The longer they were on that particular path, the darker it became. There weren’t nearly as many lanterns there. Was that on purpose? As they passed several couples sitting on swings, she heard a woman giggle. Where they kissing in the dark?
Ahead of them, Cecilia pressed a little closer to her husband’s shoulder and laughed. Perhaps they’d been on this path before. Mr. Radcliff had said it was one of Cecilia’s favorite places to visit.
“Here we are.”
They stopped in front of two empty swings, each seat wide enough for two. The swings were fairly close together, but in the semi-darkness, one could have a little privacy if that’s what he or she wished.
After the other two choose the first bench, Felton took her hand and led her to the other. Every impulse wanted to pull away, not be in a darkened area with him. He was a nice man. A kind man. But she already knew from the Bird Sanctuary that his kiss hadn’t aroused her in any way. Shouldn’t a woman contemplating marriage to a man at least enjoy his kisses?
Felton set his glass, empty, on the ground beside the swing. He took hers and helped her to sit down.
He frowned. “You’ve hardly had any of your punch.”
“I… I guess I wasn’t very thirsty.”
When he sat down next to her, the swing jiggled a little side to side. “You don’t want to finish it?”
“No. Thank you.”
“Do you mind if I have it? As I said, it’s my favorite drink.”
“Please, go ahead.” Then at least she’d not have to worry about tasting it again.
He downed the contents quickly, set the glass right next to his, and smiled. Faint light from a distant lantern caused a reflection of light in his eyes. It almost seemed as if they glowed.
Leah, stop being so silly. She glanced over at Cecilia and Mr. Radcliff. They were huddled together, laughing softly about something. Her chaperones obviously weren’t paying any attention. That would give Felton the perfect opportunity to—
When she turned, his lips pressed lightly against hers. Surprised, she wanted to end the kiss.
No… wait. If you’re considering him, you must give him another chance.
She relaxed her bunched muscles and tried to keep an open mind about Felton. He grabbed her shoulders and drew her closer. Good heavens! They were in public, just as they’d been when he’d given her a quick kiss at the Bird Sanctuary. But out of the corner of her eye, she was reminded of the darkened conditions now. And no sound of footsteps came from the nearby path.
They were essentially alone.
Felton continued the kiss. Leah tried not to grimace at the strong taste of the drink on his tongue, which was playfully tickling her lips, begging them to open.
Leah, you must.
She pressed her eyes tightly closed, put her hands on Felton’s chest, and slowly opened her lips.
He gave a low groan and pulled her tighter. As he deepened their kiss, she waited for something. Anything. Arousal? Warmth in her limbs and midsection? A longing for the kiss to continue?
Nothing.
Felton ended the kiss and pressed his forehead against hers. He chuckled as if he’d gotten away with something. He looked deeply into her eyes. “Leah, my dear, I don’t think it will come as a surprise how much I care about you.”
She waited, afraid to move.
“I have something to ask you. Something important.”
He’s going to say it…
“It would make me truly happy indeed if you would agree to become my wife.”
She’d expected it, but the words still came as a shock. Had a part of her thought it wouldn’t actually happen? That Felton would continue to court her and never ask for her hand? Her heartbeat thumped erratically against her ribs. Her hands grew ice-cold. She knew she must say something. “I—”
He pressed his finger to her lips. “I hadn’t planned on asking tonight. It just… seemed appropriate, here with you in the dark. So, I won’t ask for your answer right away. When I next come to visit, I’ll hope for your answer then. Is that agreeable?”
She nodded slowly, relieved that he didn’t insist on an answer now, yet already dreading their next meeting.
He grinned. “Splendid.” He pulled her close and kissed her again.
She’d desperately hoped this kiss would be different than the last. Something that would make her desire grow stronger for him, her need to be with him increase. But there was nothing.
Unfortunately, this kiss was worse than the last.
What am I going to do?
Chapter Eighteen
Leah heard a strange sound as she passed by the open library door. Kind of like the air being let out of a hot air balloon that she’d seen once at Hyde Park. She stopped and listened. There it was again. Curiosity got the better of her, and she peeked into the library
There sat Percy. “Pssst.”
Leah bit her lip, her nostrils flaring as she tried not to laugh. “Um, Uncle Percy, what are you doing?”
He motioned with his hand for her to enter. She crossed the room toward where he sat on a settee. “I was trying to get your attention,” he whispered.
“Why didn’t you just call my name when you saw me walk by?”
“Because I didn’t want the servants to hear.”
Leah crossed her arms and waited. Whatever it was he was going to tell her was bound to be interesting. “What exactly didn’t you want them to hear?”
“Not so loud.” He put his finger to his lips.
“Sorry,” she whispered and sat down beside him.
“There’s a valuable article I need retrieved from the attic. Something very precious to me.”
“Go on…”
“It’s… well it was my mother’s, you see.”
“What was it?”
“I…” He frowned. “It’s a rare vase. Over a century old.”
“I see.” Although she really didn’t. “And you don’t want to get it yourself?”
“Good heavens, no.” He pointed to his knee. “I’m not confident in my ability to climb the steep steps.”
Leah nodded, but as far as she’d observed, Percy had always done pretty much whatever he pleased. “But you don’t want one of the servants to get it.”
“No. That’s why I was pssting you.”
A giggle threatened to pop out, but she held it in. “Why don’t you want them to?”
“It’s so fragile. I wouldn’t trust it to just anyone. It would have to be someone I could count on to keep it safe until it reached my hands.”
Leah raised her eyebrows and glanced toward the doorway and back. “Would you like me to get it for you?”
Percy grabbed her hands in his. “Would you? That would be wonderful. Thank you so much for offering.”
“It’s not a problem, I assure you.”
He cleared his throat. “Would it be too much trouble for you to get it?”
She smiled. “You mean now?”
“If you don’t mind.”
Leah stood. “I don’t mind in the least.” She had been on her way out to the garden to play with Rollo and the kittens but surely it wouldn’t take but a few minutes to retrieve his vase. “Where in the attic is it?”
“Where’s what?”
“The… vase.”
“Well… Hmm. That would be… I think once you’re in the attic, if you just walk to the back corner, you should find what you’re looking for there.”
Leah tilted her head. What an odd man. But she had come to love him. How could one not? With a smile, she turned and left the library.
After she climbed up the long staircase, she reached the top floor where the steps to the attic were. She glanced around, hoping no one was about, since Percy didn’t want any servants to know.
How strange it feels to be hiding from the servants when I used to be one.
She grabbed her skirts in one hand and the rail with the other. Taking her time, she placed her boots carefully on each step, making sure not to slip
. Once at the top, she grasped the knob to the attic door and gave a tug. The door opened with an eerie squeak.
Leah jumped at the loud sound but took a deep breath and continued into the dim room. Since it was daytime, a small amount of light came from the tiny window, but she should have thought to bring a candle with her.
Now what was it Percy had said? Go to the farthest corner, and she should find it. Hopefully there wasn’t more than one century-old vase and she could get it and quickly leave the musty room.
A door slammed behind her, and she whirled around. No! It was the door to the attic. She hurried there as fast as she could, stumbling once over a small trunk that someone hadn’t replaced when they’d last been there.
How had the door shut on its own? There wasn’t a breeze up there. Leah fumbled around the door, squinting in the near-dark until she found the doorknob. She tried to turn it, but it wouldn’t budge.
What in the world? She tried again, but it still wouldn’t open. Had someone locked her in? Why would they do that?
Now what?
Panic set in. What if no one came up there for a week… or more? What would she do? Maybe a servant would be nearby. If she shouted loud enough, would they hear her?
“Help! Someone!” She pounded on the warped wood of the door. “Is someone there?” She knocked on the door a few more times and then stopped to listen. Silence greeted her. This was not good. If Cecilia noticed her missing for long enough, they might search the house and gardens. But how long would it be before someone thought to look in the attic?
She grabbed the doorknob again to see if she could jiggle it free of the lock somehow. It moved. She shrieked.
“Leah? Is that you?”
She gasped in relief. “Daniel?”
“Yes, it’s me. Wait a moment.”
She’d wait all day as long as she knew she’d be let out of the awful room. She took a few steps back, taking care not to trip over the trunk again.
Within a few seconds, the door opened.
Daniel stepped inside. “What are you doing in here?”
She blinked against the light of his candle. Had he just happened to have one handy? Or had a servant heard her shrieks and alerted Daniel that someone was stuck in there?
“I was doing a favor for Percy.”
He laughed. “That explains quite a bit, doesn’t it?
She giggled, relieved to not be trapped anymore. But also glad to be in Daniel’s company, even though she knew she shouldn’t spend time alone with him any longer.
Daniel set down the candle on a nearby table and turned. He pressed his hand against the door and shut it.
“What are you doing?”
He leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest. By the light of the candle, she could see his smile.
Leah huffed out an irritated breath. “Let me out of here right now. This isn’t funny.”
“It’s not meant to be.”
“I don’t understand.”
He shook his head. “With the amount of time you’ve been spending with Mr. Kensington, I haven’t had a moment alone with you in weeks.”
She crossed her arms to mirror his. “I have been quite busy, that’s true.” Daniel was the one who nudged her in Mr. Kensington’s direction. She wasn’t about to apologize for spending time with him. “Was there… anything in particular you wanted to see me about?”
Daniel took a step toward her, slowly, but was still between her and the door. “As a matter of fact, there is.”
Leah took several steps back. What was he doing? He was acting so strangely. Had he been around Percy enough lately that he was going mad too? She held out her hand. “I’m not sure what’s going on, but I wish you wouldn’t come any closer.”
“Not afraid of me, are you?” He took another step.
“Of course not.” Not afraid of him, but afraid of what she might do were she to be alone with him again. She glanced around the small room. Alone. Like they were now.
Daniel had been moving so slowly, it caught her by surprise when he hastened his steps. Suddenly, he was standing right in front of her. His warm breath fanned across her cheek. When he reached out to take her hands, she was too stunned to pull away.
That was what she’d been afraid of. That, and so much more. But maybe nothing would happen between them. Perhaps he just wanted to say a few words and then she could be on her way.
Daniel released her hands and cupped her face in his palms. “I have something I must say to you. This seemed the only way to get your attention. The only way to have a little time alone with you. And no one to come along and interrupt.”
“What do you mean?” Suddenly Percy’s request seemed odder than usual. The way he’d wanted her, not the servants to retrieve his precious item. How he’d stammered when she’d asked where it was located in the attic. Was there even a vase? “You planned this?”
“It was actually Percy’s idea.”
“But why?”
“Because of this.” He pressed his lips to hers, softly at first, then increased the pressure. His tongue moved across her lips in a hot trail. She moaned, and when her mouth opened, he took advantage, performing a seductive dance with his tongue against hers.
She sagged against him, suddenly unable to stand. Without breaking contact, Daniel took her hands and placed them on the back of his neck. Leah hung on for dear life.
Heat pooled in her belly and shot straight to her toes. She couldn’t seem to get close enough to him. Every time he’d kissed her in the past, she’d thought it couldn’t possibly get any better. But this was. He was.
Everything in her longed to pull him down on the floor on top of her. Remove their clothing so there was nothing between her skin and his. The very thought inflamed her even more. She feared her skin would catch on fire.
She dug her fingers into the back of his neck, wanting, needing to feel him, touch him, have him.
Oh yes, she wanted to have him. All of him. Right that minute.
A shock of cool air played over her lips as Daniel pulled away. Why had he stopped? Why were they no longer touching? Caressing?
She opened her eyes. He was gazing at her, but he’d moved away a few inches.
“Daniel?”
He smiled, a slow easy grin that started her inner flame heating up again. “I knew, knew you still wanted me.”
She frowned. “What? But I…” She pressed her fingers to her lips, trying to recapture the feeling of his mouth against hers.
“I know I told you that Mr. Kensington was a better match for you. But I was wrong.”
“I don’t understand.” Daniel’s circumstances hadn’t changed. Wasn’t he still the valet? That was why he’d told her to seek a better match elsewhere.
“I need to say something. Something I should have said long ago. Leah Hunter, I love you.”
“You… love me?”
“With all my being. With all that I have, all that I am, and all I will ever be. I love you. Marry me.”
Her mouth dropped open? “Marry? I can’t believe what I’m hearing.”
“Believe it. I know from the way you reacted to my kisses that you still want me. I’ve said I love you and have asked you to marry me. The rest is up to you.”
Leah watched in disbelief as Daniel turned, picked up the candle, and left the door open as he exited the attic.
Chapter Nineteen
Leah knocked on the open doorway to Cecilia’s room. “Do you have a moment to talk?”
Cecilia looked up from the book she was reading and smiled. “Of course. Come in.” She set the book on her bed. “You know you don’t have to knock if I’m here alone.”
Leah sat on the bed next to her. She fidgeted her hands in her lap.
“Something’s troubling you, isn’t it, dear?”
Leah nodded. “I’m afraid so.”
“Want to tell me about it?”
“I’m not sure where to begin.” She flopped her hands like fish stuck on a river bank.<
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Cecilia took Leah’s hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Does this have something to do with Mr. Kensington?”
Leah didn’t particularly want to discuss her confusion over the two men, but she needed advice. And the best person for that was her best friend. “Partly.”
“And… Daniel?”
“How did you know?”
“Because I know how much time you’ve been spending with Mr. Kensington, but I also remember how you felt, probably still feel about Daniel. Am I correct?”
“You are.” More than you know.
“Anything you tell me will be kept between us. You know that, don’t you?”
“Yes. Thank you. I’m so blessed to have you for a friend.”
“And I’m blessed with you, as well. Now…” She gave Leah’s hand a final pat and turned so that she was looking directly at Leah. “Tell me what has you upset.”
She let out a deep sigh. “I’m so conflicted. About both of them.”
“I can only imagine. It’s quite the dilemma. ”
“I… I do care, in a way, for Felton. But…”
Cecilia brushed a lock of Leah’s hair away from her cheek, her fingers soft and warm. “But it isn’t the same as how you feel about Daniel?”
“No. Not at all.”
“Remember how we discussed that sometimes couples grow to love one another? Over time?”
“Of course.” She blinked away tears that picked that particular moment to surface. While it was true that could happen with Felton, was that what she wanted? “It’s only… I know what true love feels like now… with Daniel.”
Cecilia smiled. “I’m glad.”
Leah bit her lower lip and nodded. “There’s no substitute for it, is there.”
“No, dear heart. I’m afraid not. But that doesn’t mean you’re making the wrong decision by choosing Mr. Kensington, you know.”
“I suppose not.” Then why do I feel that I might be making a terrible mistake?
“It sounds like you’re having second thoughts. I’m here if you want to tell me more.”
“If you’re sure you don’t mind.”
Cecilia wrapped her in a quick hug as someone would her sister. “Of course I don’t mind. How many times did you listen to me when I wasn’t sure Barrington wanted to marry me? I was miserable. So, go right ahead.”
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