Madcap Miss

“Has she been?” returned Ashton, his bright eyes suddenly glinting.

Scott was surprised Ashton rose from the table and told him, “I shall go and help her find a deck of cards then.”

* * *

Felicia had been sent off by a chambermaid to look in the private morning parlor for a deck of playing cards. As she bent to go through some odds and ends in a sideboard table drawer, she felt a sudden shiver scurry up her spine.

She spun around with a startled motion to find Ashton there, standing near, so very near.

“Faith!” You did make me jump,” she exclaimed and felt the heat rush through her body. What an astounding effect he always had on her. It was as though he breathed life into her, as though everything around her faded and all there that existed was him.

“Did I startle you? I am sorry for it. That was not the end I had in mind.” His voice was low, husky, and full of a meaning that made her tremble deep inside.

He held her shoulders, and she closed her eyes. His touch sent bolts of desire through her—oh, yes, she was most certainly a wanton woman for this one man.

“Ah, Felicia …” he said in a tone so quiet she wasn’t sure she had actually heard him; however, it didn’t matter. The next thing she knew he had swept her into his arms as though he could not live another moment without her in them.

She shouldn’t allow this, she told herself. Now was the time to keep herself aloof, but, oh, she wanted his kisses and more, so much more.

“I am a cad, but I can’t seem to keep my hands off you,” he whispered into her ear. “All through dinner … you looked so dejected …

I felt a blackguard … and still, all I wanted to do was reach over and taste your tongue.”

“Why, sir—why me?” she said in the smallest voice.

“Because you are the only one that drives me mad with wanting. I have … a need for you I cannot explain to myself. You are the most desirable woman I have ever encountered!” he answered as though the words were wrenched from him against his will.

“I must tell you, sir, you are driving me mad as well. You confuse me … you accept me and then push me away and then take hold once again.”

“Find the cards!” he snapped as he stepped back from her. It was as though her words had scalded him.

“Where are you going?” she said softly.

“Upstairs—where Scott’s presence shall deter my devil soul,” he said irritably.

“Ah,” she answered and smiled to herself.

She watched him walk out of the parlor, and all the blue-devils she had been experiencing vanished. Everything about this man touched a chord in her, and she was sure he felt the same. He just had to see it. A man of his years and experience who said—and she believed him when he said—he had never felt this way before her had to feel more than lust.

You don’t stand a chance, said her inner voice. He is a London Corinthian with far more beautiful women chasing him—and never having caught him—than you can even count. What makes you think, you, countrified green girl, will end with anything but a broken heart?

This question did not corral Felicia’s spirits. Instead, this thought made her smile to herself. Scott had told her often she was irrepressible, and here was the truth to the word. She would win this wonderful man’s heart—and hush that naysaying voice in her head!

~ Seventeen ~

SCOTT TOUCHED HIS shoulder with a wince as pain shot through him. Something was wrong with the blasted thing. The wound was oozing a bit right through the new bandage he had just managed to put on … and that after Flip had already changed the bandage for him earlier that morning. It shouldn’t have needed changing so quickly.

She had, in fact, remarked upon it, saying that the wound looked wrong to her.

“Wrong?” he had asked on a chuckle. “How could a wound ever look right?”

She had laughed but said, “Well, I shall feel better about it once the doctor has visited you today. Much better, for I am a bit worried, Scott.”

“Nonsense.” He had shooed her away and tried eating his breakfast. However, a few bites had made him feel queasy, and he had lifted the tray, got up, felt a bit wobbly as he set it outside his bedroom door, and had climbed back into bed.

He was heartily bored and thought that Flip would have returned to him by now … and then he looked and saw the bandage she had managed for him earlier was oozing badly.

He was a bit surprised and just a bit worried as he changed it himself, struggling a bit to get the wad in place, but thought when he was done that he had made a good job of it.