Just the thought of it made her lips curve. “What have you come to offer, in the way of more?” she asked, trying to force her scrambled thoughts into order.
He cleared his throat. “I would like to call on you and your grandmother. Take you to meet my mother and sisters, who will be wild to make your acquaintance. Perhaps take you driving in a carriage, or in a sleigh if I can locate another.” He hesitated. “What more would you permit me?”
More than meeting his family and introducing him to Gran. Clutching her basket, she turned to face him. “I felt it, too,” she confessed. “That you were someone I wished to know. Someone I could trust, and be easy with.” Someone I could love.
His dark eyes grew brighter. “Then may I ask a terribly great favor?”
Breath shallowing, Gwen nodded. “Yes. Kiss me.”
Surprise flashed in his face, but before she could react, he stepped forward, cupped her face in his hands, and kissed her.
She went up on her toes, kissing him back. She had to grip the front of his coat for balance, until his arm went around her waist. By the time the kiss ended her bonnet had fallen off, his coat was mostly around her, and the basket had fallen into a drift of snow.
“Goodness,” she gasped, flustered. “Gran will think I’ve walked halfway to Norfolk for greenery!”
Adrian just laughed. He still held her close, as if he couldn’t bear to let go of her, and Gwen unabashedly pressed into him.
“What was the favor you meant to ask, before I begged you to kiss me?”
“I have no idea,” he said, his lips brushing her temple. “It was nothing to the one you offered.”
She laughed. “Will you come in and meet my grandmother and great-aunt?” she asked shyly.
“I would be delighted. I’ve got it on good authority that Mrs. Maitland makes excellent gingerbread, and I’m devilishly fond of gingerbread.”
“She does. She’s my great-aunt.” Gwen sobered. “I should have asked. How is your grandfather?”
Adrian sighed silently. She put her hand on his chest in sympathy. “Not well. But curiosity about you has revived him. He’s been prodding me to come see you.”
She pulled back to look at him in alarm. “You told him?—!”
“That I had met a lady he would like very much,” Adrian finished. “He told me to hurry back here and hope you forgave me for ever leaving.”
“Oh. He’s not…?” Gwen stopped, unsure. An earl was discussing her. “We only just met?—”
“He knew my grandmother was the one for him after a single dance. Comparatively speaking, our acquaintance is long-standing. He likely thinks I’ve dithered too long as it is.”
She gave him a sideways look. “Nonsense.”
Adrian held up both hands. “Don’t look at me to argue with him.” He paused. “If you are willing… he asked to make your acquaintance, too.” He spoke cautiously, as if asking some tremendous favor.
A favor, on behalf of an earl. From a cat-thief governess.
Gwen resolved never to mention stealing Reggie, ever again. “I would be honored,” she said softly, and was rewarded with another kiss.
“Here.” He stepped back and bent to retrieve her bonnet. “Is this…?”
She gave a gasp of laughter as he fell silent, regarding Gran’s ancient bonnet. “It’s Gran’s. The sleet on the journey here, alas, inflicted a fatal injury to mine.”
His face eased as he handed it back to her. “Good.” He looked up with that impish twinkle in his eye that had gone right to her heart, within the first hour she’d known him.
She laughed as she tied the ribbon. Adrian grinned, and retrieved her basket, still empty of greenery. “Come with me.”
He took her hand and led her out of the trees, around to the small stable where Gran and Maisie kept their pair of goats. There he bade her wait outside a moment, and he went in and spoke to the Hayden children, who had taken his horse there. Gwen stood and listened to the even rumble of Adrian’s voice, and the eager replies of the two boys. After a few minutes, Mary, their little sister, ran out and stopped short when she saw Gwen.
