The Kiss of Love (The Book of Love 6) Page 9

  He dropped his hands to his sides and looked at her. “Whatever this thing is between us needs to run its natural course. But I’ll tell you right now, I did not think it possible beauty such as yours could ever exist in the world. And for me to find it? To find you? Well, here you are, and I don’t ever want to let you go.”

  “Tom—”

  “No, don’t dismiss me. Whatever your terrible secret is, I hope you’ll trust me enough to tell me. I still can’t imagine how bad it could be. When I look at you, all I see is a woman of extraordinary quality. A woman of infinite kindness and compassion. So many things ran through my mind today. I knew Lady Sarah was going to cause trouble. I know she dislikes you, no doubt because she senses that I like you.”

  Honey nodded. “Otherwise, she wouldn’t pay me any notice. My family is in trade. I’m a nobody to her.”

  “She’s a vindictive brat. I was afraid she would do something to ruin you.”

  “I worried about it, too.” She sank onto the chair beside his and propped her elbows on the table. “She and her two lackeys are probably plotting something dastardly as we speak. I was sure they’d stolen the book. Maybe they were just teasing me with trivial irritations before they sprang their real trap.”

  “I’d marry you if it came to that.” He held up a hand when she opened her mouth to protest. “Before you gasp and declare you wish to remain a spinster, let me tell you my point. Although you must know what I’m about to say since I’ve already spilled my guts to you.”

  He took a deep breath. “I’d marry you this very night if I had to. Not because I’d feel honor-bound to do it. I’ve run away from the parson’s trap all my life and am quite adept at escaping it. However, with you, I’d run toward it. The thought of sharing a lifetime with you does not make me break out in a sweat or bring on hives.”

  She couldn’t help but grin. “That’s quite a romantic statement. You have me swooning.”

  He arched an eyebrow and smiled back. “Earl baring his soul here. Show a little respect.”

  She took his hand and held it, entwining her fingers with his. “I’m sorry. Overwhelmed girl here. I never thought anyone as special as you could like me.”

  “Surely you realize it’s more than that. The possibility of waking to the sight of your lovely face each morning, of going about my duties and coming home to your beautiful smile at the end of each day…of building a life and a family with you, is—”

  She shot to her feet. “Tom, no.”

  He rose along with her, obviously frustrated. “What am I missing, Honey? Did I misunderstand your willingness last night? Do you not care for me?”

  All she had to do was tell him that she didn’t like him, and he would stop pursuing her. It would sadden him, perhaps break his heart for a little while. But his heart would mend in time. However, she was beginning to doubt hers ever would. “Give me time, Tom.”

  “To figure out whether you like me?”

  “No. That was never in doubt.”

  His tension eased. “Then, you like me?”

  “Of course, I do.”

  “Do you love me?”

  The air grew charged around them while she struggled to give him an answer.

  He caressed her cheek and cast her a wry smile. “If you have to think about it, then the answer to that question is no.”

  She could feel his heartbreak as though it was living, palpable thing. Brittle. Shattering. Breaking apart like fragile crystal.

  She stopped him as he strode to the door. “Ask me again.”

  His eyes reflected his confusion, perhaps his concern that he would ask again and she would kick him in the teeth with her answer. “Do you love me?”

  “Yes, Tom. I do,” she said and felt the tension flow out of him.

  “Well, that’s settled.” His smile touched her heart, for it was so warm and tender. “I have more questions for you. Do I dare ask the next one?”

  “No. Please, not tonight.” She knew what it would be.

  He wanted to know her secret.

  “Honey–”

  “No. But if you’d like to know when I fell in love with you, that I will answer. I think it was at first sight. How deeply do I love you? Very. So deeply, it hurts.”

  Those answers were easy.

  But this conversation was between an earl and the girl he thought was of respectable birth.

  How different would it be if he knew she was illegitimate?

  Chapter Eight

  Tom stifled his disappointment.

  Honey was not among the small party gathered in the entry hall shortly after daybreak, preparing to go down to the river to fish. Two footmen stood beside the lords and ladies, fishing poles and other supplies in their hands.

  “Shall we go, Wycke?” Lord Wrexham asked, peering at him through bloodshot eyes.

  Tom was surprised his friend had made it down this early, especially since he suspected Wrexham had been cavorting with Lady Sarah in her bedchamber last night. “Yes, let’s. My butler will point any stragglers in the right direction. We won’t be hard to find.”

  Perhaps it was for the best Honey wasn’t here to distract him. As it was, he could not get her off his mind. After their talk, he’d returned to his bedchamber, stripped out of his clothes, and fallen into bed alone.

  Aching and alone, for he hadn’t taken another woman to his bed since setting eyes on the girl.

  What was it about her?

  She’d done little more than smile at him. So how could she so thoroughly possess his heart upon a mere two days of closer acquaintance?

  Indeed, he hardly knew her.

  They’d never spoken at length before this weekend. He’d first met her about three months ago at one of those London teas. Since then, he’d mostly watched her from a distance. If they spoke, it was in passing, an occasional greeting that never lasted more than a minute or two.

  And yet, last night, he was ready to propose to her.

  No wonder she’d stopped him; he was moving too fast.

  He’d given his sister and Malcolm no end of grief when they’d wanted to marry quickly. And here he was, ready to make Honey his countess after a mere two days.

  She still had this secret she feared to tell him.

  A light mist swirled around his boots as he led the others to the river. He knew the path well, for he often came out here on his own to think and fish. It did not matter the season, this was his spot when seeking solace.

  Ten guests had braved the early hour to join him, seven men and three young ladies. No one spoke. It was too early, and most of the men were still hungover from last night.

  Leaves crunched beneath their feet as they marched along the path that meandered through the meadow and along the arches of trees. Soon, he heard the gentle whoosh of flowing water and the chirp of birds amid the shrubs along the riverbank. “This is the spot. Grab your fishing poles and spread out along the shore. Does anyone require assistance?”

  All three young ladies replied in the affirmative, batting their eyelashes and smiling at him. Yes, of course. He’d walked straight into that one.

  He helped each of them, enduring more batted eyelashes and feigned smiles. Well, perhaps he was being harsh. They were under pressure from their families to marry and had little time to accomplish the feat. There were four other bachelors among their party. He assigned three of them the task of attending to the ladies.

  The fourth one was so deeply hungover, Tom was afraid the man would tumble into the water. He took a spot near him, ready to haul him out of the river if he actually did fall in. But he’d done his service to the ladies. He grinned as they seemed to happily pair off with their assigned partners.

  A few other guests strolled down to join them an hour later, Honey among them. She’d walked down with Pip and Periwinkle. “Care to take a turn, Pip?” he asked as they approached.

  The boy was unable to contain his excitement. “Yes, may I?”

  Tom handed over his pole and gave him
a few tips on how to dab it in the water to attract the fish. He then turned to Honey. “I could send one of the footmen back for more fishing poles. Or would you rather take a walk along the bank with me?”

  “A walk would be lovely, my lord.”

  They stayed within sight of their group, but far enough away so as not to be overheard. Honey spoke first. “You left early to go fishing, and I thought you might not have had time to speak to Lottie or her sister. So, I mentioned the odd disappearance of my book to Lottie when she came up to help me dress. She said you’d already advised all of them. Thank you, Tom.”

  He nodded.

  “She assured me she’d keep an ear to the ground and would check with everyone on your staff throughout the day. But it’s still so odd. It has me puzzled. I suppose I ought to stop thinking about it. After all, it is a crime that never happened.”

  “It did happen,” he corrected. “Perhaps one of Sarah’s toadies took it, then realized she might get herself into serious trouble and quickly put it back.”

  Honey nodded. “Yes, it could be. Or even Poppy borrowing it, but she would have mentioned something about it to me this morning while we ate our breakfast. When I told her what happened, she grew concerned and told me to hide it away.”

  “Did you?”

  She nodded. “I gave it to your valet and told him you had asked for it. I told him to put it in your quarters right away and make certain no one touches it. Lady Sarah and her rabble might not hesitate to enter my bedchamber, but they would never dare enter yours.”

  Tom shook his head and groaned. “You gave Merrick that book? The Book of Love? Bollocks. I’ll never hear the end of it from that damn Scot. He’ll tease me about it ’til the day he takes his last breath.”

  Honey’s eyes rounded in dismay. “Oh, dear. I didn’t mean… I’ll tell him I made a mistake, and you weren’t asking for the book.”

  “I’m jesting. Merrick and I will have a good chuckle over it, that’s all. I wouldn’t be surprised if I caught him reading it. He’s a cantankerous old goat on the outside, but soft as pudding on the inside.”

  She looked at him with her eyes gleaming. “And you, Tom? What are you?”

  He shrugged. “I never gave it much thought until you came along. What sort of person do you think I am?”

  “That’s an easy one. You already know how I feel about you. Obviously, I believe you’re the best sort of man.”

  “But you don’t trust me.”

  “Ah, we’re back to that. You want to know my secret.” She nibbled her lip, and the smile glowing in her eyes now faded. “I do trust you. But it is not something I can lightly talk about. Let’s get through your weekend party first.”

  She was right.

  How could he expect her to confide in him? Whatever her secret, he could not believe she had done anything wrong to precipitate it.

  She was honest, that much was obvious. Despite their interlude the other night, a kiss that had been taken too far, she was of the highest moral character. Who else would have confessed to having a damaging secret before marriage?

  Any other debutante would have kept silent until he had married her, and it was too late for him to annul their marriage.

  Not Honey.

  She did not have it in her to deceive him.

  “You look lovely, by the way.” He ought to have mentioned it sooner. But she always looked beautiful, never more so than when she wore these unadorned day gowns. This one was a pale blue that somehow brought out the shimmering blue of her eyes.

  “Thank you. You’re looking quite handsome yourself. But you always do.” She cast him an impish grin. “I’m sure you have no idea how quickly you set every girl’s heart aflutter. As you know, I am no exception. Mad flutters, the moment I saw you standing by the river.”

  “You affect me, too. As you well know from the other night.” But he said no more as he heard Periwinkle suddenly frantically yip. The muddy ground beneath the dog’s feet began to give away.

  Honey gasped. “Oh, no! Tom, he’s falling into the river.”

  “Bollocks! Pip just jumped in after him. Can the boy swim?” He tossed off his jacket and ran toward the water.

  Honey tried her best to keep up with him. “I don’t know.”

  Tom dove in. Whether or not the boy could swim no longer mattered. The river current was too strong for the lad to handle while also holding on to Periwinkle. He reached them in two strokes, grabbed Pip just as the boy lost his grip on Lavinia’s dog, and shoved him to shore. Honey and two of the men were there to help pull him out of the water.

  Tom then swam to Periwinkle, overtaking him as he frantically tried to paddle his way to shore. But he was a little dog, and the current was too swift for him to handle. He grabbed the frightened pup in one arm. But knowing he couldn’t fight the current swimming with only one arm, he floated along with it until he finally caught a protruding branch and used it to swing himself closer to shore.

  Honey and a few more of the men in their fishing party had been running parallel to him all the while. Honey was first to him, grabbing Periwinkle while the men helped to haul him out of the water and onto the grass.

  He laughed and coughed and took several deep breaths.

  “Lord Wycke, are you all right?” Honey knelt beside him, her face ashen.

  Lavinia’s waterlogged spaniel was shivering and squirming in her arms. Pip was still dripping water from every pore as he ran up to him and dropped to his knees beside him.

  “Thank you,” the boy said and hugged him.

  He wrapped his arms around the frightened boy. “Are you all right, Pip?”

  He nodded. “Yes, thanks to you.”

  Everyone then began to ask if he was all right.

  “Yes, all of you. I’m fine.” He was still breathing heavily and coughing. His clothes and boots were soaked. But otherwise, he’d suffered no damage.

  Honey remained beside him as the other men helped Pip and Periwinkle back to the house. “Tom, you were brilliant.”

  “Brilliant enough for a kiss?” He took her hand.

  “Not here!” But she nodded. “Yes, later. As many as you wish.” She slipped her hand out of his and scrambled to her feet just as the rest of their party approached.

  Everyone fussed over him the entire way back to the house, but he kept his eyes on Honey, who was walking with the other young ladies. He was glad to see they were keeping her company, for he didn’t want her to be ignored in all the commotion.

  He glanced back toward the river and saw that his footmen were collecting the fishing poles and baskets of food that had been brought down with them. The guests at the house ran out to him, all chattering at once, congratulating him and asking him to tell them every detail of what had happened.

  He had no idea what Pip had just told them, but he was now surrounded by an eager throng who treated him as though he was Julius Caesar returned from conquering empires. He couldn’t take a step without someone cheering or patting him on the back.

  He answered a few questions but left it to the others in his party to relate the tale while he went upstairs to change out of his wet clothes. Nathaniel and Poppy had taken Pip upstairs. Lavinia was still downstairs, crying as his staff fussed over Periwinkle. They were drying him with towels and offering him all manner of treats.

  He looked around for Honey, but he’d been delayed by everyone lauding him as a returning hero. She must have gone up ahead of him because he lost sight of her.

  His valet was waiting for him as he squished down the hall and entered his bedchamber. “Don’t you dare laugh at me, Merrick, or I shall sack your fat, Scottish arse.”

  “Very well, my lord. As you wish.” But he was grinning like one of those barnyard cats who’d just caught a bird in his mouth. “A job well done, my lord.”

  “Anyone could have done it.” He stripped out of his shirt, pants, and boots.

  “But only you dove in.”

  Tom chuckled. “Is that a smile of admir
ation I detect?”

  “A smile? On me? Heaven forbid. Would you care for a towel?” He held one out to him.

  Tom took it and quickly dried himself off. “Miss Farthingale brought me a book,” he said, reaching for the dry trousers and boots. “Where did you put it?”

  The man was still tossing him that irritating grin. “In your bureau. Top drawer. She’s the best of the lot,” he said, offering an opinion he wasn’t asked. “It’s about time you got around to business.”

  Tom was going to toss back a remark when someone pounded on his door. “Lord Wycke! Lord Wycke!”

  It was Honey.

  He’d already donned fresh pants and boots, so he quickly tossed on his shirt and opened the door. She still wore the gown soiled during Periwinkle’s rescue. One look at her expression, and he knew something was terribly wrong. “What’s happened?”

  “Your mother is missing.”

  “Bloody hell. Where’s Dora? When did she notice her gone?” He turned away to hastily tuck in his shirt and then strode toward his mother’s chamber. Honey doubled her steps to keep up with his strides.

  “She can’t have been gone long. Dora said she only left her for a few minutes.”

  He raked a hand through his wet hair. “Damn it. She shouldn’t have left her at all.”

  “You mustn’t blame her.” Honey rolled her eyes. “The poor woman has to occasionally take care of her own necessities. I’ll help you search. I sent Lottie downstairs to alert the staff. I’m sorry, I should have asked you first. But you were still surrounded by everyone. All I could think of was to get them out searching before she came to any harm.”

  He nodded. “It’s all right, Honey. You did what you had to do.”

  Dora was sitting in his mother’s quarters with her hands clasped in her lap. She was crying, so whatever admonishment Tom had thought to give no longer seemed important. It was his fault for placing the entire burden on her. This behavior was new to all of them. “We’ll find her, Dora,” he said, patting her hands. “Do you have any idea where she might have gone?”