Evermore (Emily Chambers Spirit Medium Trilogy #3)(15)

He was going to kiss me, right there on my doorstep. My body hummed with pleasure and my skin tightened at the prospect. Yet I did not reach up to him. It would be disloyal to Jacob. He was still a very big part of my life, even though he wanted me to be with Theo, and even though I knew Theo would be good for me.

But before I could step back, Theo closed the gap between us. His lips caressed mine, the kiss hesitant and uncertain. God help me, I did not pull away. I wanted it. Wanted to be adored and cherished, wanted to hear his compliments and feel how much he liked me.

He deepened the kiss and his hands caught me round the waist, gently pulling me closer, closer, until our bodies met. His tongue teased mine and one hand gently pressed into my back, holding me to him. My mind reeled with a riot of sensations and emotions that I couldn't separate or identify. I couldn't think. Didn't want to. Theo was here and alive and I needed him, needed this.

"Emily," he murmured against my lips. "Oh, Emily, I love you."

I broke the kiss and gasped.

"I...I'm sorry." He shuffled his feet and looked down at his shoes. "I spoke too freely, you're not ready. Forgive me?"

Air. I needed air. My chest rose and fell with the effort to breathe. "No. Yes, I forgive you. I mean no, there's nothing to forgive." I was such a bumbling idiot.

He chuckled. "I should not have declared myself yet, but...I couldn't help it. Having you here, in the semi-dark, kissing you...it's all quite exhilarating." He breathed deeply and let it out slowly. "I had better go before I turn into a blathering fool and tell you your eyes are prettier than the stars in the sky."

I laughed. "Oh dear, that is bad."

He chuckled. "Goodnight, Emily."

"Goodnight, Theo."

He didn't leave immediately, but kissed the back of my hand instead. His lips were as warm and soft as pillows. Then, wordlessly, he bowed and trotted down the stairs. I waved and turned to go inside.

The door opened and Celia's head popped round. "Did he kiss you?"

"Celia!"

"I couldn't see from the window. Well? Did he?"

"None of your business." I pushed past her into the hall. Both Lucy and Cara stood there, watching. Lucy's cheeks were a bright pink and her eyes twinkled. Cara looked grave. "Have you all been waiting here the whole time?"

"From the moment we spotted you both walking up to the house," Celia said as Lucy took my hat and coat. "Now, I don't mind him kissing you, Emily, but perhaps not on the front doorstep next time. You know how nosy the neighbors are, and they're terribly old fashioned about these sorts of things. Not like me."

I groaned. Celia would have me wed to Theo in a trice if it were in her power.

"He did kiss you, didn't he?"

"Celia!"

She sighed. "Emily, I'm not prying. Really." She waited until Lucy disappeared into the kitchen area at the back of the house then she took both my hands. "As your elder sister, I need to know what that young man's intentions are. Has he declared himself in any way?"

I withdrew my hands. "Not yet." I would not tell her he'd declared his love for me. The memory made me hot all over and a little light-headed. I didn't know what to think. It was too much to take in, and I wanted to keep it to myself a little longer. Something just for me.

"Very well." She pressed her fingers to her temple and rubbed. "We must focus now on the ball. If he has not given you an indication of his intentions by that night, you'll have to make yourself available to the other gentlemen in attendance. Do not dance more than once with Theo. We'll discuss it more as the evening approaches."

I turned to Cara and rolled my eyes. She pressed her lips together in an attempt not to smile.

"Don't you want to hear what we learned about the problem in the Waiting Area?" I asked them.

"Yes," Cara said, once more the grave little girl of our first encounter. A girl with too much responsibility for such small shoulders.

"Of course, tell us everything," said Celia. "I'm so distracted this evening. It must be because of your young man."

"Or because of the man who was here earlier," Cara said.

"Cara, hush."

"Who was here earlier?" I asked.

"My brother," Cara said. "Louis."

Celia clicked her tongue. "Never mind that now." She grabbed my hand and pulled me into the drawing room. "Lucy will have dinner ready soon and I don't want to alarm her with all this talk of spirits. Tell us what you learned from Mr. Culvert's books."

"Not until you've told me about Louis' visit. What did he say? Goodness, Celia, this is monumental! Were you even going to tell me?"

She opened her embroidery basket and removed her latest creation, a cushion cover in Christmas reds and greens. "Of course I was. When the time was right."

"That time would be now."

She sat on the sofa beside Cara and I sat in the armchair near the fireplace. A small fire burned in the grate, chasing the spring chill from the room.

"There is nothing to tell." She looked up. "That reminds me, you deliberately disobeyed me and went to see Fran?ois Moreau at the market. Emily, I'm so disappointed in you. You constantly lie to me lately." She stabbed her needle through the cushion cover. "What has gotten into you? It's that Beaufort ghost, isn't it?" she said without pausing to let me answer. "Ever since he came into our lives, you've been getting into trouble."