Page 22 of Tempting the Marquess

Fortunately Samantha giggled at his weak joke and twirled a blonde curl around her finger, both making him smile even though he half-dreaded her response.

“No, silly. He asks me where we go, what we talk about, just like you do. I always hoped if we spent some time together, if he got to know me, that we could have a warm relationship. And now it is finally happening.”

She paused, and sighed. “Although he doesn’t tell me much about his day, even when I ask. Always says town, or visiting acquaintances. Poor Papa, it cannot be easy to hurry from place to place when...ah...anyway, I wish the men sending him brandy would stop, too. Cases are forever being delivered, and he already drinks far too much...my goodness I’ve been talking on and on, we really should get back to the diningroom.”

Blinking, he shook his head at his own foolishness. They had been gone awhile, any longer with his incompetent interrogating and everyone in the dining room would be visiting him with a pistol, not just Stephen. “You’re quite right. My apologies. I hope Stephen and George haven’t eaten everything...wait, don’tmove!”

She froze and he gestured behind her to where a corner of the silver shawl was trapped in the powder room door. Carefully freeing it, he settled the shawl back in place, his fingertips brushing herskin.

Mistake numberfour.

Unable to stop himself, he smoothed the lace against her collarbone, dangerously close to the tops of her breasts. As in the foyer her nipples peaked, and she shuddered, sinking two white teeth into her bottomlip.

At least he wasn’t the only one sufferinghere.

“Don’t do that...” William murmured, reaching up and tracing her lips with his thumb.

Lady Samantha moaned softly and tilted her head back. Waiting. Offering.

Would one taste really be sobad?

“Yes,” she breathed.

Shocked, he pulled back with a swift, hard shake of his head. Bloody hell. He’d been a moment away from ruining everything.

“Now the others really will be wondering where we are,” he bit out, furious with himself. “Can’t have them all attempting to find us and getting lost, London would grind to a shudderinghalt.”

And turning, so out of sorts he didn’t even offer his arm, William marched back toward the diningroom.