Page 86 of Unmasking the Earl

Control yourself, Ned.

He must go slowly, as planned, or risk ruining everything.

She looked puzzled. He noticed there was a beauty spot glued to one cheek, and another tantalizingly placed on the curve of one breast.

“Did I? What idea was that?” Cassie asked.

She must have added the patches herself, to make her costume more authentic. He would never have thought of it. But they were perfect.

“Hmm?”

Especially the one on—

“You said I gave you an idea?”

He tore his eyes away from the steady rise and fall of that tempting patch. “You recommended Georgiana try the fashions of the last century. Powdered wig, slanting hat, and what have you. A masked ball was the ideal opportunity to bring her back into Society.”

“She’s here?” Cassie asked distractedly.

How he loved the way her eyes shone with wonder. Like a young girl, but still very much a woman.

A woman he wanted very badly.

His voice sounded a bit hoarse when he answered, “She is.”

“How splendid. What is she wearing— Oh!” Her eyes widened. “It was you who asked Paxton to throw a masked ball, so she wouldn’t have to reveal her scars. How clever of you.”

He relished the note of admiration in her voice. “Her costume is the twin of yours, only in silver,” he said. “I thought yours should match your hair.”

Ah yes, that was an expression he liked to see—warmth, gratitude, a bosom heaving with emotion.

“You sent the costumes?”

It seemed he had played his hand well. So far.

“I did.” But he hadn’t come here to talk about ball gowns. “Forget the costumes. I want to—”

She stepped closer to him, an indefinable expression in her eyes. “Stop talking, please.”

“But I have a good deal more to say.”

“You always do. But first, let me thank you.”

She went up on tiptoe, laid a hand on his chest, and brushed her lips lightly across his.

So, that was how it felt to be hit by a lightning bolt.

In a pleasurable way.

If only he could keep his unruly body under control until he had done what he needed to do and said what needed to be said.

He lifted both her hands and kissed them. He daren’t allow himself to do more.

“Cassie, Georgiana has taken a great liking to you.”

“And I to her.”

Ned swallowed and took a deep breath. “I have taken a great liking to you, too. More than that, in fact…”