Patricia Veryan - [Sanguinet Saga 01] - Some Brief Folly (47 page)

He turned her hand, kissed the soft palm, and lifting his head
revealed an expression that sent shivers up her spine, so that she
murmured rather breathlessly, "It is most improper that you should…
kiss my hand while we are all alone here, Mr. Hawkhurst."

"Most. But no one need ever know of your lapse, Miss Buchanan."

Despite the gravity of his words a quirk tugged at his mouth,
seeing which she was emboldened to remark softly, "Once upon a time,
you said you were becoming… selfish."

"So I did." He wound a gleaming ringlet around one finger with
much concentration. "Because I was going to ask if you would sing that
little Spanish ditty for us again."

"Oh! What a whisker! You know perfectly well—" She broke off.

"What do I know, ma'am?" he asked, with difficulty suppressing
a smile.

"Why," she said, smoothing her gown with precision, "that I
shall be three-and-twenty in March. I shall have to start wearing a
cap."

He gave a muffled snort. "I am sure it will become you
delightfully."

"Garret… Hawkhurst!" she bit out between white teeth.

"Miss… Buchanan…" he murmured, moving closer to her. "Have I
not told you, many times, that I am not worthy?"

"Yes. But I am willing to overlook that fact."

"Thank you. And that I am a quite notorious rake. And have
even been named—libertine?"

"True. But even so, I wore all my jewels—and most of your
family's—to lure you. Was it all for nought, sir?"

He laughed. "Do I dare to think of it, I am lost! But you
would be so much better served, my blessed candle, to wed good old
Leith. Who is gallant, and honourable, and very handsome."

But now, his every word was a caress, his eyes worshipping her
so that she swayed to him yearningly. His arms went around her, and he
kissed her until she lay lax and sighful and blissfully content,
against his heart.

"I suppose," she mused, "I shall have to consider Leith, then.
For I
do
dislike caps."

He tilted her chin a little, so that he could more easily kiss
her left eyelid, and, with her shivers becoming ever more delicious,
Euphemia heard that deep voice, so husky now, say, "In that case,
perhaps it would be expedient to ask you, my dearest, darling girl, if
you would be so incredibly foolish as to accept the hand and the heart…
and the name of a completely unworthy ex-rake—but
never
,
I do believe, libertine! Who will, as God be his judge, give you no
cause to regret such a decision. Oh, Mia, my Unattainable love… Will
you—"

She pulled down his head and silenced his words with her lips.
And, when at last he straightened and murmurously demanded an answer to
his unfinished question, she said only, "Odious man…"

"Agreed," he nodded, a tender smile lighting his eyes. "Bui
why?"

"Because," she sighed, "I shall quite miss being known as 'The
Unattainable.' "

He chuckled and bent lower. "Then I must strive to console
you."

"It may," she warned, "take years."

Curiously, Garret Thorndyke Hawkhurst did not appear to be put
into a quake by such a prospect and did, in fact, commence his task at
once.