“Cloud watching? What is that?”
“Phineas, never say you’ve not observed the clouds scuttle across the sky and wonder at the different shapes they formed?”
“Never,” he murmured, almost with fond indulgence.
“Then we shall cloud watch for a few minutes.”
“If it is your wish.”
He felt her stare on him, then she murmured, “It is my wish.”
He felt as if he wanted to give her everything. Phineas looked around the clearing, wondering if there was some bush or plants around that had the power to intoxicate the senses.
“Why do you look so bemused?”
Their eyes met, and she smiled, hooking those wicked and alluring sensations deeper into his heart.
“I am wondering at the emotions you inspire me to feel.”
Her eyes widened as if that was the last thing she expected to hear. Hell, it was the last thing he expected himself to say.
“What emotions are those?”
He groaned. “A gentleman must never reveal such thoughts to a lady in fear he might be greatly misunderstood and excite unrealistic expectations.”
“I have never heard such rubbish,” she said. “You are merely jesting with me and—”
Phineas rolled with such swiftness atop her, she gasped, and that sound he caught with a kiss. It was not as marauding as he felt. No, he was gentle as he coaxed her lips to part with a sensual glide of his tongue. A soft whimper whispered against his mouth, and he swallowed that sweet sound, groaning as his cock hardened on a pulse of desire. Felicity clasped his shoulders, sweetly arching to him as he deepened the kiss. Her tongue rimmed his lips and he trembled. God, a woman had never made him tremble from a mere kiss before…or for anything really. Yet she destroyed him so effortlessly. He kissed her over and over until he finally lifted his head, breathing raggedly.
Her lips were bright red and swollen, and he gently soothed along the bottom lip with his thumb. The image of these swollen lips clamping tightly around his cock pulled a harsh groan from him.
“You are having wicked thoughts,” she murmured, touching the corner of his mouth with a finger.
“The wickedest,” he agreed with a smile, then he lowered his head and gently brushed his mouth against hers. “Those wicked thoughts are for night three.”
Her breath hitched, then she smiled against his mouth.
“Now, let’s sneak you back inside your chamber. Unless—”
She teasingly bit his lower lip. “I still have no wish to see the dowager countess or the countess as yet.”
With a low chuckle, he pushed himself up and assisted her to her feet. He brushed the small leaves and twigs from her hair, brutally aware of the luminous way she peered up at him.
No messy entanglements, he tried to remind himself, wondering why that reassurance sounded so damned empty this time.
CHAPTERFOURTEEN
Felicity took a deep breath as she strolled toward the drawing room. Upon reaching the door, she lifted a hand to knock and faltered.
“We cannot let Miss Harrington know about this. Surely she will be mortified.”
“How could Phin be so callous,” Mary said tragically. “Poor Jane. I have the most dreadful feeling she will be crushed.”
She silently groaned. What is it now? She had hidden away in her room for two days, dreading the moment she would see the dowager countess and the countess. Though she could sense the entire matter amused the earl, he had not prodded her to leave the room but ensured she was made comfortable in every respect.
“I daresay she might be.”
This murmur was from Annabelle.