Undone by His Kiss (8 page)

Her mother’s distressed tone justified Emily’s fear of uttering the wrong consolation, scared she could drive her mother further into maudlin depression, full of the distorted memories that caused her upset. The truth was best left alone until her mother’s thoughts were more coherent; for when this malaise and conflicted emotion passed. Though as weeks turned to months misgiving dimmed her optimism. Sometimes Emily couldn’t find any rationality in her mother’s perseveration. “Time helps, and having new experiences. Leaving the house for a short walk could be enjoyable. It’s still early and the weather seems pleasant.”

“No. I can’t leave the house.” Her mother pulled from her embrace and scooted forward on the window seat, as if to secure she couldn’t be removed.

“Of course you can.” Emily dared a soft chuckle hoping to ease her mother’s agitation even though at the root of her mother’s confusion was the belief she’d somehow see her love again. Emily didn’t dare suggest that day would never come. “I’ll be with you every step of the way.” She offered her mother’s hand an encouraging squeeze.

“That doesn’t matter.” Squaring her shoulders, Bianca snatched her hands free. “Stop. You don’t understand and you never will.”

Like a swift blow to the stomach, Emily caught her breath, aware once again she hadn’t handled her mother’s melancholy properly. She’d wished to console and had angered instead. “No, I’m sure I don’t. I’m so sorry.”

Whispered in resignation, she stepped away, each stride taking her closer to the door and away from a battle she couldn’t win. She hurried to the stairwell, grabbed her pelisse from the drawing room and dashed out the door. Fresh air, distance, anything to wipe away the remembrance of her father and her mother’s misplaced wretchedness would be welcomed. There was a time when she wouldn’t leave the house, scared and consumed with worry for her mother’s harsh words. As years passed, things had changed. Emily had hardened her heart and hired a trustworthy housekeeper, allowing Emily a bit of freedom and perhaps, sanity too.

Now she couldn’t walk fast enough, her mind a jumble of memories, her slippers carrying her farther and farther from the town house. Only when she entered the bustling center of London did she slow, allowing the city noise to swallow her up and suffocate the pain inside.

Out of breath and tears, she glanced toward the corner surprised she’d walked so far, all the while lost in the heart-wrenching disparity of her mother’s beliefs and the truth Emily kept hidden. She met the eye of a passing shopper, aware she must look a fright without a bonnet or gloves, her cheeks tear-stained. With forced composure, she swept a palm over her hair to smooth the loose strands then continued at a modest pace toward Bond Street. The sight of the office, her victory and glimmer of hope, the one place she could replenish her soul and find peace for a few minutes, buoyed her spirits.

The league didn’t meet on Thursday and focused on respite, she spared not a glance to the lower office. Confident she’d found privacy, she crossed the street and approached the welcoming door. Emotion still had a strong hold and her hand trembled as she sought the key in her reticule. In her hurry, she dropped it, her eyes chasing the key as it bounced against the cobbles before she stooped to pick it up. Again she moved to insert the key, but an arm reached from behind, a brown glove placed over her bare hand. A beat of panic squeezed her heart. She startled, anxious until a familiar voice near her ear reminded Jasper St. David occupied the office downstairs. He was the last company she wished for now. She looked wretched and her emotions were scattered.

Surrendering the key to his grasp, as there was no use in objecting, she twisted and glanced over her shoulder, at once aware he stood inches from her back, a mere step and she would be flush against him, caught in his arms.

“Miss Shaw. What a pleasant surprise during a rather dismal day.” He flicked a glance in her direction then turned the key and opened the lock.

With an awkward step, she avoided his broad chest, careful her skirts didn’t trail against his legs.

“You’re having a poor day too?” She strove to hide the tremor in her voice but didn’t succeed.

“Let’s label it as wearisome and leave it at that. It’s rather early to be out and about. Is there a meeting this morning?”

He extended his arm so she could pass through the door and into the small square foyer before the stairs led upward. Sunlight permeated the space otherwise it would be unusually dark within.

“Not today. The League of Virtuous Equality meets on Tuesday and Friday.” She started to climb, careful to go slowly; casting an occasional glance toward Jasper so were he to follow, his boots would not step on her hems.

He followed, seemingly aware of the same concern for he focused intently on her skirts.

“And what exactly does the league discuss at these meetings?”

He asked the question with intelligent curiosity and none of the usual skepticism or mockery that accompanied inquiries from less enlightened people.

“My hope is to bring women together and empower them to succeed in the same manner as gentlemen. Males rule society, yet there is so much more females can offer if allowed. Women should be permitted to live and act independently without being labeled a spinster or bluestocking. We are equally as intelligent and resourceful.”

They’d reached the top of the stairs and she opened the secondary door and walked inside. If anything Jasper had distracted her from the tormented emotions of the morning, and she found she enjoyed their conversation. Clever, how he’d managed to fill a little of the empty feeling she always carried within.

“I see.”

She wondered if he truly agreed, but then he continued.

“All visions of beheadings and tribal dancing have been cleansed from my brain.”

She giggled despite herself.

Jasper smiled and began to move about the office. “Equality is all right and good, but people need one another at times. No one is completely independent.”

“I’m not sure I understand.”

“Shall I remind you of our waltz, Miss Shaw? And by the way, are you hiding a hideous moniker or do you feel uncomfortable with me addressing you by your given name? I rather thought we were becoming friends.”

He punctuated his little speech with another smile that distracted her more than anything else. Did he really need to look so dashing? His eyes spoke volumes of emotion and his carefree congeniality was contagious, no matter she had little intention of knowing him better. And those long lashes…

Unsettled, she pushed for more sensible conversation. “You mention our waltz, and in that you’re correct, but you’d be hard pressed to supply another instance when a woman couldn’t succeed in a task without the assistance of a man.” She watched as he removed his gloves and placed them on the table beside the vase of fiddleheads. The arrangement looked inordinately fresh despite they were nearly a week old. How peculiar.

She trailed her eyes after him as he lit two lanterns and started a fire in the hearth. Whatsoever was she doing? Standing around like a brainless bird-wit while he assumed the role of protector. It chafed against everything she believed in…
that the league signified
.

“Another example?” His evocative grin declared she’d taken his bait and he stepped in her direction, pausing when a mere stride separated them.

Time stood still as they faced each other in the slanted sunlight from the large glass window. In wait of his answer, her eyes wandered to his mouth although some secret part of her whispered the question;
What would it be like to kiss Jasper St. David?
And from there she became a lost cause.

As all females do, she’d fantasized about her first kiss. Not having ever had one, her prodigious imagination had created the ideal first encounter. In her mind’s eye, the gentleman would look at her face with genuine sincerity, his eyes searching deeply for the connection that led them into each other’s arms. He would touch her cheek, a slight caress that sent shivers through her bones to settle in her heart. In this daydream, night dream, she would allow her eyes to fall closed so sight would no longer have control, but instead, her other senses would discern each nuance. She would feel his fingertip tilt her chin, sense his hesitation as he stalled above her lips, the warmth of his nearness almost too much to bear in anticipation of his kiss. Then she’d experience the taste of his lips, the thrill of being desired, worshiped, if even for just one moment.

Emily snapped her attention to the present with hope her face hadn’t revealed exactly where her thoughts had wandered; to a fantastical image borne of fiction and illogical hopes and dreams.

She flared her eyes wide. This life was reality. She would do best to remember that.

“Miss Shaw?”

“Yes. You were saying?” Was she flushed with embarrassment or some other ridiculous emotion because heat rose in her cheeks and her clothes suddenly seemed too confining? The warm undercurrent in his question couldn’t possibly be the cause.

“You suggested I name another situation when a woman couldn’t accomplish success without the help of a man.” He glanced in her direction with a twinkle in his eye.

Perhaps he would try to trick her. She smiled with satisfaction, assured he had no such example and offered her full attention with a proud tip of her chin.

“Kissing, of course.”

Her face lit afire. Could the man read her mind? Look into her soul? Howsoever could her thoughts become his in the span of a few heartbeats? She pressed her fingers to her cheeks, in an effort to hide the inevitable, the tinkling sound of her new charm bracelet laughter to her folly.

Jasper closed the width between them. She noticed the tips of his very fine leather boots as she looked toward the hardwood floor. Slowly she raised her gaze, taking in the man in front of her. His tight-fitted trousers and well-cut waistcoat were of the smoothest Kersey wool, his cravat, white and sharply pressed, was tied simply, in kind to the easy attitude of the man who wore it.

“Miss Shaw?”

She shot her eyes to his, all at once lost in his gaze. Eyes, brilliantly green with specks of gold, entranced her, as if caught in a spell. Her heart pounded in her chest, his words knocking, seeking shelter there. Something about Jasper made her abandon the strict rules she’d adhered to ever since she’d witnessed her mother’s devastation and made a vow to keep herself clear of fancy men and their wealth.
Ever since she’d promised to be her own woman, dependent on no one.

She didn’t move when he reached forward and brushed the pad of his thumb across her cheek.

“You’ve been crying.” His dark brows lowered in concern, yet he didn’t break the intensity of their stare. “I can’t say I like that.”

She lowered her eyes, embarrassed if he might ask what had caused her tears. After a breath, she allowed her lids to fall closed, praying he wouldn’t press the issue.

But he didn’t say more and instead, angled her chin and settled his hands on her shoulders, so gently she wondered if she lived the moment or perhaps had fallen into her fanciful daydream of only moments before. An escape of the most wonderful kind.

His exhale against her lips, his hesitation warned it was real indeed and she inhaled, surprised and confused and unwilling to open her eyes and ruin what might very well be the most lovely experience of her life.

Or so she thought.

Until his mouth settled on hers.

Then all thought dissolved into pleasure.

Chapter 10

So this is how heaven tastes. The conclusion, as crooked as the letter Z, rose with pristine clarity once Jasper began their kiss, although his mind went to pudding soon after. The first taste of Miss Shaw’s soft sweet lips hit him with more force than Nasmyth’s steam hammer, his heart stuttering, struggling to recover a normal rhythm; all the while the marvelous combination of her innocence and curiosity caused his pulse to race with absurd urgency.

She made the slightest noise in the back of her throat and he took it as encouragement, her mouth an active participant, her hands shyly finding his shoulders to twine around his neck. He drew back a hairbreadth; just enough to angle his head and reclaim her lush lips, desperate to reel in desire, but urgent need, the thrill of kissing Miss Shaw had a firm hold on him now and he couldn’t stop. Damn, a man could go mad from wanting like this.

And he wanted more.

Hardly a rogue, but hard with desire, he wanted so much more than this kiss. He nestled her closer, and she gasped, a delicate erotic entreaty, and when he slipped his tongue into her mouth, barely a touch, the slick hot rub of her timid parry sent a shock of heat straight to his groin.

If he didn’t stop now, he’d not be able to stop, so deliciously wonderful did he find this kiss. Still he hesitated, stalling the inevitable, relishing the slide of her tongue against his, the hot hollow of her mouth, the way she melted in his arms with trust and inquisitive adventure, as if she wanted to feel all kinds of wonderful things, but wasn’t sure how.

With every ounce of control he could muster he released her mouth and pulled away, dashing a kiss to her forehead as he stepped back.

The lady seemed equally affected. He saw wonder in her gaze and an element of unexpected desire.

A minute passed. Maybe two.

“I think you’ve proven your point.”

She lifted her eyes to his, her hair slightly mussed with the face of an angel. He almost smiled at the quaver in her voice.

“I never knew kissing could be like that.” Her tongue skimmed over her top lip as if too timid to articulate exactly which part of the kiss intrigued her. “Have you invented it?”

He resisted the urge to chuckle. “I’m hardly that clever. And I might add—” He tugged at his cuffs to keep his fingers busy, the temptation to collect Miss Shaw and continue their embrace, almost too difficult to ignore. “Between our waltz and right now, you’re no different for allowing a little assistance. You’re exactly the same as before.”

She paused to take a little breath. Damn, if she wasn’t the most adorable creature.