levels worth, lit by several candelabras. There was a narrow spiral stair at the far-left end, leading to the first balcony that spanned the room’s perimeter and continued up to the third level. Behind the hearth on the second level was a doorway, but she couldn’t be certain where it led.
The room was immaculately clean and smelled faintly of woodsmoke and paper. It must take Alec’s servants a day to clean the room to keep it free of dust.
“So ye found my library.”
Giselle whirled at the sound of Alec’s voice. But scanning the room, she didn’t spot him unless he was in the large leather wingback chair that faced the window. He stood a second later, turning to face her with a faint smile on his face. Lord, he was handsome, especially when he smiled.
“How did ye know it was me?”
“Ye’re the only one in the house with three footsteps, on account of the cane.” He chuckled.
Giselle glanced down at the curved wooden stick. “That makes sense.”
“No witty quip?”
She smiled, feeling exhausted all of a sudden from having to keep up appearances so often, even if it was within her nature. “I was looking for ye.”
“Why?”
Giselle wasn’t certain how to phrase it. Nerves made her feel jittery. But it was always best to be honest, especially with the man she intended to marry. So she sucked in a breath and blurted out, “The dowager countess has asked me to leave. To break off the engagement. And I suspect by morning, my parents and possibly Joshua Keith will have arrived.”
He frowned, and she glanced toward her feet. “I should no’ have accepted your proposal. I’ve put ye in a grave position, and I do apologize for allowing my selfishness to dictate your future.”
Alec marched forward, his hands on her arms, squeezing gently. “Giselle.”
She wasn’t certain she’d ever heard him use her name so intimately. Ignoring the prickle of tears in her eyes, she looked up at him, her breath quickening along with her heart. “Alec.”
“I’m no’ abandoning ye. I asked ye to marry me knowing full well the consequences of such a request. We made a pact, did we no’? I’m a grown man and can take care of myself—and ye.”
“I would no’ wish to come between ye and your mother. Ye’ll have to defy her wishes.”
“I’ve been defying her wishes since the day I could string together words, and probably before then too with a shake of my head, a stomp of my foot. But in truth, I am no’ defying her. She wants me to wed, and that’s what I’m doing. I’m marrying ye, Giselle Hepburn if ye’ll still have me.”
A flood of relief and something akin to hope rushed through her, made her feel weak in the knees. “Aye, I want to marry ye.”
“Good.” He pulled her into his embrace then, and she dropped the cane, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and bearing the weight on her one good ankle.
She kissed him with as much promise as he showed her. His mouth broke away from hers to trail kisses down the side of her neck.
“Ye smell like heaven,” he murmured against her skin.
Giselle trembled at the sensations his mouth on her neck brought, and she wondered if it would feel the same for him. She curved her face against his neck, placing her lips on a spot where his pulse leapt.
Alec let out a shuddering breath, his hands encasing her ribs. One slowly slid back to her spine while the other crept forward, hovering close to her breast, but he stilled as if waiting for permission.
“Touch me,” she whispered as she pressed her lips back to his.
“I should no’.” His words sounded strangled.
“Aye, ye should.” As she’d moved his hands outside to wrap around her, she placed her palm over his and gently guided him to touch her breast where her nipple puckered.
The heavy, warm weight of his caress sent a delicious spiral of wanting through her. A sensation she’d never experienced before. A thirst for more of his touch, his taste.
Alec’s thumb brushed over her taut nipple, and a shiver trembled over her skin. Her back arched, thrusting her breasts forward, encouraging. Exploring sensuality with Alec in his glorious library was as a fantasy come to life.
“Och, sweet lass,” he groaned against her mouth.
Every inch of her skin tingled, itched, and she had the strongest urge to curl her leg around his hip, to bring the heated parts of herself in contact with his strong body.