Page 78 of Unmasking the Earl

How he longed to touch her, to peel the glove off that tender hand, press his fingers between hers, and tell her he loved her, that he couldn’t contemplate a future without her. But her last words before leaving had not been encouraging.

“How is it you’re no longer under house arrest?” she asked warily. “Surely, you haven’t earned a reprieve? Where’s Julian? Is he not with you?”

Naturally, she would ask about the meddlesome rogue.

“I came alone, thanks to giving that wretch of a constable a hefty bribe. Added to those he’d been given already.”

“Julian is also free?”

Ned held onto his patience. “Despite everything, I’d have felt a churl if I’d bought my own freedom and left him behind.” He regarded her closely. “You’re quite certain you’re not going to marry him, aren’t you?”

“I believe I made myself quite clear the last time we spoke,” she said stiffly. “I don’t wish to marry either of you.”

“But definitely not Carnforth.”

“I don’t know. I’ve wanted him for so long…” She turned away so he couldn’t see her expression.

His heart felt like lead, and panic erupted in his chest. She was just teasing him, surely?

“I would far rather you marry me,” he said, reaching for her hand.

She didn’t pull away. A good sign? His fingers tightened, as did his chest. Right now, she could destroy him with a single word.

“Is that a command, Lord Stranraer, or an offer?” she asked tartly, turning back to face him again.

“Both,” he replied with a smile because she hadn’t rejected him outright.

She was silent for a long moment. “All I can say is I’ll think about it. You and Julian have given me a lot to mull over.”

“I’d be most grateful if you forgot about him,” he said, attempting not to sound petulant. “I want you to think only of me.”

Her lips curved downward. “Such vanity!”

“Hardly,” he said, looking down at his travel-stained clothes and dusty Hessian boots. He hadn’t even stopped to put on a coat. “If I were vain, I wouldn’t dream of courting you in anything less than my best Parisian silk suit.”

She chuckled. It was the sweetest sound on earth. “I can’t imagine you in anything that fine, Ned. I’ve yet to see your full trappings of grandeur.”

“Next time, I will put on the finery I wear for Court,” he promised, “so I might impress you.”

“Do you hope to win my heart by dressing up?”

“Oh no. I have a good deal more in my arsenal than that.”

Things seemed to be taking a positive turn, and he should push home his advantage. Snaking an arm about her waist, he pulled her to him and pressed his lips to hers.

Oh, the honeyed-peach of her mouth! So sweetly innocent, yet generously giving. How could he ever have enough of this woman?

He slid his tongue over the crease between her lips, then bit down gently on the lower one. To his delight, she shifted against him, pushing closer, and tilted her head to deepen the kiss, opening her mouth and welcoming his questing tongue.

He rolled his head, his fingers caressing her cheek, anchoring themselves in her hair, and kissed her with the hard, heavy hunger which had been brewing in him ever since he’d made love to her in the wheat field. By God, if there were anywhere private nearby, he’d do it again, and again, until he was too exhausted to move.

But he was forgetting himself. He’d not ridden here pell-mell to throw Cassie on her back, however tempting that might be. He’d come here to win her hand.

And, if at all possible, her heart.

He withdrew and kissed her lightly on the forehead before easing himself away.

“Will you marry me, Cassie?”