Every Time We Kiss

Vanessa’s words haunted him. There was one woman who could fix his problems. And cause him untold others.

It was all her fault.

She should have accepted responsibility. Except, for all he knew, his words had caused her actions that day. He should have kept his mouth firmly shut.

Besides, it wasn’t all her fault. He’d never given her the chance to take the blame. She had done only what he told her to do, play the frivolous lady with no cares, except of course the current fashion of the day.

He closed his eyes and pictured her raven-black hair, sparkling blue eyes that always held a hint of humor, and legs so long he’d wanted to kiss every inch of them. He wondered how much she might have changed.

Shaking his head, he attempted to rid his mind of these errant thoughts. He couldn’t see her again. He’d promised to stay out of her life, leave her and her family alone as penance for his part in what happened that day.

And yet, now he had no choice but to reenter Society. Interact with her friends and, quite possibly, her. He’d paid his dues so now she would have to accept his presence at balls and whatever else he decided to attend. If he actually were invited to a ball, which at this point seemed very unlikely.

He still hadn’t determined how he would integrate himself back into the same Society that shunned him years ago. The reactions so far had not given him any encouragement. Embers of anger flamed to a red heat again.

He had paid his reparations for his small part of what happened that day. And he didn’t even know if his words had affected her. For all he knew, she might have scorned his heartfelt speech. She’d certainly rejected his kiss that morning. While he spent five years in purgatory for his action, she’d done nothing but go back to her prosperous life of shopping, painting, and socializing.

No one knew of her part in the destruction of his life.

Vanessa thought she knew the entire story, but she did not.

No one knew everything, except him.

Chapter 2

“Come along, it’s your turn now,” Sophie demanded.

Jennette stood by the refreshment table and looked over at Sophie. The fancy-dress ball was in full swing. Sophie had dressed like a gypsy in bright-colored skirts with her dark hair falling upon her back and a red mask covering half her face. Jennette had chosen the white gown of an angel to celebrate her twenty-fifth birthday.

“But my guests,” Jennette protested.

“They will be fine without you for a few minutes.”

“I promised Lansing a dance and Colby one after that,” Jennette tried again.

“We need to do this now before the musicians take their break. Once that happens, I’ll be too busy.”

“But…”

“No more protests. You invited me to keep everyone entertained with my fortune-telling.” Sophie grabbed Jennette’s hand and tugged her toward the doorway, down the hallway to the salon. The small room had been set for Sophie to read people’s fortunes, and she’d been doing a brisk business all evening.

“Yes, keep them entertained, not me. I don’t even believe in such things as fortune-telling.”

No one could predict the future, even if her friend was quite recognized for doing just that. Especially her matchmaking fortunes. The last thing Jennette desired was anyone telling her of her future. She didn’t want to know, not when she’d tried so hard to forget her past.

“I know you don’t believe in this, which is why I can’t understand your vehement protests. It’s just for fun. After all, it is your birthday.”

Jennette had waited five long years for this day. After signing more legal papers than she’d ever imagined today, she was free. With the inheritance from her grandmother, she finally had the money to do what she should have done years ago.

“Besides, you will be leaving to study with that master in Florence soon. You should want to know if everything will go as expected.”

Sophie motioned for Jennette to sit in the yellow damask chair while she took the seat across from her. “I will, of course, come visit you. But I shall miss you dreadfully.”

Study with a master in Florence. The lie she’d told everyone from her mother to her best friends. No one knew the truth. No one could ever learn why she had to leave England. She had only waited so she could gain her inheritance and live comfortably. Now it was his turn to have a chance at happiness, even if it meant her misery.

With her gone, the memory of what happened that day would slowly leave the minds of the ton. He would be able to come back into Society, find a lovely woman, and marry. He was the type of man who would want a family and he deserved one, especially now that he held the title.

She had to leave now—for him. He had given her the past five years of peace. This was the least she could do for him.