Page 34 of Miss Kimble Bites Back

When he lifted his head, Gabby was rather pink in the face, but she did not chide him for taking liberties. In fact, she was watching him rather closely now, but then her gaze widened and flew to the far side of the room, where her guardian stood.

“They are a little distracted right now.” Sebastian cleared his throat. “Could I tempt you to something else, Miss Kimble?”

She gasped; her face turning a brighter shade of pink.

“Tea but in the library,” he suggested with a smile. “I hear you are a great reader.”

“From whom?”

“Lady Windermere mentioned your fondness for the written word. I’m surprised I never heard you speak of it before.”

“It is not wise to mention intelligence when hoping for a husband,” Gabby admitted sheepishly.

“That depends on whom you tell,” he answered with a wider smile. He faced the pair across the room. “Mr. Kimble, Cordelia. I’ve promised to show Miss Kimble our library. We will be just over there taking tea instead.”

Kimble nodded. “We’ll join you in a moment.”

Cordelia agreed.

Together, Gabby and Sebastian slipped from the room.

He leaned down. “I think we could have slipped away without even telling them and not be noticed.”

“I think you may be right,” Gabby agreed, glancing over her shoulder. “I’ve never known Bennett to be so smitten by a lady before.”

“They have history,” Sebastian warned. “History I knew nothing about, I might add.”

“He was here for her season,” Gabby whispered back.

“What else did he say about her?”

“Nothing. He said nothing at all. That’s why it’s so obvious they were involved somehow once.”

Sebastian grunted. “As much as I respect your guardian, I don’t believe my father would have approved of the connection then. The expectations for my sister’s season were unreasonably high.”

Gabby turned on him suddenly. “Would you have approved of him if it had been your decision?”

“I learned young to stay out of the way of my older sisters’. I would not have stood in their way then,” he promised, placing his hand. “Cordelia has free choice in all things now, I assure you.”

Gabby grinned. “You’re a romantic at heart.”

He drew closer to Gabby. “I know it is unusual among the ton, but I have always believed in love before money or titles when choosing a spouse.”

She was so close, and he reached out and allowed his hand to skim her hip and then caress up to her waist and back again. Gabby’s eyes widened, but she kept her gaze on him. Her stare was direct, but not afraid.

Sebastian moved one step closer to give her derriere a gentle squeeze. Gabby jolted, but she never looked away from him once. In her eyes now was a glimpse of excitement and newly awakened desire. He caressed her bottom a little more, and her lips parted with a soft moan.

He withdrew his hand quickly as Kimble and Cordelia swept into the room.

When Gabby stated outright that she’d given up her pursuit of Brookes, she’d find herself on the receiving end of a much more ardent pursuit from him. But she had not yet. He would wait until her feelings about his rival were expressed more clearly.

He turned his attention to Kimble and Cordelia. They made a handsome pair, but he would not involve himself in their affair—if such a thing was even the case. Cordelia had never taken well to impertinent questions from her younger brother. And Kimble, well he was turning out to be full of surprises, but he was a man who seemed to keep secrets well.

Cordelia announced she’d ring for tea and turned away, Kimble following her like a string joined them together.

He smiled to himself as hope stirred in his heart for a brighter future for his older sister, too. She deserved all the happiness the world had to offer.

Then Sebastian jolted as his bottom was pinched.