“Yes,” Michelle answered. “Mother, what are you thinking?”
“A very good friend of the earl’s, as well,” her mother said.
Michelle stifled a sigh. “Mother?”
“Lord Leed must be very respectable if he consorts with the likes of the Earl of Kanewood.”
“Yes, he’s respectable. Why?”
“Well, dear, I know how important your opinions are to you—”
“Pray, don’t start, Mother.” Michelle rose, her hands on her hips. “If Lord Leed is put off by my having a mind of my own, then perhaps—”
Their butler stood in the entrance to the room and cleared his throat.
“Yes?” Lady Helen asked.
“Viscount Leed for Lady Michelle, My Lady.”
Michelle flushed. Had Paul heard her raise her voice?
Lady Helen came to her feet and threw her daughter a warning glance before turning to the butler. “Show him in, please.”
Michelle sighed in frustration and stood by the mantle, her hands clasped in what she hoped was a demure pose.
Paul entered the room, his eyes immediately settling on Michelle. He bowed deeply, first to Lady Helen and then to her and the ladies curtsied in return.
“Good morning, ladies,” he said with a wide smile.
Michelle just stared. He appeared so affable, so at ease. Could this be the same gentleman who bristled whenever they spoke? The man who only had cold glances for her? Well, except for last night, when he had hot kisses…
“Would you like some tea, Lord Leed?” Lady Helen offered.
“Tea would be lovely,” he said. “Thank you, Lady Helen.”
The woman stood and left the room, an obvious pretense, and they both watched her go. Paul’s gaze returned to Michelle, roaming over her from head to toe.
“You look ravishing, Lady Michelle.” He flashed another dazzling smile in her direction, the dimple showing in his cheek.
She blinked at him in amazement. “What a beautiful smile,” she said before she could stop herself.
He laughed. “You seem surprised.”
“Seeing as you have never favored me with one of your smiles, Lord Leed, I am indeed surprised.”
He grinned wickedly at her. “Ah, but only last evening, when we—”
Her gasp stopped him in mid-sentence. She saw the twinkle in his eye then, and knew what he was about. Well, she could give back in fair measure.
“It is my recollection that you did quite a bit of scowling last evening,” she offered. “Perhaps if you’d smiled then, I’d have been more receptive.”
“Not likely,” he said. “If you’d been any more receptive, we’d be having a very different conversation right now.”
She saw he was teasing and rose to the occasion. “It seems to me—”
“Here’s the tea,” Lady Helen said, breezing into the room.
Paul took his cup, his eyes never leaving Michelle’s. She read the amusement in his eyes and thrust her chin in the air. But she couldn’t hide her own smile.
They finished their tea and Paul suggested they take a ride together.
“It’s a beautiful day, Lady Michelle,” he said. “I have my curricle this morning.”
“Where shall we go, Lord Leed?” Michelle asked.
“Through Hyde Park,” he said. “And then perhaps we could take lunch?”
“Ooh, Hyde Park!” Lady Helen said. “And on such a lovely day. Most of the
ton
should be out, I daresay.”
Lady Helen wished them a pleasant morning and watched as Paul escorted Michelle from the townhouse. “Michelle,” she called. “A moment?”
Paul nodded and stepped out onto the walk.
“What is it, Mother?” Michelle asked.
“Hyde Park, Michelle! Most of the
ton
will surely see you with Lord Leed!”
“And?”
“Please remember to keep your mouth closed.”
Michelle snorted and left to join Paul on the walk.
* * * *
With a flick of the reins, Paul pulled the carriage away from the curb. While he maneuvered the carriage through traffic, he returned to their earlier conversation. He’d seen the sparkle in her eyes and had braced himself for her comment. He was curious to hear the rest of that comment now.
As he’d waited in the foyer for the servant’s return he’d caught the sound of her voice, raised in what he assumed was a fit of pique. His mouth curved in a half-smile. He’d been the recipient of her ire more than once, and remembered how her beautiful eyes flashed their golden fire. Lord, she pleased him.
“You were saying something earlier, Lady Michelle,” he began. “Perhaps you can recall it.”
“Oh, I have perfect recall, Lord Leed.” She smiled sweetly. “I was merely going to state that Lord Roberts favored me with his smiles last evening, and that perhaps if he’d been the one to drive me home…”
Jealousy bit into his gut and he threw her a glance. She peered back at him from beneath a ridiculous straw bonnet, its wide green ribbon tied beneath her chin in a saucy bow. He saw she was baiting him, her eyes sparkling and her lips curved in a soft smile, and shook his head at her.
They rode down Rotten Row in Hyde Park, the most preferred track. He recognized many out and about today. Talk of his squiring Lady Michelle Thomas would be all over Town before lunchtime. Well, he’d decided to pursue her and nothing was going to stand in his way. If only his accounts weren’t so troubling. He shook his head. He simply wouldn’t think about it today.
“Are you getting hungry, Lady Michelle?”
“I could eat a bit of something.”
He turned off the park and pulled the carriage to a stop in front of shop that sold meats and cheeses. Leaving her in the carriage, he went inside and purchased some cold roast beef and hard cheese. He handed her the package when he returned and she looked at him in question.
“A picnic, Lady Michelle,” he said. “I trust that would be agreeable to you?”
“Oh, yes,” she answered. “That would be lovely.”
He made one more stop on the way, buying some fresh bread at the bakery. A crock of ice-cold cider finished their meal, brought from his kitchen and tucked beneath the seat. He turned off the main thoroughfare and headed out once more to the area surrounding Hyde Park. By now most of the riders were at their clubs or making calls.
He slowed the carriage to a stop in a secluded area of the park. The trees grew thick here, well away from Rotten Row and the Ladies’ Mile. He alighted and walked around to Michelle’s side. He held out his hand and helped her down.
He reached into the back of the carriage and withdrew their picnic lunch. “Perhaps, Lady Michelle, you can regale me with more stories of men’s smiles and your interesting reaction to them.”
Michelle opened her mouth to respond. Instead she smiled at him and held her tongue, a first in his memory. She took the packages of food from him and waited while he retrieved a thick blanket from the carriage.
“You came prepared, Lord Leed?”
He tucked the blanket under his arm and grabbed the jug of cider. “For any circumstance.” Waving a hand to her, he urged her to take the lead. She bowed her head and started down the winding path ahead of him.
The leaves were thick on the trees, casting dappled shade on the path. The twittering of birds added to the secluded atmosphere.
“I daresay there isn’t a more pleasant spot in Town,” Michelle said.
“It’s not only pleasant this day, Lady Michelle,” he said. “With you here, it’s also beautiful.”
She dipped her head and he caught a tinge of rose on her smooth cheeks.
A felled tree lay near the side of the path, showing a small clearing beyond.
“Why don’t we picnic here?” he asked.
She nodded and came to a stop. Paul set the jug of cider down and spread the blanket on the ground, then took the food from her and bade her to sit. She did so, folding her legs under her. He sat down beside her, crossing his long legs.
Michelle removed her bonnet and ran her fingers absently through the curls at the nape of her neck. Paul watched the unconsciously provocative motion.
“Have you enjoyed our outing thus far?” he asked.
“Oh, yes.”
She unwrapped the food and gave him a hearty portion before serving herself. He watched her as he took a bite of cheese, seeing she gave quite a bit of attention to the piece of bread in her hand. For the first time since he’d known her she seemed ill-at-ease. About time she knew what he felt like when she was near.
“Are you going to the parties tonight, Lady Michelle?”
“I suppose I must.”
He arched a brow. “I presumed you enjoyed the bashes.”
“I do,” she said quickly. “It’s just that… Oh, never mind.”
He hid his grin. “Pray, tell me what has you so flustered.”
Her eyes flashed at him. “I am not flustered. If you must know, I find the affairs altogether boring.”
Paul liked the flicker he now saw in her eyes, and thought to make it burn brighter. “Ah, but I would think a lady such as yourself—”
“Such as myself?” Michelle sat up straight. “And how would you classify a lady such as myself?”
He began to pack up the food. “Oh, as one out of her second Season and getting a bit, um… desperate.”
“Desperate!?” She came to her feet. “Why of all of the conceited, self-absorbed dandies I have ever had the misfortune to meet—”
“Dandies?” he asked, standing up to tower over her. “You think me a dandy?”
She held her chin high, meeting his glare. He was unable to resist the challenge. He grabbed her by her arms, his eyes running over her.
She bristled under such close scrutiny and stiffened. “Lord Leed, unhand me this instant!”
He shook his head. “I like the fire in your eyes, Michelle. It rivals your hair in its beauty.”
“Oh…” Michelle ceased her struggles, her gaze going soft. He happily surrendered his own control as he lowered his head to hers. Whispering her name, he took what she offered as she tilted her face up to meet him. He captured her lips in a searing kiss, bending her back as he wrapped his arms around her. This kiss was hotter than the one they’d shared in the carriage last night and he could feel her body pressed fully against his. When she touched her tongue to his, he moaned softly. He laid her gently down on the blanket. Breathing deeply of her unique flowery scent, he nuzzled the silky skin on the side of her neck as he tunneled his fingers through her curls. He tongued her ear and she gasped.
“Oh, Paul,” she breathed.
She ran her hands over his back, her nails gently raking him through his clothes. He brought his lips to hers once more, nibbling on them to taste all of their sweetness. “Ah, Michelle,” he rasped. “You set me on fire.”
He knelt beside her and shrugged out of his coat, flinging it aside as he worked his cravat loose. Her gaze seared him as she watched. He sharply drew in a breath and bent his head to hers once more.
He kissed her as he ran his hands over her, molding them to her delectable curves. He managed to unfasten the tiny buttons in the front of her gown, and caressed her breasts through her thin chemise. She seemed to swell beneath his touch as he ran his lips over her neck, her breasts.
“Your skin is so soft, love,” he whispered, his breath hot on her skin. “I have to taste you…”
He opened the flimsy barrier of her chemise and flicked his tongue over her nipple, earning another gasp of pleasure from her lips. He took the nipple into his mouth and she arched up toward him. She was sweeter than he’d imagined as her flesh responded to him. She held him close as his hand slowly slid up under her skirts. He caressed her bottom through her thin drawers and could feel her moist heat on his fingers. Swallowing a groan, he removed the drawers and ran his hands over the smoothness of her thighs, her bottom. He neared her center, nothing between his fingers and her flesh now, and began to stroke her. Suddenly she froze beneath him.
“Paul, no,” she breathed, shaking her head. “We mustn’t.”
He pulled back to unbutton his breeches, his control quickly vanishing. He could smell her heat, had felt her flesh grasp his fingers, and wanted to drive into her.
“No, Paul.” She braced her hands on his shoulders. “Please!”
Her voice reached him at last and he stilled. She closed her eyes and turned from him, her lashes wet. He looked down at himself, throbbing beneath the loosened buttons of his breeches, and swore softly. What had he done? He fastened his breeches and held her close. “I’m sorry, love.”
Paul held her until she stopped shaking, willing his passion to cool. How could he have let his lust flare so out of control? He dropped kisses on her hair, soothing her with sweet words as she trembled in his arms. He was a rakehell of the first order.
After a minute passed, he helped her rearrange herself and brought her to her feet. She pinned up her hair and donned her bonnet, keeping her back to him. He read her shame in her bowed head, her slumped shoulders, and felt like hell.
Paul helped her into the carriage and climbed up beside her, taking the reins. There was no engaging conversation on the ride back toward Town, no witty repartee or shared smiles.
When they arrived at her mother’s townhouse she began to step down without his aid. His hand on her arm stilled her and she slowly brought her eyes up to his. The hurt in them cut him to the quick.
“Please forgive me, Michelle.”
She shook her head. “There’s nothing to forgive, Paul. It’s all my fault.”
Before he could respond she alighted the carriage and hurried up the front steps. Without a backward glance, she entered the house and shut the door. Her fault?
With a grunt of frustration, he urged the horses home.
Chapter 5
Michelle entered the house to find her mother waiting for her.
“Michelle! Did you have a pleasant time with Lord Leed?”
“Yes,” Michelle whispered.
“What happened, dear?” Her mother narrowed her eyes. “You didn’t argue, did you?”
Michelle wouldn’t respond to her mother’s goading, not today. She simply shook her head and climbed the stairs to her room. Removing her bonnet, she trailed her fingers over her tangled hair. What had she been thinking? And what must Paul think of her now? She’d seen his scowl as she’d pushed him away. Surely he was disgusted with her. And why not?