The Unlikely Lady (Playful Brides #3)(26)
Who was he? Scandal or no, she should know his name before she took off into the drawing room with him. Shouldn’t she? “I should like that, Mr.…”
Instead of replying, he took her by the elbow and ushered her toward the drawing room. “As I said. One of the advantages of a masquerade is to be incognito.” He flashed a grin. She could only see a white streak in the blur that was his face but it didn’t matter. The man might look like an ogre for all she knew but he seemed handsome, indeed, and that was enough to pretend with tonight. And wasn’t he correct? One of the advantages of a masquerade was to be incognito. She didn’t want to give her name either, now that she thought on it. He might have heard the name Jane Lowndes linked to “wallflower” the way “indulgence” was linked to the Prince Regent. Inseparable, those two. If Lord Green pressed her, she would give the name Bunbury, or Wollstonecraft, perhaps. Yes, Miss Wollstonecraft. Perfect. That had been her pretend name at the infamous house party last autumn. For now, she was content remaining entirely anonymous.
Lord Green pushed open the door to the drawing room. The space was dark save for the faint glow coming from one small candle. He left her near the entryway and went to fetch the candle, bringing it back and shutting the door. Hmm. She’d been right about him. He was attempting to get her alone with him. She had no experience with such things. What happened next? Would she be forced to slap him? Should she use the words “Unhand me, sir?” or threaten to have her brother call him out? That would be scandalous, but perhaps a bit too scandalous. Of course, she didn’t have a brother, but he didn’t know that. An insignificant detail, really.
“The painting is over here,” Lord Green said, grasping her hand and pulling her gently behind him. Jane nearly gasped at the touch of his warm fingers. Even through her glove she could feel it. Perhaps she didn’t have to slap him. Perhaps she didn’t have to pretend she had a brother to call him out. Perhaps she could … kiss him. That would be scandalous too. Quite scandalous. The thought made a hot knot unravel in the pit of her belly and somewhere … lower. She took a deep breath and trailed along behind him.
They stopped in front of a large portrait of a man wearing a uniform. At least Jane thought it was a man wearing a uniform. Blobs that looked like epaulets rested on what appeared to be giant red shoulders. The painting was so large, even Jane could make out a bit of it, but she was standing far too close.
“You may have a better feel for it from this vantage point.” She turned at the sound of Lord Green’s voice, to see him standing next to a blob she decided must be the settee in the middle of the room. He was looking toward her and the huge portrait.
“If I didn’t know better, my lord, I’d say you were trying to lure me over to the settee.”
“You don’t know better,” he said in a voice that sounded entirely too charming.
She slowly crossed the wide carpet toward him, her mouth going dry. Would she really do this? Allow this stranger to kiss her if he tried? Was she that daring? That Lady Blue?
She sat, spreading her skirts on the settee, but he smoothed them aside and leaned close. His warm breath smelled of alcohol, but his own scent, a mixture of soap and something that smelled like autumn leaves, left her breathless.
“What if I admitted that I was?” he asked.
Jane’s brain was blurry. “Was what?”
“Luring you to the settee.”
“I’d say you succeeded.” She hated the sound of her shaking voice. Bluestocking spinsters never had occasion for their voices to shake. Bluestocking spinsters never had occasion to trade witty jibes with handsome gentlemen—unless her wordplay with Upton counted and that was entirely— Oh, God, there she went thinking of Upton again at a time like this.
She clasped her hands in her lap and concentrated on not breathing too heavily. Was her breath pleasant? Or did the lilacs override that? Oh, the lilacs. She’d forgotten all about the lilacs. The lilacs were working. For heaven’s sake. Of all amazing things, a handsome young gentleman was actually flirting with her. Flirting! With her! A thrill shot through her. She’d read about these sorts of things, of course. She took another deep breath and made her decision. This was it. If she handled this correctly, she just might experience her first kiss and get her scandal in one fell swoop. The kiss would be strictly for educational purposes, of course. Nothing more. First she must flirt with him. Flirt. Flirt! She couldn’t believe it, even as she had the thought.
She leaned closer. “I should warn you, I don’t kiss gentlemen whom I’ve just met and certainly not alone in drawing rooms.”
“I should warn you, I’m quite persuasive … and a very good kisser.”
“Really…?” Her voice was breathy, a mere whisper. “Persuade me, then.”
His lips met hers, dry but firm. What was next? Was this all there was?
Then his mouth opened and slanted across hers, and Jane forgot to breathe. For heaven’s sake, what was the man doing? His tongue plummeted between her lips and a shudder racked her body. He tasted like some sort of spicy alcohol. Her fingers went up to tangle in his dark hair. His mask and hers briefly rubbed against each other.
She’d never felt anything like it before. Lust, hot and powerful, shot through her. It must be lust. She’d read about it. Even thought about it if she was being honest, but she’d never experienced it. Never imagined she’d have the opportunity to experience it. His mouth shaped hers and his tongue plunged again. Again. She was mad for him. She wrapped her arms around his strong, warm neck. He pulled her tight against him. His body was all hard muscles and planes and perfectly male. His strong, warm hands came up to cup her cheeks, his fingers lightly caressing the sides of her face. He kissed her again and again, not letting go, not stopping. Her lips were swollen, hot, wet. So were other parts … lower parts of her body. His mouth moved off hers and trailed a damp path to her ear. His tongue skimmed over the edge. Her entire body quivered.