His warmth enveloped her; his heart beat steadily beneath her cheek. He drew in a deep breath, then slowly exhaled; long fingers found her chin and tipped her face up.
Their eyes met, and held, then he lowered his head. Honoria's lashes fell as Devil touched his lips to hers in a gentle, inexpressibly sweet kiss.
He drew back, one brow rising. "I don't suppose you'd like to tell me just what did happen?"
No command or demand, just a mild request; Honoria couldn't help but grin. "Actually, Chillingworth was very insistent that I tell you all, which must be a first."
"Very likely. Start at the beginning-when you knocked on his door. Was he expecting you?"
"Not exactly." Honoria wriggled upright. "He'd received a note, too-I saw it. Written in the same hand as ours." She placed the note she still held next to the one on the seat beside Devil. "See? You can't tell if it's a man or a woman."
"Hmm-so he knew you were coming to see him?"
"No." Honoria spoke distinctly, mindful of Chillingworth's instructions-and her husband's propensities. "His note was from a mysterious unnamed lady, making an assignation for this afternoon. It was quite…" she gestured airily, "titillating."
Devil narrowed his eyes. "By which you mean Chillingworth was raring to go-what did he say when you arrived on his front stoop?"
Honoria shot Devil a mischievous look. "Actually, I think he was even more surprised than I was. He was almost disapproving."
Devil raised his brows skeptically. "And?"
"What followed was actually my fault-he told me I couldn't possibly be in earnest. Naturally, I assured him I was."
"And?"
Honoria held Devil's ga
ze. "He tried to kiss me-and I hit him."
Devil blinked-then blinked again. "You hit him?"
Honoria nodded. "Michael taught me how before he allowed me to go governessing." She frowned. "I suppose I should have used my knee, but I didn't think of it at the time."
Devil only just managed not to choke. "I think," he said, his voice not entirely steady, "that Chillingworth is probably quite grateful you hit him." Honoria was uncommonly tall, and Chillingworth was shorter than he was. Devil's lips twitched. "I must remember to inform him of his close escape."
Honoria frowned. "Yes, well-unfortunately that's not all. When I hit him, his nose started to bleed."
It was too much; Devil succumbed to gales of laughter. "Oh, God," he said, when he could speak again. "Poor Chillingworth."
"He seemed to think so, too. His waistcoat was ruined."
One hand pressed to his aching ribs, Devil fisted Honoria's left hand. "You must have used your left."
Honoria nodded. "How did you know?"
Devil's grin was pure devilish delight. "I caught him with a left at Eton-the same thing happened. He bled like a stuck pig."
"Precisely." Honoria sighed. "I'm afraid he's feeling rather put-upon."
"I can imagine."
Devil's tone had hardened; Honoria looked up inquiringly. He met her eyes. "He and I will have to sort this out." Honoria straightened. "What do you mean?" Devil's lips softened as he drew her back into his arms.
"Just that we'll need to make sure we've got our stories straight in case someone noticed or starts a rumor." He hugged Honoria close. "Don't worry-I'm hardly likely to call a man out because my wife bloodied his nose."
Honoria frowned. "Yes-but is he likely to call you out because I bloodied his nose?"
Devil's chest quaked. "I really don't think that's likely." Grinning, he tilted Honoria's face up. "You're a remarkably resourceful woman, you know."