Passions of a Gentleman (Gentlemen of Honor #3) - Rose Gordon Page 0,21

“Always has.”

“Well then—” Simon curled his fingers under hers, flipped their hands over and took a step back— “we need to make a plan.”

Nervous excitement and hesitation warred within her. “Plan? What plan? The last thing I need is another plan.”

“Another plan?” His eyes sparkled. “Aha, I knew I was part of your plan.”

“Just the part to get me here,” she admitted nervously.

Still holding her hands, he squeezed her palms. “Well, m’dear, I am pleased to inform you that you chose the right gentleman to involve in your scheme to snare another man into matrimony.” A self-deprecating smile took over his lips. “Without meaning to, I’ve driven two ladies into the arms of—”

Catching sight of Juliet and Drake emerging from Drake’s office, panic pushed Rae to take action, and without hesitation, she pushed herself up against Simon and cut off the rest of his confession with a kiss.

9

Simon stood rooted to the floor.

“Rae?” he whispered.

Wordlessly, she cut her eyes in the direction of Drake’s office. Simon followed her line of vision: Lord and Lady Drakely. His tongue grew thick and he forced himself to take an uneasy step away from Rae.

“I thought to suggest you two should go for a walk about the gardens until luncheon, but I’m now I’m not sure that’s for the best,” Juliet said, her hands idly resting on her swollen midsection.

“No, perhaps not,” Simon agreed quietly. Leaving him and Rae to their own devices in the garden might end in a real marriage proposal. The realization sobered him. He might have just offered to help Rae, but he needed to be careful—very careful—from this point forward or he’d be her groom. He lowered his lashes and looked down at her. She was fetching, to be sure, particularly with that pale pink blush coloring her porcelain cheeks. And, he’d be remiss if he didn’t admit that her kiss had affected him in a way that—

“Isn’t that so, Appleton?”

Simon jerked. “Pardon, my lord?” He blinked to clear his lusty thoughts. “I was woolgathering. What was it you said?”

“That if you’re to be staying here for a few days, that you’ll need some new clothes.”

All eyes went to Simon and his wrinkled clothes.

“Oh, a trip to the village is just what we need,” Lady Drakely suggested with far more excitement than Simon thought was worthy of such an idea.

Simon waited for Rae to disagree with her sister, and had to squeeze her hand to make sure she still had a pulse when what had to be a full minute had passed without an objection from Rae.

“I suppose I will need a new suit for the fair,” Simon said.

“Right you are,” Lady Drakely agreed. “It’ll do us all some good to spend some time together.”

Simon doubted that, but nodded his agreement instead.

Fifteen minutes later, the carriage was readied and the four of them, along with Lord Drakely’s three oldest daughters from his first marriage, were traveling down the country’s shabbiest road.

“Perhaps a good rain might help,” Simon said with a grimace as the carriage rocked over an excessively large bump.

“Doubt—” bump “—ful,” Lord Drakely responded, jerking his head to the side to avoid being bonked on the chin by eight year-old Kate

Across the carriage, Lady Drakely held her abdomen and Rae clutched tightly to the edge of the seat with one hand and kept her arm firmly snaked around Helena, the second oldest. The eldest sister sat beside Simon, both of her hands gripping the edge of her seat cushion so tightly her knuckles had turned whiter than the lace on her gown.

“If Cruxley doesn’t try to avoid at least a few of these ruts, Henrietta might be helping to deliver this baby in the carriage,” Lady Drakely said then offered a weak smile. “Won’t that be exciting?”

“No,” Simon said more roughly than he meant. He coughed and instinctively loosened his cravat.

“I agree with Appleton,” Lord Drakely said, reaching his knuckles up toward the ceiling. “If you think that—”

Frowning, Lady Drakely batted at his hand. “We’ve been married too long,” she said on a sigh. “My jests are no longer humorous, I’m afraid.”

The little girl wedged between Rae and Juliet giggled, as did the one seated on her father’s lap.

Lady Drakely smiled at them. “Well, I’m glad you two still find me entertaining.”

“I do, too,” the girl next to Simon said. “But—” BUMP! “—if I laugh, I might bite my tongue off!”

Simon shook his head ruefully. Nothing like the logic of a twelve-year-old. His eyes narrowed on her. Eleven?