Desperately Seeking Suzanna (27 page)

Her eyes closed as she began climbing toward a release unlike anything she’d experienced before in his arms. His hands tightened on her as the speed of the moment increased.
More, more
, her body chanted until she cried out, her eyes opening to see Holden as she spiraled out of control and came to land back in his bed. His body flexed above hers as he drove into her one last time.

He withdrew from her and reached up to untie her hands from the bedpost before collapsing beside her. She shook the binding from her wrists and curled into his side, laying her head on his chest as she traced the lines of his muscles with her fingernails. Finally she was free to touch him. He wrapped his arms around her, rubbing her back in gentle strokes.

After a few minutes of silence she asked, “Holden, will you really take me to Paris?”

“We can leave first thing in the morning. Well, perhaps not first thing. That sounds rather early for the evening we have ahead of us.”

“More? But it’s still afternoon.”

He lifted his head. “Are you complaining of my attention?”

“Never. I want to spend all of my evenings this way, wrapped in your arms.”

“Sue?” He pulled her onto his chest so they could see one another. His brows were drawn into a deep vee with concern. “I have to confess, I do have one last secret.”

Her heart pounded. She almost didn’t want to know—almost. “What is it?”

He brushed the fallen hair from her face. She could read the tension in his eyes, the fear. “I love you.” He took a breath, his gaze softening on her. “I’ve loved you since the night you kicked me in the nose, and I will love you until the end of my days.”

He loved her? Her eyes burned as she sniffed away tears and smiled down at him. “In the vein of honesty between us, I have a similar secret. I love you, Holden.”

He sighed in relief and smiled up at her, pulling her closer in the process.

She placed a hand over his heart to feel it hammering beneath her palm. “No more secrets. I don’t want any untruth to come between us again.”

“My lady, I don’t want anything between us at all.” With that, he rolled with her across the bed and proceeded to show her exactly what he had planned for the remainder of that evening and every evening following until the end of time.

Enjoy a sneak peek at Elizabeth Michels’s next Regency romp

How to Lose a Lord in 10 Days or Less

Andrew had never seen anyone so visibly uncomfortable in a dress. He smiled up at her as he helped her down from the open carriage. Although he didn’t want her to be in such discomfort, in some dark corner of his mind, he was happy to not be alone in his distress. He sat her down on the ground and retrieved her walking stick before turning back to her with a grin.

“What’s so amusing? It’s my gown, isn’t it?” She pulled at the lace trimmed neck and tugged on the skirt where it fell over her hip. “I look ridiculous. I knew I would.”

“Katie.” He stilled her hands within his own. “You’re beautiful.” The statement seemed to shock her as much as it did him, yet it was true. She was radiant in the light green gown. Her pale eyes shown in the fading light of the afternoon. Her hair was even half bound, with only a few fiery curls falling over one shoulder. He left his hands covering hers for one second longer than was appropriate before pulling back to offer her escort into Thornwood Manor.

“Beautiful in this? Not likely,” she muttered, laying a hand on his arm.

“I assure you it is quite likely.” He nodded toward the front door where a butler awaited their entry. “Let’s be done with this evening, shall we?” He sighed as he looked up at the dark stone structure looming over them in overbearing arrogance, just as its owner was prone to do.

She leaned close to him to whisper, “I believe you are as thrilled about this evening as I am about wearing a blasted gown.”

He quirked a brow at her. “Do you know you are the only lady of my acquaintance who doesn’t enjoy getting dressed?”

“You make it seem as if I go about naked.” She crinkled her nose, making her freckles dance.

“You might as well. Those breeches don’t hide anything at all.”

“Really?” She slowed her pace. “I hadn’t noticed. Perhaps I should wear skirts.”

“No!” He cleared his throat and turned his attention back to the butler awaiting them at the door. “I wouldn’t want you to change into clothing that doesn’t suit you.”

“Gowns, weighty jewels, and itchy laces don’t suit me, that much is true.”

Andrew glanced down at her bare neck. She wasn’t wearing any jewelry except for the small ovals of black jet on each ear. She was so different.

His mother had come close to sending his father to debtor’s prison with her taste for finery when he was a boy. Her greed had forced Andrew into his role as a horse breeder at age ten, all to pay for her shopping habits. The strain of it had killed his father, months too soon to see Andrew’s ideas and hard work see the first hint of success. Even if his father hadn’t passed away in debtor’s prison, his mother had ended his life and ripped him from Andrew’s in the process.

It was rather refreshing to find a lady who didn’t desire to spend all her money on frivolous matters.

His eyes narrowed on her. Katie must have different interests on which to spend all her father’s funds. Her cottage was full to the rafters with such things after all. But…surely her paints, books, and musical instruments didn’t cost that much. Having interests wasn’t such a crime.

He led her into Thornwood Manor. The butler left after taking their hats and such and went in search of their hosts for the evening. Andrew turned back to Katie. No matter how much he discovered about her, he still wanted to know more. He ran a hand through his hair, pushing it back from his face.

Everything in life should sort easily into categories to be filed away in an orderly fashion. Katie was a lady, but she defied every rule of the female persuasion and refused to be filed away anywhere. Therefore she remained sitting on the desk in his mind, unfiled, uncategorized. This was what he’d decided last night when he lay awake, at any rate. It would explain why he kept thinking of her—she was unfinished work, a project from the day left to complete.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I wasn’t aware I was looking at you in any particular fashion.”

“You’re scowling.”

“Was I?”

“Indeed.”

“It must be the atmosphere here,” he grumbled, pulling his gaze from her.

“I’ve always thought of Thornwood Manor as misunderstood.” She smiled as she trailed a finger over the carving on the dark wood staircase leading to the upper floors. “It seems a dreary place, but there’s an understated pleasantness.”

“Quite understated,” he muttered as he glanced around at the portraits of angry-looking Thornwood ancestors lining the walls.

Moving farther into the main hall, he was squinting up at the heavy timbered ceiling when he heard laughter coming from a room down the hall as a door was thrown open. Lillian Phillips—or Her Grace now, he supposed—came to greet them. She didn’t look like he remembered her, yet he knew her all the same. Her hair wasn’t bound so tight as to look painful anymore. She had an ease to her smile now that she hadn’t possessed before. Could she be happy with Thornwood? He must have greatly misjudged her a year ago if that were true. He shook his head and offered her a nod.

“Lord Amberstall, we were so pleased to hear you were in the neighborhood,” she greeted as she moved closer.

The last time he’d seen her had been the day of the blasted exhibition. She’d been under consideration for his wife. To the victor go the spoils, it seemed. It was just as well; he had no true desire to wed beyond duty to his title, and there was no rush on that score.

“Your Grace.” Andrew bowed over her hand.

“Do come in.” With a smile, she motioned to an open door behind her. “Everyone has gathered in the parlor.”

“What wonderful news,” he muttered, as Katie wound her hand further around his arm and gave it a slight squeeze.

***

This had been a terrible idea. Andy moved beside her like one of the tiny soldiers her brothers played with when they were children—made of wood with a painted-on smile. Thornwood would most likely be equally uncomfortable, and his poor guests, Lord and Lady Steelings, would have to witness the entire event. Worst of all, the damned lace trim on her dress was itchy. She wiggled in an attempt to not touch her skin to it, which was completely hopeless as it lined the neck and capped the short sleeves.

“Katie? Katie Moore?” a lady asked as she crossed the room.

Did they know one another? She had brown hair and was not beautiful in the typical sense of the word, but lovely in a different sort of way. Katie couldn’t place her, yet she knew she’d seen the small lady before.

“We met in London at a garden party,” she supplied with a smile. “Sue Green, although I became Lady Steelings not too long after that day. You can call me Sue, though.”

“Oh, yes! You assisted me back into my dress.”

“Why were you out of your dress? Or perhaps I shouldn’t even ask,” Andy said.

“It was hot,” she explained with a shrug. She glanced between Andy and Sue for a second. Was she supposed to offer introductions? Details like this always left her feeling befuddled. She’d had only the most basic of training in society, but as it didn’t interest her terribly she’d promptly forgotten every word of it as she rode away from London. Was Andy supposed to do the introductions because he was a man? Perhaps it was Sue as she was the highest ranking lady in the conversation…“You do know one another, don’t you?” she finally blurted out.

Sue smiled and dipped in a slight curtsy. “Lord Amberstall, we were surprised to hear you were in the neighborhood.”

“It certainly wasn’t a planned stop on my journey, but Miss Moore has been a perfect hostess.”

“Have I?” She raised an eyebrow in his direction. He complained a great deal for someone who thought her perfect in any regard.

His smile turned genuine for a second before he glanced across the room and it slipped from his face. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to go greet our host. Lady Steelings,” he offered with a nod.

“It’s Sue. I said that only a moment ago, didn’t I? I’ve never understood why we can’t speak more openly among friends. It is true I’ve always been a proponent of chatter, some even think I speak too much, but I’ve always thought…” She continued to talk about talking, but Katie’s thoughts were with the gentleman who had just left her side.

Katie watched Andy go. He would either make amends with Thornwood or the rug in this parlor could forever be stained with their blood—only time would tell.

“He seems well,” Sue mused, gaining Katie’s attention once more.

“Do you think so?” She glanced back toward Andy in concern. “He looks rather pale to me.”

“So does Thornwood,” she whispered.

Katie smiled at her. “I suppose you’re right.”

“I’m so pleased to see you again. I knew when I met you, we could be friends. I told my husband that very day; well, he wasn’t my husband at the time, but he is now…”

Katie looked past Sue to where the men were gathered near the fireplace. Thornwood did look a bit pale this evening. She wished she could read lips and know what was being said. She would have to work on that. Surely she could teach herself to read lips just as she taught herself to throw pots, play most musical instruments, and paint murals. Of course, once they went into the dining room she wouldn’t be as far from Andy and would be able to hear what was said between the two men.

When she saw Lily return to the room, Katie grabbed her chance. “I’m famished! Aren’t you simply starved?” Katie pronounced rather loudly to Sue, causing all conversation in the room to cease for a second as everyone turned to stare.

“I couldn’t agree more,” Thornwood chimed in. “Enough of these dreadful pleasantries. Let’s move to the dining room.”

Lily covered her surprise at the abrupt change with a small nod. “Yes, I believe everything is ready. Only, have you seen…”

“Without me? Thornwood dear, where are your manners?” The dowager duchess swept into the room, scowling at her son.

“My manners became hungry while you took an hour to repair your hair…and it still looks the same to me. Lily, has my mother’s hair changed from this afternoon? Not a single strand has moved.”

Lily shot her husband a narrow-eyed glare in response while the dowager duchess turned her back on her son to greet their newest guest. “Lord Amberstall, how lovely it is to see you again. Your mother will be ever so envious that I was able to dine with you this evening.”

“Your Grace.” He bowed over her hand. “The invitation was very kind of you.”

“Now, may we dine?” Thornwood asked, clearly annoyed at the delay.

“Certainly, dear. Lead the way,” the older woman offered with a wave of her arm.

Andy fell into step behind Steelings and Sue. Katie stood watching the commotion for a moment before noticing Andy had his arm extended to escort her.

“I can walk to the dining room. I do have my walking stick and it’s not that far,” Katie complained.

“I meant no offense to your abilities,” he leaned close to whisper. “I’m supposed to escort you to the dining room.”

“Why?”

“Because that is the way of things. It’s what you do.”

“Perhaps it’s what
you
do,” she mumbled under her breath.

“Along with the rest of gently bred society.” He wrapped his fingers around hers and placed them on his arm.

“It seems silly when I can find the dining room just fine on my own. I
have
been there before, you know.”

“Then you can assist me.” He grinned down at her and gave her hand a brief pat.

With a roll of her eyes, she began moving down the hallway after the others. Seeing that it was pointless to carry it, she left her walking stick leaning against a door frame in the hall and wound her other hand around Andy’s arm as well.

“You’re practically hanging on my arm, you know. I thought you could walk on your own.”

“I thought you were strong, but here you are complaining of a lady’s weight on your arm,” she retorted.

“I’m not complaining.” He looked down at both of her hands before sliding his eyes back up to her face in a way that made her blush. “It just isn’t proper.”

She tightened her hands on him, drawing him closer to her side as they walked toward the dining room door. “I’m not proper.”

“I’ve noticed,” his deep voice rumbled near her ear.

She glanced up, expecting to see a scowl on his face, but was met with a warm grin that lit his golden eyes. Her breath caught in her throat and she wasn’t sure why. She stopped for a moment in the doorway to the dining room, unable to look away from his gaze. The rest of their party moved ahead and were reaching their seats when she finally unwound her hands from his arm and fled to the other side of the table.

What sort of spell was he casting on her with his heated looks and teasing grins? She found her seat next to Sue and flopped into it with her pulse still racing. She studied her empty plate for a few minutes, not trusting what she would find in Andy’s eyes if she looked up.

“Lord Amberstall, did I hear rightly that you’ve been in Scotland all this time?” the dowager duchess asked from farther down the table.

“Yes, Your Grace. Steelings was kind enough to lend me his cottage there.”

“You’ve been living in a cottage? Really, Amberstall.” The dismay written on the dowager duchess’ face was akin to discovering he’d been living with a family of wild jungle cats.

“What’s so terrible about living in a cottage?” Katie asked as she attempted to adjust her gown so that the lace didn’t touch her as she leaned forward in her seat.

The dowager duchess sent her a stern look over the rim of her wine glass. “You know my thoughts on that matter, dear.”

“Perhaps the word
cottage
is deceiving in this case. Steelings has a livable home with two servants there.” Andy sent a knowing glance at Katie from across the table.

Her soup spoon clattered to the table. She usually had such nimble fingers. What was wrong with her this evening? She shook her head and retrieved her spoon before anyone could comment on her clumsiness.

“Oh, perhaps we should visit, while we’re traveling,” Sue suggested from Katie’s side. “I would like to see my husband’s lands. And I’ve never been to Scotland.”