So he did what any man would do. He ignored it completely and hoped that it would go away.
"Come," he bellowed jovially, "let us walk."
Caroline at least seemed pleased about the distraction.
He climbed down from his high perch and moved round to assist her. Not bothering with the small ladder that the equipage came with, he reached up his arms to lift her down.
She hesitated for a moment before moving into them.
He lifted her and slowly, so slowly lowered her to her feet, relishing the feel of her soft body sliding against his unyielding one.
It was exquisite torture.
He noticed that her breathing was rather erratic by the time she landed on the hard ground.
There was no need for him to still have hold of her, yet he was loathe to let her go, his hands remaining fixed on her small waist.
Gradually, she raised her eyes to his and said, a little breathlessly, "Where shall we walk?"
That was it. Nothing scandalous. Nothing forward. Nothing suggestive.
Just a simple question. But it came from her lips, while he was holding her body closely to his own. And it was enough. Enough to make him lose complete control.
He crushed her to him and covered her lips in one, swift movement. He was instantly lost. And judging from her tight grip around his neck and the soft moan that tore from her throat, he wasn't the only one.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CAROLINE FELT AS if the whole universe had fallen away until it was just she and Tom and this unforgettable kiss.
She had not expected it, so distracted was she by the feel of his big hands spanning her waist, the masculine scent of him invading her surroundings, the press of the hardness of his body against hers.
But as soon as their eyes had met she'd felt the surge of attraction that was always lying just below the surface rise up and overpower her.
She'd tried to act normally, asking an innocent question. But it was almost like her question had been a catalyst for their mutual attraction to break free.
The second Tom's lips touched hers, her entire being cried out with joy, her mind, body and soul.
Her mind was in utter turmoil. She knew that there were problems between them. Questions they both needed to be answered. Things left unsaid.
But right then, in that moment, she cared not a jot for any of it. All that mattered was that he was kissing her and she never, ever wanted him to stop.
The sound of approaching horses had them springing apart in the next instance, however.
Tom's breathing seemed to be as heavy as her own.
He swore softly under his breath before taking her arm and tucking it into the crook of his own. Then he turned them both in the opposite direction of the approaching hooves and walked calmly out from behind the curricle.
Caroline allowed herself to be manoeuvred without speaking a word; still firmly under the spell his kiss had created.
"I do not think we were seen," Tom whispered, "since we were behind the curricle. Still, I apologise for behaving so recklessly."
At his words Caroline snapped out of the trancelike state she'd been in.
Dear Lord had she learned nothing from last night? Kissing a gentleman in Hyde Park in the middle of the day? Reckless did not even begin to describe it.
"Oh my goodness. What was I thinking? What were we thinking? If someone saw, we—"
"Caroline, do not distress yourself. We were not seen. I am quite sure of it. I should not have been so foolhardy."
Caroline tried to calm down, to reassure herself that he was right. More than that, she was trying desperately to recover from the effects of his kiss. Deep, even breaths and distraction that was the key.
"And you should not have been so utterly kissable."
For heaven's sake! How was a lady supposed to calm down when he said those sorts of things?
She stumbled a little at his words and Tom steadied her as a self-satisfied smirk broke out across his face.
The noise from the hooves got closer still and Tom led them just off the path to allow the riders to pass.
"Well, well. If it isn't Tommy and his blonde."
Caroline started and whipped round to see the infamous Miss Noble and an older gentlemen smiling down at them.
Tom resisted the urge to swear long and loud as Charlotte and Fred Noble came to a stop beside them.
Already Charlotte had his hackles up with the way she had addressed Caroline. And today was not the day for a confrontation. Not when Caroline was feeling so delicate. And not when they'd just shared such an explosive kiss.
But he needn't have worried. He had momentarily forgotten that he was accompanied by the Ice Princess of the ton; though he knew from very personal experience that the name did her no justice at all.
He felt her stiffen and a quick glance showed that she had donned the expression that had quelled people far fiercer than Charlotte Noble.
"Miss Noble, Mr. Noble. How nice to see you both again." Tom was all politeness as he bowed. "Allow me to introduce Lady Caroline Carrington. Lady Caroline, one of my associates, Mr. Fred Noble and his daughter, Miss Charlotte Noble."
"How do you do?"
Tom almost shivered at the ice in her tone.
Fred Noble was as friendly as his daughter was aloof. He immediately dismounted and bowed graciously over Caroline's hand.
"A real pleasure, my lady. You are just as beautiful as Tommy here said you were."
Caroline's eyes darted to Tom's face.
"You are too kind, Mr. Noble," she demurred. "I had no idea that Mr. Crawdon would have talked about me while he was away."
Tom tried his hardest to communicate with Noble, using just his eyes that the man was to remain silent on this subject.
"He did nothing but talk about you for a month at least, Lady Caroline. And probably much longer than that."
So. He had no talent for communicating with just his eyes then.
"How interesting," was Caroline's only answer.
Tom noticed that her eyes strayed to Charlotte more than once. Charlotte, for her own part, stayed on her mount and refused to engage in the conversation or acknowledge them at all.
"How long do you stay in London, Freddie?" asked Tom hoping against hope that he would say until tomorrow.
"Oh, a couple more weeks I should imagine. Charlotte here wants to experience the famous London Season. I hope I can rely on you and you, Lady Caroline, to help ease her way."
Tom had been in some awkward situations in his lifetime but this felt excruciating.
How to tell his old friend that he would be unable to help because he was throwing a house party that he had no intentions of inviting said friend to?
Under normal circumstances he would, of course, invite Fred and Charlotte to come to Woodview Hall. But Charlotte was not to be trusted, and Caroline was clearly unhappy about his association with Charlotte. Then there was Rebecca who was very likely to cause bodily harm to Charlotte should she be forced to stay in the same house as her.
Not that it should matter to him what Caroline, they had no attachment to each other did they? Did they?
It was a mess and he was getting a headache that he was sure would rival Caroline's.
"We are actually leaving Town for a time, Freddie," Tom said, feeling like an ill-mannered cad. "I've recently acquired some property and I'm having a very small gathering for a week or so. Nothing formal…"
He trailed off uncertainly. This was deuced uncomfortable.
He noticed Caroline was watching him closely and he turned a desperate 'help me' look toward her.
She took a deep breath, which managed to distract him for a moment since it did rather interesting things to the bodice of her gown, before she turned back to Freddie with a charming smile that set the usually imperturbable American to blush.
"In fact, we were just discussing it before you came upon us Mr. Noble. I know that Mr. Crawdon is hopeful that you will be able to attend. N
o doubt that is why he was curious about when you would be leaving."
Tom gazed at her in surprised gratitude. She had just saved him from a terribly awkward situation and very possibly from ending a good friendship too. And in light of how she came to know about the Nobles, and Charlotte in particular, it was quite an act of kindness.
The Nobles' reactions were immediate. Freddie proclaimed his delight and looked forward to getting to know Caroline better. Charlotte, on hearing the news, scrambled off her horse and was immediately all sweetness and politeness.
She clung to Tom's arm while she rambled on about how excited she was, which was more than a little uncomfortable since Caroline's arm was still safely tucked into the crook of his other elbow. He felt her try to move away but refused to let her budge.
Charlotte would not allow him to get a word in edgeways so he settled for throwing Caroline a look of gratitude before returning his attention to removing Charlotte from his person.
He had seen the gleam in her eyes at the mention of the house party and he had no wish to encourage any ideas that she may be entertaining about him.
Finally, the Nobles remounted their horses and made their way further down the path. Charlotte hadn't once acknowledged Caroline and it set Tom's teeth on edge.
He would not have people disrespecting his—
His what? She wasn't his anything. The thought was depressingly accurate.
The Nobles had left a deafening silence in their wake.
Tom knew that he must thank her, and profusely, for saving him but somewhat surprisingly it was Caroline who broke the silence.
"I do hope you are not cross with me, for foisting two extra guests on you."
"Are you mad? You did me a great service. Certainly the house is big enough but I would not have had Charl— I mean Miss Noble there knowing that you felt in any way uncomfortable."
Caroline smiled a little cat-like smile, her eyes glinting with mischief.
"There is no need to worry on that score, Tom. I no longer have any concerns about you being caught in her web."
"Oh?" He turned her gently back in the direction they had come. "And why is that?"
"Because even if I hadn't noticed that your jaw clenches in irritation every time she addresses you, I'm not sure she'll survive an entire week without Rebecca murdering her."
They both laughed as they imagined the fireworks between Rebecca and Charlotte before Tom handed Caroline back into the curricle and they made their way slowly home.
Once back at the ducal townhouse, Tom came inside only long enough to take his leave.
Being the coward that he clearly was, he left it to Caroline to inform the others of their added guests.
"I shall travel into Essex tomorrow to make last minute preparations," he said with what seemed to Caroline to be a regretful look towards her. "But I hope it will not be too long before you can join me."
"I believe Rebecca plans on being there by Friday," Edward answered while Caroline concentrated on not throwing herself across the room at Tom.
Really, she must learn to control herself. But the smouldering glances he was sending her way were likely to make her go up in flames at any moment.
"Excellent news," Tom answered.
"Yes, well, she says that. But between her, Caroline, and my mother who is sure to insist on accompanying us, there is no way they shall be packed and ready to leave in three days' time. They're women, Tom," he explained as if telling a very small child something very, very simple.
Both Caroline and Rebecca objected hotly to his claim and Edward winked at Tom. Clearly, his plan to annoy them into getting ready in time had worked.
Tom could not help but admire his cousin's excellent manipulation skills.
Rebecca asked him to stay and dine with them and Caroline tried not to feel too disappointed when he refused.
She would see him in three days after all, it was just they had not even had the chance to talk properly since their scandalous kiss in the park and she wanted quite desperately to know his feelings on it.
Tom moved to kiss Rebecca on the cheek, ruffle Henry's mop of curls, and shake hands with Edward before finally stopping in front of her.
"Until Friday, my lady," he said in a gravelly voice that sent delightful shivers down her spine.
"Until Friday," she answered while he bent to kiss her hand.
She almost gasped aloud at the feel of his lips pressed against her skin. He squeezed her hand gently before reluctantly letting go and sweeping from the room.
Caroline felt instantly deflated.
Friday seemed a very long way away indeed.
CHAPTER TWENTY
THE HOUSE, AS PREDICTED by Edward, was in utter turmoil on Friday morning. So much so that Edward had decided to ride alongside the carriage rather than in it.
The dowager had arrived and announced that she wanted to travel with her grandson.
Caroline was delighted to see her. Having been staying with friends in Bath, the dowager had only arrived to Town the evening before and had therefore been unaware of the invitation to Woodview.
"But since my trunks were still packed, I saw no reason not to join you all today," she told them excitedly.
"I am delighted to see you," Caroline said truthfully.
"And I, you my dear."
They were a merry, if somewhat chaotic, party that finally set out from the Mayfair townhouse and onto the road that would lead them towards Tom's house.
Caroline was terribly anxious to see it, though in all honestly it would probably hurt her to do so.
She was more than a little confused by what was transpiring between her and Tom.
She knew that their kisses meant the world to her, because she loved him wholly and completely.
But she also knew that she had done irreparable damage to the love he had once felt for her. Was it merely lust he felt? Had he just taken advantage of the opportunity to kiss her?
The thoughts were both confusing and upsetting. But not nearly as upsetting as knowing that he was going to one day marry and the very halls she would walk this week would hold his wife. And then his children.
It was a painful thought and coupled with Rebecca's still very vocal objections to Charlotte Noble's presence, Caroline was worried she'd have another excruciating headache by the time they arrived.
Thankfully however, Henry settled down for a nap and conversation lowered to a whisper.
It was not enough to deter Rebecca, however. She continued her ranting, just at a quieter pace.
"I just cannot understand why you would take it upon yourself to invite that, that hussy into Tom's home," she berated Caroline for the hundredth time.
Caroline sighed and answered as patiently as she could.
"It was a terribly awkward situation, Rebecca. There really was no choice in the matter. I knew that To—" She stopped with a quick glance at the watchful dowager and continued more carefully, "that Mr. Crawdon would have wished to invite his old friend but was reluctant to do so because of his odious daughter. But it would have been more for our sakes than his own. And really, it is his house after all. Who are we to dictate who he should invite to stay in it?"
"So, this Miss Noble hasn't endeared herself to you then, Rebecca?" the dowager asked with a smile.
"No, she has not. She practically threw herself at Edward the other night and that was after her utterly awful display with Tom."
"What display?" the dowager asked curiously.
"She kissed him, on the mouth, in full view of every single guest at the ball the other night. Right in the middle of the ballroom," said Rebecca with feeling.
"And was this before or after she threw herself at Edward?"
"Before," said Rebecca, her teeth clenched.
"Well, she sounds as though she's made an impression at least."
"I once got covered in poison ivy. I was in agony for days. That has stuck with me for years. That is the sort of impression she's made."
The dowager laughed heartily at Rebecca's outrageous claim before turning to Caroline.
"And do you also dislike her, my dear?"
"I do not know her," Caroline answered perfectly composed.
And then, because she couldn't help herself, she added hotly, "But she seems dreadful and I do not know how anyone could help but dislike her."
"My, my," said the dowager, her eyebrows raised. "I wonder if I shall dislike her so much."
"You will," answered the sisters simultaneously.
The dowager merely smiled and said nothing. Could it be that history was repeating itself with her young nephew and the beautiful Caroline?
She would make sure to watch carefully.
Caroline had nodded off and was awakened by Rebecca's exclamation.
"Oh, we are here."
Turning to look out the window, Caroline's first thought was that she now understood where the property got its name.
On either side of them, past the tree-lined gravel driveway and beyond the sprawling gardens, a lush green forest seemed to go on for miles. It was utterly enchanting.
"How beautiful," she whispered.
They had yet to see the house since the driveway seemed to bend a little to the right but it was mere moments before the building came into view.
Caroline gasped in delight and heard similar sounds of appreciation from her companions. Henry gurgled, oblivious to everything but his mama's hair, which he kept trying to pull from under her bonnet.
They had arrived in time to see the sun setting and it just so happened that it set behind the house lighting the whole structure in golden sunrays.
The house was itself was beautiful, the deep red brick seeming homey and welcoming, no easy task for such a huge building.
The Palladian style front gave it an imposing and regal air but it was not intimidating or soulless as a lot of great houses were.
As the carriage rolled to a stop the huge front door opened and there stood Tom, looking just as handsome as ever and entirely comfortable in such grand surroundings. He looked every inch the grandson of a duke.
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