‘Oh? Why not?’
‘Because you can’t say anything while I do this,’ he told me, and claimed my mouth with a kiss. My knees buckled. If he hadn’t been holding me upright, I would have fallen flat on my face. This was a kiss unlike any we had shared before. We had kissed with need; we had kissed with passion. We had even - when Mr Ambrose had temporarily taken leave of his senses - kissed with tenderness. But never ever before had he kissed me in a way that sent a message: you’re mine. And it’s only a matter of time before you realise that.
He tore his mouth away and stared at me, a cold ferocity in his face that made me shiver inside.
‘Marry me.’
‘No.’ My eyes were just as fierce as his, and just as full of fiery need. ‘I’m free, and that’s how I’m going to remain! But…’ Stretching up, I leaned into him, running my lips along his collarbone. ‘…that doesn’t mean we can’t finish what we started.’
His hands tightened around my wrists. ‘Don’t! Don’t, I…’
‘Just say yes,’ I whispered. ‘There’s no need for a ceremony. Just you and me, and a few hours that will remain our little secret forever.’
Through my clothes and his, I could feel his heart pounding against me. He wanted this. Wanted me. Badly. I nearly had him. Rising up further, I skimmed my lips over his jaw, towards his mouth, and-
-and suddenly he was gone. I stumbled forward, barely able to keep standing. Blinking through a haze of need, I just saw the ends of his tailcoat disappearing through a door at the other end of the room. Then it slammed shut, leaving me alone.
He had run.
Mr Rikkard I-Can-Vanquish-Anything-Or-Anyone Ambrose had run from me, little nineteen-year-old feminist secretary me. Dear Lord. I wasn’t quite sure whether I should feel angry at him or proud of myself. Panting, I leaned back against the door - just in time to have the doorknob jabbed into my generous derriere.
‘Hello?’ came Lady Samantha’s worried voice from the other side. ‘Hello, is someone in there? Miss Linton? Adaira? The door won’t open! Is it jammed?’
The Announcement
‘Hello?’ The doorknob rattled against my behind. ‘Hello? Is anyone in there?’
I jumped away from the door as if a bear had bitten me in the butt. And, I supposed, in a way it had. As the door opened and Lady Samantha’s motherly, radiant face appeared in the doorway, all I could think was:
OhmyGodohmyGodohmyGodIjustofferedtohaveanintimateaffairwiththissweetlady’sson!I’msogoingtohell!
And I didn’t even believe in hell.
But when Lady Samantha smiled at me and a moment later hugged me close, that sort of made me believe a tiny little bit in heaven.
‘Oh, my dear, I’m so glad you’re back! I hope the Sultana is all right?’
It was good she was still hugging me. That way, she didn’t see my jaw drop open.
‘The…what?’
‘The Sultana, dear! Adaira told me how you had to leave suddenly, because the Sultana of Bakavasa had arrived in the country for a visit, and you had to be there to greet her, since she was an old friend of your mother’s.’
‘Oh, she did, did she?’
‘I never knew that you moved in such exalted circles, dear.’
‘Neither did I.’
‘Pardon, what did you say?’
‘I said, I’m a little bit shy.’
‘Oh, that’s so adorable.’ She gave me a last hug before letting me go. ‘Look at you! You look all flushed and pretty. Was the journey bracing?’
‘Um…oh yes.’
And so was having my mouth ravished by your son.