Page 10 of My Gentleman Spy
Chapter Four
As Will'slips met hers, Hattie's heart leapt. This was an unexpected development and one which she quickly decided was notunwelcome.
His kiss at first tentative, soon deepened much to both hers and the crowd's delight. As he speared his fingers through her hair pulling her close to him, she found herself praying that the locals had plenty of time on their hands. She for once in her life was in no hurry to be anywhereelse.
Warm, tender lips touched hers, inviting her response. Opening her lips, she welcomed Will's attentions. As his tongue swept into her mouth she felt her knees begin tobuckle.
Oh, this isheaven.
He was skilled in the art of kissing, but not in the calculating way she had heard was the hallmark of men of his class. And most certainly not like the horrid, hard kisses Peter Brown had forced upon her. His cold and often harsh attempts to kiss her were a world’s difference to this delightfulencounter.
The tenderness within Will Saunders was natural and freelygiven.
The noise from the crowd and the market disappeared, leaving only them and the heady delight of their kiss. She tasted the sharp citrus tang of orange on his tongue. Her mind whispered thoughts of sunny climes and long nights under starry skies. A life, if given half the chance, she would take hold of with both hands and never letgo.
A sigh escaped her lips as she imagined what it would be like to call this man her very own for all time. She indulged herself in the pleasant fantasy that she was indeed hiswife.
That he would take her home to a place they shared that was full of love. And once there he would lay her on their bed and make passionate love to her. He would be hers and hersalone.
“MissWilson?”
She opened her eyes. Will was still holding her close, studyingher.
How long had she been standing there, eyes closed, lost in the kiss? And when had he released her from hislips?
“Oh. I am so sorry. I got caught up in the moment,” shestammered.
Her fingers instinctively touched her lips. They were still warm from his kiss. Disappointment stirred in her heart as they rapidly cooled. Her disappointment was compounded by the fact that he had called her by someone else’sname.
The boisterous swell from the crowd filled her ears once more, returning her to reality. Sheturned.
A smiling and thoroughly appreciative market crowd stood behind her. There were few dry eyes among the women. Even the old, craggy men sitting on the stone steps of the nearby church woregrins.
The young lovers had won over the hearts and minds of thelocals.
Will leaned in. “While the situation is still in our favor, I suggest we head back to the hotel. I should like to discuss matters further with you, but somewhere a little more private,” hesaid.
He offered her his hand and without hesitation Hattie took it. Why she felt so safe with this stranger was something she could not understand. But she knew that a man capable of kissing a woman in such a passionate way, a man who could make her soul stir to life would never seek to cause herharm.
* * *
And so,it was that within an hour of having leapt from the side of the ship, Miss Hattie Wright, in the guise of Sarah Wilson, was under the protection of Mr. William SaundersEsq.
She had also been thoroughly kissed by him inpublic.
After making enquiries, Will managed to engage the services of a local dressmaker who quickly put together a small selection of ready-made clothes for Hattie. The hotel arranged amaid.
Will silently congratulated himself for having so skillfully attended to the needs of a young lady of his class. His mother would be proud. Whether the wardrobe Hattie now had at her disposal was the latest of London fashion he was not certain. Anything however was better than her ruined dress which was beyondsalvation.
While Hattie was upstairs changing in the room he had arranged for her, Will sat downstairs in the small alcove which served as the hotel'slobby.
He attempted to read a copy ofThe Timeswhich had arrived that morning by ship from London, but his mind refused to give it any real attention. He folded the paper in half and put itdown.
Thoughts of Hattie refused to leave his mind. Her long flaxen hair, though tangled and stuck to her head, was an enthralling color. He had once owned a Palomino horse with a similar luxurious mane. He suspected once it was dry and thoroughly combed, his new companion’s hair would shine in the sunlight in much the sameway.
“Who are you?” hemurmured.
When he had called out her name in the market earlier that morning, she had not reacted. Only when he reached out and took hold of her arm had she registered his presence. Her real name was clearly not Sarah Wilson. What or whom she was hiding from was bad enough for her to have taken on a falsename.
