Enticing the Earl

“That is dreadfully sad,” Mia whispered.

“Yes.” He turned his head back to her with a smile that took her breath away. “Now, back to the question at hand, do we kiss today?”

Her heart started to pound fiercely against her chest. She had nothing to fear from him. Nothing. He wasn’t the type of man who beat women. When his mother was ill, he’d done everything he could to help save her. He was a good man. “Yes,” she whispered. “Now.”

“Very well.” He stood and then sat down on the edge of the bed.

The scent of sandalwood wafted around her. How had she never noticed the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled or laughed? She had known him all her life. He rarely left the estate over the past few years. She should know everything about him... and yet, she didn’t.

She watched as his face slowly came closer to her. Until she could feel the heat of his breath on her cheek. When lips finally touched hers, it was the barest of kisses, scarcely a touch at all. He was being deliberately gentle for her. And suddenly her heart skipped a beat with the thought that a man would take care of her for a change.

Mia lifted her arms and wrapped them around his neck. Ignoring the ache in her side, she wanted only to have a proper kiss from him. To feel the spark of excitement as his tongue touched hers. To feel her breasts crushed against his hard chest.

How could she want him after all she’d been through recently? But his gentle kiss proved he would protect her and keep her safe from all harm. He was a good man and that only made him more desirable. Still, she wanted mutual passion with him.

She wanted a real kiss.

Before she could open her mouth and kiss him fully, he pulled away slowly, purposefully. Damn him for sensing her response and leaving her wanting more. Staring up at him, she smiled shyly. He had agreed to all her conditions but had that kiss proved their marriage would not be in name only?

“Have I met your conditions? Shall I obtain the special license?”

“Were you deliberately being gentle, Hart?”

He looked taken aback by her question. “What do you mean?”

God, she couldn’t say this and look at him. “I just want to make sure we will suit in bed. That kiss was very... well... tame.”

“Only days ago, you were beaten until you were bruised and batte

red both physically and mentally. Of course, I treated you gently.” He rose from the bed. “Good day, Mia. I will check on you later.” He started to walk toward the door.

“Hart, wait.” Once he turned back to her, she said, “I apologize. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. You are the kindest man I have ever known. But you have to understand I feel that I am cheating you out of a proper wife. I at least want to know you desire me and want to make love with me.”

“There is no cause for concern on that part.” He retreated from the room before she could say another word.

Simon walked outside before the desire consuming him forced him to storm into her room and show her just how much he wanted her. Foolish woman. She had no idea the restraint it took from him to not overwhelm her with his passion. Then she had the gall to question him on it.

He needed a distraction, something to help him work off this frustration coursing through his body. He headed for the stables. Once there, he picked up a pitchfork and to the amazement of the stable boys, he started mucking out the stalls.

“Sir, we done that already,” one of the lads said quietly.

“Go take Bonnie outside to field, Samuel,” Mr. Thompson said to the lad. The head groomsman looked at Simon and then said, “In fact, all ye lads get out of the stables for a while.”

The boys whooped as they ran out of the stables. Mr. Thompson put down the brush he’d been using on one of the mares and nodded to Simon. “If ye get to it, my lord, Tilly just came in from her exercise and could use a good rubdown.”

Mr. Thompson departed the stables, leaving Simon exactly where he wanted to be: alone. He put the pitchfork down and walked to Tilly’s stall. The mare needed her brushing more than the clean stall needed mucking. Taking the brush in his hand, he smoothed it over the mare’s fine hair. He murmured softly to Tilly about the foolishness of women.

“I should have known I’d find you out here.”

Simon turned at the sound of North’s voice. “What are you doing here today?”

“Selina’s delivering a baby so she’ll be gone most of the day. I thought I’d ride over and see what the Bow Street runner had to say.” North picked up a brush and started brushing his gelding.

“He’s very concerned that no one seems to know Davies. He believes Miss Featherstone may have been a pawn in a bigger plan.”

“What plan?”

Simon put the brush down and leaned against the stable wall. “I have no idea. Mr. Tanner thinks Davies was using her to get information on me.”