is usually left open? I have permission, had permission from the late Baron to pick mistletoe, but I could not get in and had to leave Rufus outside.”
The dog barked in reply to his name. Rupert could see that he was a spaniel, a ruby red in colour of the type favoured by King Charles the second. The dog was peering through the ornamental wrought iron gate, which of course, Rupert had ordered to be locked. Rupert picked up the lady’s basket, which she had laid on the bench. It already had a few meagre sprigs within, so he placed the new sprig atop them.
“I think I can reach better clusters fairly easily, but perhaps we should relieve Rufus of his durance vile, to quote Rabbie Burns, Ah, Farrant could you open the gate and let Master Rufus in, please?”
“Yes, of course, my lord,” the old retainer said, pulling a large and slightly rusty key from a large ring.
He toddled over to the gate and with a turn of the key let the gate creak open only to be greeted by a very exuberant and somewhat muddy spaniel, who dashed to his mistress’s side.
“Down Rufus, and sit as you can see, his lordship although unorthodox in his welcome, is not an enemy.”
That much was clear to the dog as he wagged his tail over to Rupert and allowed him to ruffle his velvety ears.
Chapter 2
He kissed me.
That single thought knocked around Verity’s head as she valiantly tried to appear worldly and unaffected by the rogue’s behaviour. It would not do for him to realize how much his kiss affected her, and it most certainly would not do if he knew how much her heart still pounded, and her hands holding the pieces of mistletoe sprigs trembled. She was acquainted with the behaviour of rogues and rakes and it was clear the baron belonged in that category.
What upset her the most was her reaction to his boldness. Verity’s skin felt sensitized, her lips tingled, and a very odd yet warmly pleasant sensation lingered inside her body. Quite different to the sensations previously roused by her fiancé’s tender embraces. Verity frowned, wondering if this Lord Rupert had felt a similar connection? She peeked at him as he stooped to ruffle the top of Rufus’ head. Her loyal dog sniffed and trotted over to her. Good boy.
The baron rose and reached for the branch which had eluded her height earlier. She had to admit that he was a fine figure of a man as he agilely stretched to reach more mistletoe. Although somewhat dishevelled, the new baron’s lean muscular form was a tailor’s dream and topped with a mischievous visage which, if not perfectly classical, had a pair of dazzling twinkling hazel eyes. His light brown hair was streaked with blond where the sun had bleached it naturally, which accented his deeply tanned skin.
The new baron walked over. Verity tried not to ogle and appear like a gauche country bumpkin. He was terribly handsome, his posture confident, and a bit roguish.
“I am not certain Rufus likes me,” he said with a charming curve of his mouth.
“He tends to be wary of those who take liberties,” she said with a challenging lift of her brow.
“Ah…the kiss.”
A flush ran along her cheeks, but she lifted her chin. “Yes, your inappropriate introduction.” And the one she had slapped him so soundly for.
“Should I apologize for it then?”
“Would you be sincere, my lord?” And that very much mattered to her, sincerity in a gentleman.
His lovely eyes danced with humour and an unknown emotion she could not identify. “No,” he murmured, his eyes scanning her face.
“As expected of a rogue,” she said with a sniff.
“I am ever honest, my lady.”
“Are you?”
“Hmm, and something tells me you would value truthfulness. The tilt of your chin, perhaps? It has a very decided and piquant shape.”
Verity refused to smile at his attempts at charm. “I do value honesty, not that it should excuse your wicked behaviour.”
He placed a hand over his heart. “Then I can confess I’ve never gotten such pleasure and delight from a kiss before.”
She audibly gasped. The shameless scoundrel!
“I’ve never tasted lips so soft and sweet, so—”
“My lord! Say no more!” Her entire body felt alive with feelings she never previously felt. Verity was not sure if she should be appalled by this scoundrel’s behaviour or be thrilled. Her heart stuttered and with a sense of stunned alarm she acknowledged that she was terribly attracted to him. Since