Page 102 of The Girl Out of Time
“What desires? You never courted anyone!”
Frustrated, Emmeline blew out some air, figured it was no use intervening in that sibling fight, and rushed after Theo. As she rounded the corner, he was already walking briskly down the hallway decorated with Roman statues, each in their own alcove.
“Theo, wait!” He didn’t stop, but it wasn’t too hard for her to catch up. She pulled his sleeve. “Why did you leave like that?”
He pressed his mouth in a tight line. “Isn’t it obvious?”
“Well, yes, I’m getting a little tired of the vases, too. At least throw in a spear or something.”
“I don’t care about the vases, Emmeline.”
“That’s exactly my point.”
Theo sighed and reached into his pocket. “Here. Enjoy the next clue.” He handed her the pouch and continued to walk.
“So you’re just going to leave? Again?”
He turned back and spread his arms. “What else am I supposed to do?”
“Well, you—I—” She put her hands on her hips. “I don’t even know what the problem is!”
He closed his eyes, slowly shaking his head. “There’s no problem, Emmeline. Never mind.”
She approached until they were about a foot apart. “Is it Daniel? You only got annoyed when we ran into him.”
“I’m not annoyed.”
“Aren’t you?”
“Emmeline, just … go back. Please. There’s very little point to this. We got most of the clues, and I’m sure you can solve the last one. Your friend is back there, and as for Lord Farenham … well, you and him—”
“You’re telling me to pursue him?”
“You’re a cousin of a viscount—apparently—and he’d be a great match for anyone. With you already having feelings for him—”
“I havewhat?”
“Well, don’t you?” he bit off.
“No!”
“You were happy enough to kiss him in the study.”
“I was curious!” Before she could ask him how he knew about that, her frustration finally boiled to the surface. She glanced down the hallway—still empty—and then, flustered, back at Theo. “I don’t have feelings for Daniel, you goofus! I’m in love with you!”
Theo’s mouth froze, agape, ready but unable to make another argument.
Emmeline’s chest rose and fell rapidly, as if she’d sprinted across London, not made an untimely love confession.Great.She’d ruined it, and now Theo wouldn’t even want to be her friend anymore, not with how awkward she’d made it.
“Good,” Theo said. “Because that wasn’t him. It was me.” And he lunged forward, cupped her face, and kissed her.
She let out a half-surprised moan, drowned by his mouth.
“Emmeline,” he whispered, and she could swear her name never sounded like a prayer before.
She grabbed him by the lapels and pulled them from immediate view, into a nook behind a statue of a bearded, toga-clad man. They almost crashed into the wall, but she welcomed its support, especially when her legs were already turning into jelly. Gently, Theo explored inside her mouth; in response, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders, half-climbing onto him, relishing every inch of her body pressed against his, even if it was coat against coat. Actually, ignore those coats. She slippedher hand over his shoulder and continued down his chest, sliding along his waistcoat, underneath the cutaway …
“Emmeline,” he whispered again. She wished he’d keep saying her name forever, and keep kissing her, leading a trail down her throat, just like that—unbutton her coat—further, oh, she needed him down there—
