Once Upon a Time in Bath (The Brides of Bath #7) - Cheryl Bolen Page 0,46
eyes narrowing at his joviality, “if we act like we don’t consider ourselves above them—though really it’s only you who is actually above them in station—they might speak more candidly. Those not accustomed to the nobility could be too shy to speak to said fancy lord.”
“As said fancy lord, I’d like to weigh in on this. I tend to agree with your idea of arriving in the coach. I have found it does tend to draw attention from those in the lower classes—none of whom have I ever felt were too shy to speak with me.”
“But you didn’t come in your coach.”
“There is that,” he said with a shrug. He leaned into her and pressed a kiss upon her cheek.
Why had he gone and done that? He’d not ever kissed her before. Now that it was done, he felt awkward, but at the time it seemed perfectly natural. Recovering quickly, he added, “My betrothed appears to be far more analytical than I.”
The unexpectedness of the kiss must have stolen her tongue, which was uncharacteristic for Dot. She looked downward. “Oh, look how much Lover Boy loves you, Forrester! How can you not want to pick him up and get a good kitty cuddle?”
A kitty cuddle? Spare him, please. He peered downward. “My valet would have apoplexy if I allow cat hair on my dark coat.”
She put down her black and white cat. “You sound just like my Papa.”
He assisted with her fur-trimmed cloak, and they left to walk back to Appleton House on Camden Crescent to fetch his coach. Neither spoke at first. Was she, too, pondering his spontaneous cheek kiss? It only now occurred to him that this was the fourth day since she had agreed to marry him, and he’d never kissed her.
Having never been betrothed before, he had no knowledge of how one did act with the woman one meant to wed. Of course, were he in love with her, he would have taken her in his arms and properly kissed her on the mouth when she consented to become his wife.
When it occurred to him that his failure to kiss her might have offended Dot, he almost stopped dead in his footsteps. He’d rather sever a limb than hurt her. He might not be in love with Dot, but he most certainly had come to care about her. She was eminently admirable.
Because she had consented to marry him, it must mean that she fancied him. Therefore, it would stand to reason she would wish to be kissed by the man she favored.
What a complete oaf I’ve been! Kissing shouldn’t be something one had to contemplate. Just like back at her house, he’d kissed her because he bloody well wanted to, because he enjoyed being with her, and being with her made him happy. That’s why he’d so spontaneously leaned over and pecked her on the cheek.
He vowed that henceforth he would make a conscious effort to kiss her when leaving her each night.
A pity he didn’t lust after her. It would have made the prospect of their marriage much more appealing.
He looked down at her delicate hand resting on his proffered sleeve, and he covered it with his. The idea of being married no longer revolted him. He could have done far worse than marrying Miss Dorothea Pankhurst.
She looked up at him with those soulful dark eyes and smiled.
Then he lifted her hand and pressed his lips to it. “I am happy that the woman with whom I’m going to share life sees eye to eye with me much of the time.”
“And I’m happy that the man with whom I’m going to share my life does not treat me as if I’m empty headed.” Her amused gaze met his. “Most of the time.”
“When have I not?”
Her eyebrows lifted. “That day when you picked Annie and me up from the lending library.”
An aggravated expression on his face, he nodded. “Forgive me for initially thinking your taste in books would parallel that of most maidens—many of whom are empty headed. I should have known if Annie got on so well with you, you couldn’t be stupid.”
“Surely you haven’t forgotten all my father’s accolades,” she said with a laugh. “Does he not sufficiently praise me?”
“I have found his praise to be well founded.”
“I believe you’re prevaricating again, my lord. And now that you’ve been properly chastised, I must make a confession.”
He turned to her. The chilled air had turned her cheeks red, something he hadn’t expected to see in