Page 18 of A Gentleman's Kiss
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Lillian wandered the tea gardens greeting guests and trying to ignore best wishes and congratulations on her engagement. Her anger toward Lord Wessex multiplied with each felicitation. She gritted her teeth, keeping her smile in place when all she wanted to do was throttle the blockhead for putting her in this position.
The angry stares from her cousins and aunt from across the gardens, told her she was in quite a mess.
She was glad Sir Trenton was not present or else she would have died of mortification at having to explain to him what happened. Sir Trenton asked her once before if Lord Wessex was courting her and she had adamantly denied it. Now what would she say? This would surely confirm his earlier notions. Half of London thought them to be engaged. Dominick’s own aunt, Queen Victoria approved, given the nods and smiles she offered. Sir Trenton would never ask for her hand if he believed her to be connected to another.
Lillian stopped in her tracks. How ironic, she was surrounded by a mosaic of bright colored flowers and her mood was so black. She sat on a bench, sulking now from her internal tirade.
“Splendid weather for London isn’t it?” Dominick remarked, intruding on her thoughts.
Lillian turned her glare on him. If she could have shot daggers from her eyes she would have.
“How could you, Dominick?”
“Pardon?” His brows drew together in concern.
“How could you use me in such a way? Embarrass me?”
“I’m afraid I do not understand, Miss Whitmore?” He came to sit beside her. She was all too aware of the heat emanating from his body. His hard thigh pressed against hers sending a shiver racing from her leg her core.
“Half of London, including my own family, thinks we are betrothed because you escorted me into tea.” Lillian threw her arms in the air with exasperation. Then quickly put her hands back in her lap. Getting agitated would not help the situation. Why wouldn’t he own up to his own plan?
“Why would they think such a thing?” Dominick looked genuinely confused with brows furrowed and lips turned down. He studied her face as if the he might find the answers there.
“Do you mean to tell me, you did not know the implications of doing such a thing?”
Dominick stared a moment longer, his gaze lingering on her eyes, then her lips. “You are serious?”
Lillian fought back her tears. “Yes, Dominick, I’m serious.”
Why was she feeling disappointed in his denial? He pulled her hands into his large warm grasp. His thumbs absently caressed her palms. Why didn’t she pull her hands away?
“A beautiful lady walking on the arm of a man, means they are betrothed?” Dominick asked, his facial features taking on a comical air.
Could it be he truly did not know? And why did she like him touching her? She was supposed to be angry—was incredulous…wasn’t she?
“Apparently, yes,” she whispered, her gaze lowering to their clasped hands.
“My, I must be engaged to half the world then,” he said with a chuckle.
Lillian laughed a little too at how out of control things could get within a society that had such strict codes, and one she and apparently Dominick were not too privy on.
“What are we to do? Everyone keeps wishing me well, and my aunt has practically disowned me.”
“I suppose I have been out of London Society too long. I will take care of it. Please don’t fret.”
Dominick reached up to brush an errant curl from her face. His clean masculine scent washed over her, and she breathed in the alluring aroma before she realized what she was doing. Lillian met his gaze, the blue in his eyes a deep sapphire. His teeth the same sheen of her pearls when he smiled. He truly was a beautiful man.
“How can I make this up to you? From the day we both arrived in London, I have done nothing but offend, embarrass and somehow or other inconvenience you.”
“My lord—Dominick,” she corrected herself. “Besides fixing the mess we are in, there is something else.”
Lillian pulled her hands from his and looked away. She wanted to choose the right words and somehow holding his hands so intimately didn’t seem appropriate at all anymore.
“Anything for you,” he said airily.
She returned her attention to him. He was so sincere, so raw. Real emotion emanated from him. He appeared to genuinely care for her. She hadn’t seen anyone so genuine since she’d arrived in London. And now she would have to ruin his feelings, his friendship, by bringing up an uncomfortable subject.
