The Viscount's Rose (The Farthingale Series Book 5) (11 page)

She couldn’t help but nod in agreement because she was still reveling in its afterglow.

However, he wasn’t quite so cheerful now. “But you must be wondering why I chose to kiss you.”

In truth, he’d rendered her senseless and she wasn’t thinking at all. She managed to smile up at him. “No, not at all. I was too busy taking in all these new sensations and liking them very much.”

He ran a hand through his hair again. “Bloody nuisance. When I’m… this isn’t supposed to happen… you’re… and I’m… damn it, I’m a blasted fool.”

“We both got carried away. You needn’t worry that I’ll expect more, much as I do hope for more. As I said, I rather enjoyed it.”

“No, Rose. You can’t. And I can’t.”

She put a hand to his cheek, his earlier tenderness toward her emboldening her. “But we just did.”

He groaned once more and leaned his forehead lightly against hers. “I know. My apologies, but this can’t be happening. Not now.”

“You needn’t worry that you’ve led me on or hurt me.” She ignored the ache to her heart. Although she knew little about men, she’d been warned about their carnal needs. Did a hungry kiss count as carnal? His lips hadn’t felt base or dirty or insincere. Quite the opposite, it felt as though he’d put more of his heart into this kiss than she had. Of course, this was her first time and she didn’t know what she was doing. But he knew.

He wasn’t happy about what he’d done, but didn’t seem regretful.

In truth, he appeared to be at war with himself. If she didn’t know better, she’d think he wanted to kiss her again. But that was impossible. He’d appeased his curiosity and would now return to Countess Deschanel, the true Lorelei, for that sophisticated beauty was experienced in the art of seducing a man and keeping him under her spell.

So why was Lord Emory still standing so close to her?

And why was his gaze on her still smoldering?

JULIAN FORCED HIMSELF
to turn away from the golden-haired innocent with lush, kissable lips and the biggest blue eyes. He needed to regain hold of his senses, which always seemed to careen out of control the moment Rose was near. He knew he had to stay away from her, but it was more easily said than done. “I’m sorry I detained you, Rose. You may go.”

“You didn’t merely detain me,” she said with a soft laugh that trickled over him like warm sunshine. She ought to have been shocked, remorseful, and certainly offended, for he’d not only overstepped the proper bounds, he’d trampled them.

She merely sounded amused.

She set her hand gently on his arm to draw his attention back to her.
Hah!
If only she knew how completely she had him rapt! Not even turning away from her had helped, for his gaze was now on his aunt and uncle sharing a port wine on the balcony, every movement of their aged bodies as they leaned toward each other an indication of the loving devotion each held for the other. “Lord Emory—”

“Julian,” he insisted with a quiet growl, another impulsive mistake on his part. He ought to be drawing away from the girl, not insisting on more intimacy.

She sighed. “Very well… Julian. Isn’t it beautiful the way the earl and his wife get along? They’re so obviously in love with each other. That’s what I wish for myself. I know it is something that you’re not willing to give me, so I’m quite satisfied to treasure the memory of my first kiss and leave it at that. I’m glad it was with you, a man with a good, caring heart toward his family and perhaps a little fondness for me. I’m most flattered, although quite surprised, that I managed to pique your interest in any way.”

He shook his head and sighed. “Rose, do you have any notion how beautiful you are? Not only outwardly, but deep inside where it counts most?”

“You’re flattering me again. I must warn you that I’m quite susceptible to it, especially from you. Perhaps I had better retire before I say something I’ll truly regret.” Her hand slid off his arm. “Good night, Julian.”

He nodded. “I may not see you tomorrow. I’ll probably ride out early.”

She stopped in mid step. “Ride out?

He nodded again. “Yes, back to London.”

“Back to London?” Her eyes rounded in surprise, and other feelings that he couldn’t quite make out seemed to be roiling within her all at once. “You can’t! Not now!”

“Why not?”

“Because… er…” The poor girl suddenly appeared bereft and he began to understand why. Her facade of calm had been just that. No doubt he’d stirred her innocent passion and she didn’t understand the heat and turmoil now bubbling within her. “Er… what about sharing breakfast with your siblings? You can’t disappoint them. It would be cruel.”

What had he done? And how was he to undo the damage?

“They’ll be heartbroken,” she continued, seeming to be desperately groping for reasons to hold him here. In truth, he wanted to stay, but it wasn’t safe to remain so close to her when he hadn’t mastered control over his own feelings yet. “And… and… weren’t you supposed to stay for at least another day? You can’t change your mind now. The little ones will think you broke a promise to them. They might never forgive you.”

He frowned lightly. “My aunt and uncle will explain my absence to them. Nicola and Callum will certainly understand. You needn’t fret. I’ll see you all when you return to London next week.”

Her blue-violet irises were in a turbulent swirl. “Next week will be too late.”

“For what?” He rubbed the nape of his neck, now worried that he’d overstepped quite badly and overset Rose far more than expected. It was all his fault, of course. Damn it, he shouldn’t have kissed her. “I’m quite certain my brothers had enough of me on the carriage ride here. And Emily has you as her new best friend so she won’t miss me in the least. Kendra might, but Nicola will entertain her.”

She still appeared to be groping for reasons to keep him here. Was she in love with him? Deeply and helplessly so? He liked Rose well enough. Indeed, as soon as Valentina gave up that last important name, he and the others of Prinny’s agents would sweep down on that spy ring and toss them all in prison. Perhaps it would all take place this week and he’d be free to court Rose by the time she returned to London.

Merciful heavens!
Had he just considered courting Rose?

All the more reason to leave as soon as possible.

He needed to sort out his feelings for her.
Bloody nuisance.
She was his sister’s best friend. Once he began to court her, assuming he decided to do so, there would be no turning back. It would have to end in marriage, not only because she was Nicola’s best friend but because he knew that once he wooed her in earnest, there was no way he’d keep his hands off the luscious girl.

Or his lips.

Or his tongue.

He cleared his throat. “I hope to have news of importance to convey to you by next week. Rose, I—”

“Oh!” She shoved away from him and ran upstairs, her shapely derriere wiggling delightfully as she hastened up the steps. “No, no, no. Oh, dear!”

He scratched his head as he watched her run off like a scared rabbit. Women considered him handsome and often praised his seductive prowess, but he’d dismissed their claims as silly sexual flirtation.

Had he been wrong all this time?

Was his kiss so sexually potent that it had driven Rose wild and wanton, stirred the chasms of her untapped passion?

If so, it was a delayed reaction. She had seemed perfectly fine after their kiss, but it must have taken time for this new experience to work its way through her delicate system. He’d have to use gentle care when dealing with her the next time they met.

But he puffed out his chest with pride.

He had no idea he was so devastatingly appealing to women.

“Your brother is
a complete and utter idiot,” Rose insisted, bursting into the bedchamber she shared with Nicola and quickly shutting the door behind her.

“Rolf, what’s wrong? What did he do to you?” Nicola put down the night clothes her maid had earlier set out on the counterpane and regarded her with concern. “You’re breathing heavily and your face is flushed. Calm down and tell me what just happened.”

“Disaster, that’s what happened. First he has the gall to kiss me and then he decides to scurry back to London so that he can propose to the wicked witch. Well, if that’s the news of importance he wishes to convey to me next week, I’ll clamp my hands over my ears and refuse to listen.”

“He kissed—”

“The idiot!” she said again and began to pace across their bedchamber. “What else can the news be but that he’s going to marry that dreadful woman? Obviously, we have to come up with another plan to keep him here all week.”

“But—”

“I know! Your uncle will have to feign a bout of… of… something hideous, I just don’t know what, but it has to be something serious enough to keep your brother here and yet not serious enough to have him maintain a constant vigil at your uncle’s bedside or he’ll soon realize your uncle was faking.” She continued to pace across the room. “But what sort of disease? Gout? Dyspepsia? Or some unspecified inflammation that will keep him indisposed for several days.”

Nicola intercepted her and clamped her hands on Rose’s shoulders. “My brother kissed you? When did this momentous event occur?”

Rose nodded. “Just now, but it doesn’t matter when it happened or even that it happened. Haven’t you been listening to me? He’s going to run off and marry Valentina. We have to stop him tonight. But how? I can’t go downstairs and talk to your uncle because Julian will see me and suspect something is amiss. He already suspects us of plotting mischief.”

Nicola eased her grip on Rose’s shoulders. “I’ll knock at their door as soon as I hear them come upstairs. They usually retire after they’re done with their glass of port so it won’t be long now. But you must go downstairs again and keep Julian distracted while we come up with another plan and put it into motion. There’s no way we can allow him to leave tomorrow morning.” She pursed her lips, now also lost in thoughts of their scheme. “Drugging my brother’s wine should be no problem, but how will we do it now?”

“Drugging him? That sounds awful. I don’t know. Think of something else, Nicola.”

“I’m trying my best. Stop pacing, Rolf. You’re distracting me.”

Rose sank onto her bed with a fretful sigh and then snapped her fingers. “I have it! He wouldn’t leave if there was a sudden report of poachers.”

“Brilliant! That’s how we’ll delay him until tomorrow. The footmen will prepare the abandoned hunting lodge right after daybreak to make it look as though these villains are using it as their meeting place, but we’ll definitely need more time. That tumbling wreck is an hour’s hard ride away, longer by carriage, and I doubt the staff can have it cleaned, er… I mean, set up to look like poachers reside there and have all in place before tomorrow afternoon or early evening.”

“But he’ll be gone by then.” Rose tried not to sound as alarmed as she felt. Now that Julian had stormed into her life, she didn’t want him storming out of it, especially not now that he’d kissed her in that magical and perfect way.

Nicola reached over and held up Rose’s nightgown that had been set out on Rose’s bed. It was a sheer, white linen material that clung gently to her curves because she had filled out a little more in her chest and hips in the last few months. “This might work.”

Rose had acquired new bed clothes along with all the new ball gowns, day gowns, and tea gowns that had been designed to her more womanly proportions. Frankly, she hadn’t wanted them, for she was appalled by how much her parents were spending on her debut. Few girls thought of financial matters, but she was determined to start her own decorative pottery and glassware business and was acutely aware of costs. Every pence saved could be applied toward her other four sisters who would make their come-outs over the next few years, and she had no wish to beggar her parents before any of them had their turn. “What might work? I don’t like the way your eyes are gleaming. I won’t do it, whatever it is you’re thinking to have me do.”

“You must or Julian will be lost to us forever. Do you want that to happen?” She didn’t wait for Rose’s response before continuing. “Put this on and get back downstairs. Let one sleeve casually slip over your shoulder while you speak to him.”

Rose rolled her eyes. “You’ve gone mad. I will not go downstairs dressed like that, or rather, undressed like that. And even if I did, what would I say to Julian?”

Nicola patted her on the shoulder. “It is obvious that you are rarely around virile young men or you would never ask such a question. If you approach him dressed like that, he won’t be listening to a thing you say. He’ll be too busy wondering what your body looks like under this flimsy gown and how fast he’ll descend into hell if he attempts to slip it off you to find out.” She shot Rose a smug smile. “The point is, he’ll stay another day or two—”

“Your brother is too honorable. He’ll flee immediately rather than stay and risk ruining my reputation.”

Nicola rolled her eyes. “Men are so predictable in that regard. My brother is no exception. He won’t leave. You must trust me on this, Rolf. He kissed you. That is of earth-shaking significance. Please, you can’t let that horrid countess win.”