“I never allowed them
to see me, Daphne. I moved amongst society like a shadow. You’re the first lady I’ve allowed to see the real me.”
“Well, I thank you for sharing yourself.” She lifted her face up to receive his kiss, hoping to lighten the mood. She’d had enough sadness to last her a lifetime.
She had a feeling Camden had experienced the same.
Their mouths met, lingered. His lips drifted across her cheek, her ear, along her jaw, whisper-soft as he explored her face. She tilted her head back, allowing him better access, wishing he would go right on kissing her. Kissing her until she couldn’t breathe, couldn’t see or feel anything but him.
“I believe I’m falling in love with you, Daphne,” he murmured against her cheek just before he devoured her lips with his once more. He kissed her so quickly he swallowed her shocked response and she curled her hands into fists. Began pummeling his chest in order to get him to pay attention to her.
“You cannot make such a momentous declaration and then not wait patiently for the response,” she said, breathless once he broke the kiss.
“I am a very impatient man.” He cast her a serious look, though she saw teasing in the depths of his brown gaze. “There. I thought it best I warn you before we carry on.”
“You.” She gave him another light slap to his chest, unable to contain the smile that grew. But it was no use. She was so happy she felt as if she might burst. “Are you going to give me a list of your faults to consider before I declare my feelings for you?”
His expression turned dour. “Heavens, no. I might send you running screaming from the house if you found out every single one of them.”
She laughed, turning her face up once again to receive his sweet kiss. “Never. Besides, I think I might frighten you a bit if I were to confess my every fault and insecurity.”
“I don’t think so. Now that I have you, I’ll never let you go.”
The kiss went on far too long. So long, his butler entered the room and gave a discreet clearing of his throat to capture their attention.
“My lord, Viscount Huxley is fairing much better and on his way home as we speak.” He tipped his head in Daphne’s direction, who’d had a enough sense to leap away from Camden as soon as she realized he was present. “Shall I have her coach summoned so Lady Pomeroy may return to her residence?”
“I think that sounds like a fine idea.” Camden sent her a wry grin and grabbed her hand, pulling her close. “We must remain respectable, my future marchioness.”
She returned his grin. Her cheeks hurt from smiling so much. That he’d proclaimed his feelings for her, blatantly hinted at a future together, it filled her heart to bursting. “I cannot wait to prove all of those rumor-mongers wrong.”
His brows crinkled. “What do you mean?”
“You are certainly no ‘Black Hart.’ Our love for each other will squash that particularly nasty nickname.”
He sobered. “Are you falling in love with me as well, Daphne? Really?”
She nodded, her entire body softening when she saw the sensual heat smoldering in his eyes. “I believe I am. I think I started to fall in love with you from the moment I first saw you, foolish as that sounds.”
“It doesn’t sound foolish to me,” he whispered just before he kissed her. In front of his manservant and without a care.
She thrilled at the realization. “Me neither,” she whispered against his lips, then reached up to cradle his cheek.
It would take her no time to fall completely for this man. And soon—soon, they would be married. She knew it with every fiber of her being.
She couldn’t wait.
Chapter Eleven
“Oh, Lady Hartwell! Don’t you look lovely tonight?”
Daphne turned to see the Countess of Bedingfield approaching, a smile on her pretty face. She couldn’t stop herself from drawing her new friend into a quick but crushing embrace when she came near. “Did you invite all of London to attend? Your ball is a smashing success.”
“Oh, this is all Bedingfield’s doing.” Julia leaned in close to speak more privately. “Garrett loves to host a party. I’d much rather spend our evenings alone.”
The Bedingfield union had caused quite a scandal, what with the way the earl proposed to the beautiful widow. They’d married soon after—far too fast for many, but Daphne found their story romantic.
Almost as romantic as hers and Camden’s.