B006DTZ3FY EBOK Read Free Page A

thinking that Sir James had no right, ” she said softly. “N o right to touch me. ”
    “Y es. ” Derek ’ s voice sounded half-strangled. “S orry! I know it sounds absurd, coming from me. Can ’ t help it. ”
    Amusement crinkled the corners of her eyes. “B ut it doesn ’ t sound absurd at all. I agree with you. He had no right to touch me. And he certainly had no right to kiss me. ”
    “ Cynthia , you shame me. ” He cradled her face in his hands. Her cheeks were soft as a baby ’ s. His heart swelled with a remorse so keen it was almost sorrow. “I had no right to kiss you, either. ” He opened his mouth to apologize, but she forestalled him by laying one finger gently against his lips.
    “Y es, you did. ” Her whisper was barely audible. “Y ou had every right. ”
    Remorse faded, forgotten. Awe took its place. It was suddenly hard to breathe. He shook his head slowly. “H ow can that be? ”
    Her eyes were blue as the morning sky. “I don ’ t know. ” Confusion clouded them briefly, and then cleared. She smiled at him. “I don ’ t know, ” she repeated, but the trouble had vanished from her face. “S ome things, one can ’ t explain. They are simply true. ”
    So of course he kissed her again.
    And again.
    Eventually he was forced to come up for air. He moved immediately to sweep her back into another kiss, but Cynthia pulled away from him, gasping to catch her breath.
    “I ... I can ’ t ... oh, what time is it? ” She sat up, seeming dazed. “W hat am I doing ? ”
    “K issing me, ” he said thickly. Whatever else she had on her agenda, it couldn ’ t possibly be more important. He reached for her again, but she held him off.
    Her face was rosy from his kisses. She looked delightful, but she pressed her hands to her cheeks as if trying to cool them. “M erciful heavens. I have never in my life — that is — I mean — oh, this is madness! I don ’ t even know you. ”
    But on this point, Derek was very sure. “Y ou know me. ” He smiled, besotted, and tucked a strand of her spun-sunlight hair back into her coiffure. “N ever doubt that, Cynthia . ”
    She gave a shaky little laugh, seeming to agree w ith him against her better judge ment. “P erhaps you are right. What ’ s in a name? ” she said lightly. With an inward start, he recognized the words; she was not only quoting Shakespeare, she was quoting the same play that — “ And yet, ” she continued, breaking into his jumbled thoughts, “I would like to know it. ”
    He took a deep breath. “O f course you would. What a dunderhead I am. ” He raked his hair back off his forehead and tried to gather his wits. “M y name is Whittaker, ” he told her. “D erek Whittaker. At your service, I need hardly add. ”
    Cynthia ’ s smile bloomed again. “D erek Whittaker, ” she repeated. He thought his name had never sounded so well. “A nd I am Cynthia Fitzwilliam. ” She seemed to expect the name to mean something to him, but he couldn ’ t place it. After a tiny pause, she added, “M y father is the Earl of Ballymere, you know. ”
    No, he hadn ’ t known. Derek ’ s heart sank. This was not good news. Ballymere was obviously an Irish title, but Irish or not, an earl ’ s daughter was above his touch. Ridiculous, that that would matter so much to him. He barely knew this girl. Was he already planning to court her?
    Well, yes. He was. No doubt about it.
    Her smile faded. She regarded him gravely. “I must go back. ” He felt her anxiety suddenly return. Tension ran through her slim body, although her face betrayed none of it. “S ir James will have returned to the box by now. ”
    He stared down at her in amazement. “S ir James? Never tell me you came here tonight in Filey ’ s company! ”
    Cynthia closed her eyes in an expression of pain. “Y es, I did, ” she whispered. Then she placed her palms over her face, sagging with misery. “O h, what will you think of me? ”
    Derek placed his arm