Tempting the Footman (House of Devon #5) - Lauren Smith Page 0,40

to me. She tried to order me to bed her, but I refused, and I fear she’s quite furious with me. But that has nothing to do with you. What lies between us . . .” He paused, tongue-tied by this beautiful, compassionate woman. “What we have is special. I have never done this with any other houseguest. And I have never felt this way about any woman. I am willing—more than willing—to do anything with you, anything for you. Do you understand?”

Venetia was slow to nod, but her brown eyes, such a lovely rich color, were wide and a little stunned. That was good. It meant she finally understood the depth of his devotion.

“Are we mad, Adrian? To feel so deeply after only a few days?”

“If we are, then I shall seek no treatment for such madness.” He brushed his thumb along the delicate line of her jaw and down to her lips. Touching her was such a pleasure, he still couldn’t believe it. He wished he never had to stop.

“Now dry your eyes, love. You must return to the luncheon so that your grandmother does not worry anymore.”

“And you? What will you do?”

“I will resume my duties and avoid Mrs. Hamill and her hairbrushes.”

“Hairbrushes?” Venetia asked as she played with the folds of his neckcloth.

“She threw a hairbrush at my head when I refused her.”

“Oh heavens.” Venetia did not wish to laugh at Adrian’s plight, but she did, and soon her eyes were bright with joy again.

“I shall come to you tonight if you wish, and you can regale me with all the gossip I don’t hear while on duty.”

“And I promise not to throw any hairbrushes at you.” Venetia leaned in and kissed him.

He claimed her lips in return, wanting so much to carry her to bed, but he couldn’t be gone much longer. He was falling in love with this woman, and it was indeed like falling. He was out of control, and his heart was so full of her that he didn’t care what happened when he hit the ground. She was worth everything.

10

The rest of the week was uneventful. He had no more unwanted encounters with Mrs. Hamill, and he spent so much time in bliss with Venetia. Adrian could scarcely believe how easy it was to be with her, to be himself and not carry any shame of his past with him because she knew the truth and didn’t care. Although Mr. Sherman continued to pay court to Venetia during the day, Adrian was able to witness that she had no real interest in the man aside from his friendship. It was a small thing, but it gave Adrian hope, hope for what he was too afraid to voice aloud.

Whenever he had a spare moment, he sought her out, under the guise of bringing her tea or running an errand for her. It gave him a dozen small moments to touch her, to secretly kiss her, to whisper questions about her life and she of his. It hadn’t been easy to tell her so much about himself—he wasn’t used to sharing his life with anyone—but she never judged him or looked down upon him, as many people in her position often did.

Venetia had a brilliant mind for politics and economics, and her voracious love of reading was something that he shared. She was also playful, teasing him so much during a game of cards that he lost his focus and they both dissolved into laughter. In these moments, he forgot that he was a man from belowstairs rather than her equal, a gentleman.

And he had seen in the last few days how she had blossomed under his attentions. Her shyness had faded away, and he could see the humorous and clever woman her grandmother so clearly adored.

Adrian joined Venetia in bed each night, making love to her and sharing more stories of his life and she of hers until he felt he knew her better than anyone at Hartland. He also learned more of the intimidating Lady Latham and how she fiercely loved Venetia and had a soft heart beneath that fire-breathing exterior.

“Your grandmother really wants someone to thrash your cousin?”

They lay together in the predawn darkness, chuckling over what Venetia had just told him.

“Oh yes. Patrick is odious, and Gran is quite serious about someone putting him in his place.” Venetia’s tone turned more solemn. “Before we left for this party, he was positively frightening.”

A dark cloud of fury began to gather