Her Lady's Whims and Fancies

by Jen Geigle Johnson

  She leaned into his kiss. “Oh.”

  He cupped her cheek with his hand, tipped his head, and pressed his lips to hers. Just once, softly. And the thrill of unspoken promises rushed through her in happy waves. She opened her eyes. His shining happiness grinned back. “Tell me all the things that make you happy,” he said.

  “Pardon?” Kate’s mind, in a daze, could not register mere words as anything important to grab ahold of, but after blinking twice, she nodded. “You.” Then she laughed and sat up straighter, missing immediately their intimate closeness. She shook her head, as if such a thing would ever help her think clearly again. “And . . . my sisters, when we are all together. A beautiful hairstyle. Art. I love when the colors balance in a painting. A simple walk on the beach. Wind in my hair when it is free of all pins.” She laughed.

  “I wouldn’t mind such a thing if you care to release this thick, dark beauty from its prison.”

  She laughed, eyeing him with a question. Did she dare? She would return looking like an absolute hoyden. But what did that matter? Who would be there to see? She lifted her bonnet and handed it to Lord Dennison.

  The intimacy of such a gesture was not lost on her, or him, if the darkening of his eyes was any indication. Then she began by tugging pins. But some were stuck. And she had no mirror to see, and she was halfway into wreaking havoc on her hair. No going back now. “Oh, dear.”

  “Might I assist?” His voice was husky, deep, close.

  “I would very much appreciate it.”

  As soon as his fingers were trailing through her hair, seeking out pins and handing them to her, Kate was full of happy tingles of expectation. Every brush against her head, every movement of hair by his hands filled her with one thing. Desire. She wanted Lord Dennison in her life. She wanted him near. And she wanted him to always run his fingers through her hair. Each pin was an unhappy countdown to the moment when he would stop. He trailed his fingers over her head, seeking any stray pins, and then moved the lot of it off her shoulders to trail back behind her.

  “Your hair is magnificent. In case I never see such glory on you again, I am happy for this moment.”

  She shook her head, the wind catching her hair and sending further waves of pleasure through her. “This is lovely. I think all women should wear their hair thus.” She ran fingers through, untangling some remaining knots, and then stood. “Let’s dance!” She ran out across the beach with her arms out to her side and spun in great circles.

  Lord Dennison, laughing, joined her, and they weaved together, laughing and dancing their own music-less tribute to the freedom of the air and the water and the bright blue sky.

  After a moment, breathless, Kate stopped. “And now, I must replace my bonnet.”

  He looked up at the sun. “Ah yes, freckles.”

  “Freckles.”

  “Perhaps Whims and Fancies shall declare freckles to be on mode?” He laughed.

  But his words shook her.

  “Not likely, I’m afraid.” Though she tried to keep her earlier feelings of careless freedom close, she knew it was hopeless. Her shoulders drooped as she followed Lord Dennison back to their things.

  His arms were strong. Without his jacket, she could see more the definition in his arms, and the power he carried as he walked—the strength in his chest and arms sent happy shivers through her. Really, he was everything a man should be. All those months of admiring him from afar had been merited. And she now could only wish she deserved such a man.

  She would make things right. She must. “How—how are things after that time in the card room?” Kate’s voice shook. She dreaded his response.

  Just as she feared, his shoulders stiffened. But then they relaxed, and he turned with a ready smile. “I don’t even care.”

  “You don’t?”

  Lord Dennison shook his head. “I have work to do to convince the others that I have a brain working on complexities in between these shoulders whose use is far greater than simply to hold the jacket, true to form, on my body.” He lifted his jacket off the trunk, not even bothering to shake it or brush it off. “But I will work to do so. The true test will be when I talk to my friends from Oxford and the other active members of the House of Lords.” He looked about to say more, but he stopped. “Forgive me. I’m speaking without thinking. Most of this is probably nothing you’re interested in.”

  “Oh, but I am. Remember, it is I who hope to aid in the tenant considerations as well.”

  “Too true. Too true.” He reached for her hand. “And now, loathe as I am to leave this idyllic paradise, I feel there are some who would begin to ask after you by now.”

  Kate sighed, knowing his words to be true. “I don’t think they are as yet alarmed, but I’m sure the question of where I am has been asked about by now.”

  “And I shall return you in this gloriously disheveled state?” His eyebrow rose, and then he tugged her closer, wrapping his arms around her back. “Thank you. I’ve never enjoyed myself more.” His lips, warm and comforting on her forehead, sent a trickle of peace through her raging dissatisfaction. Then he tugged her again, and they made their way along the beach.

  Once back up on his horse, she used her pins and her hands to wrap her hair in a simple bun at the base of her neck.

  Lord Dennison’s wistful expression made her laugh.

  “Please understand. Your hair off your neck leaves it in glorious view. That creamy skin. Do you know it was the first thing I noticed about you?”

  “My creamy skin?” Remembering his comments, she laughed. “Or was it my wasteful attention to fashion at the absence of all else?”

  “Oh please, do not repeat my words. I say this now so you will understand the true thoughts of my heart. I was enchanted by all that wasteful attention. Your several curls placed in a beguiling tease, bouncing along at the base of such a long and creamy stretch of skin, begged to be caressed, if not kissed. And that’s the truth of it.”

  She sucked in a breath as he climbed up on the horse behind her, enveloping her in an embrace.

  His horse carried them back up to the top of the hill, on the cliffs, and then down on the other side toward the road.

  “Will you be riding with me all the way to the castle?” Kate asked.

  His chin on her shoulder made her smile. “I could.”

  “When will I see you again?” She knew she sounded so brazen, so forward, but he had kissed her, after all. Hopefully, it meant as much to him?

  “Who says I’m leaving your side?” His warm chuckle did wonderful, tight things to her insides.

  “Shall I tell the staff to make a room for you, then?” Kate joked, but only partly.

  “Might I call on you every day during the time any of the other lords might arrive to think they can have a bit of your smiles?”

  “Certainly.” She smiled.

  “And perhaps during the dinner hour, to share of your good cook’s meals?”

  “That can be arranged.”

  “And then perhaps, we might have a picnic with you and all the sisters and the Granburys in two days’ time?”

  “We would love such a thing. I’ll tell the boys they are welcome also?”

  “Yes, of course. Perhaps we can make use of this delightful grove?” They entered the cool shade of the ancient trees.

  “What a splendid idea. Yes. I shall let them know.” She turned to him. “What are we doing here?”

  Lord Dennison looked as though he might laugh off the sincerity of her question, but then he paused. “Does this count as your turn?”

  Her mouth tugged into a smile. “Yes.”

  “Then I will answer. I want to know you. I want us to keep having conversations like the one today, and I don’t mind how long they take or how many months we spend, because I wish to know everything about you. And when we are comfortable, perhaps . . .” He pressed his lips to her neck. “Perhaps we talk further.”

  Kate nodded, slowly.

  “My question is what perhaps every ma
n in love would like to know.”

  “Oh yes? And what is that?”

  “Is this really happening for you like it is for me?” His voice caught, and he looked away. But not before she saw an incredible fear and vulnerability cross over his face.

  The dear. Her heart wrenched in two on his behalf. She vowed to never, ever hurt him, to never allow what had happened with Olivia to happen to him again. She twisted farther in the saddle toward him, reached a hand out behind his neck, and pulled him to her. When her lips met his, she tried to communicate her promise that his heart was safe with her. She captured his mouth, pulling at his lips, answering any fear he had with her surety that she would never leave him.

  At first, he seemed stunned, hesitant, but after only a moment, his arm circled her and shifted her at a more comfortable angle, and he responded. Love poured through her. Her arms tightened around him, and for a long moment, she forgot where she was.

  The horse shifted, and the sounds of birds around them, the rushing of the waves in the distance, a twig cracking all reached her ears. She released her grip on his neck, amazed at her brazen and almost wanton behavior. She daren’t look in Lord Dennison’s face just yet. As she studied her hands, his low murmur sent comfort through her. “Now, that’s a kiss.”

  She could hear his smile before she turned again to see it. What she saw made her laugh outright. “Now, I’ve never seen a man as happy as you look.”

  He stretched his hands high above his head. “And why should I not be?”

  Kate knew her face shone crimson, but she didn’t even care. “I have no idea.” She faced the front again. “Take me home, Lord Dennison. But not too close. I think I’ll walk up to the house.”

  “Embarrassed of me?”

  “In a way.” She laughed again. “Let’s just . . . Let’s go.”

  His arms pulled her back up tight against him as he jiggled the reins. “Yes, ma’am.”

  She smiled, leaning up against him, wishing for this moment to last forever.

  When he lifted her off the horse and climbed down to stand in front of her, he reached for her hand and placed his lips upon the back of her glove. The action felt so tame, so lacking compared to the attention of his lips from earlier. He winked, as if he knew exactly what she was thinking, and then hopped back up on his horse. “I’ll watch from here.”

  “Thank you.” She stared for a moment, drinking in their time together, hoping to bottle it up inside to remember later, and then turned to leave.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Logan watched Kate walk the rest of the way through their back pasture into the gardens that surrounded the castle. From there, he knew she would walk by their lovely fountain and on into the house.

  He couldn’t quite think properly. At least, that’s what he thought as he attempted to make sense of the swirl of emotions shuddering through him. Had he fallen in love with Miss Kate Standish? In one afternoon?

  Certainly, not. But his feelings were more powerful than anything he’d ever felt for Olivia, or any woman. Kissing Kate was . . . He had no words. He was changed. But one thing he knew, and that was he would spend every waking moment trying to know this woman, to win her over completely, and then ask her . . . He couldn’t think the words, couldn’t admit what he was thinking. The thought of another rejection, or her refusal, was too much. So he stopped there. It was too early for such thoughts anyway.

  Then he grinned to himself. At least he knew he loved kissing the woman, an important part of any marriage, in his mind. He shook his head in happiness. “What a woman.” The words spoken aloud sounded funny to his ears, but not his heart. He’d never experienced such an afternoon with a woman. And when she’d taken control of their kiss, when she’d wiped every fear from his mind, he’d been nearly overwhelmed. “Wow.” He clucked his tongue, and his horse turned back. Julia would be wondering about their plans in the library. He’d told her they had a standing appointment.

  And she’d be pleased about a picnic with the Standishes as well. Did his sister have interests here in Brighton? She didn’t seem as though she did. He knew countless lords would be pleased to make her an offer, for her dowry alone, but he hoped for something more. Perhaps his sister could have her heart turned and fall in love.

  Walking his horse back, he went over his conversation with Kate. He looked forward to many more. And he did have a bit of a puzzle to figure out. He couldn’t put his finger on it. But Kate did not seem happy . . . She was, but then, she wasn’t. And now that his interests seemed to be so tied to hers, he could not sit easy until he discovered the cause.

  Logan hurried home, stabled his horse, and made his way to the library. As soon as his sister saw him, she stood up. “What is this?”

  “What is what?”

  “This supremely happy look on your face?” She approached him and made a show of circling him once. “What has happened?”

  He laughed. “Don’t be ridiculous. Though I am feeling supremely happy, if you must know.”

  She waved him back over to their chairs. “Do tell.”

  He considered her a moment. Did he wish to share anything so soon? Would the fates jinx his efforts? No. “I happened upon Kate at the beach.”

  “Oh? And Kate, is it now?”

  “Quite.” His smile grew, and he could do nothing about it.

  “This is too good.” Julia settled back into her chair. “Tell me everything.”

  “I think she returns my feelings with equal strength.”

  “Excellent. And?”

  And? There was no “and.” That was all that mattered to Logan. Well, almost all. “When she talks of important things, her lip puckers right here.” He indicated the spot with his finger. “It’s fascinating to watch such a thing. She fits perfectly in my arms, and we talked of only nothing for hours on end. I could never tire of her company.”

  Julia squealed and clapped her hands together once. “This is wonderful news.” She moved to the desk and pulled out a sheaf of paper.

  “What are you doing?”

  “I shall invite her for tea.”

  “Oh, excellent. I think she’d be very interested to see the history of her castle that we found.”

  “Good idea. And you do remember we are to dine there as well?”

  “Certainly, but one cannot see too much of the woman whose lip puckers while she talks of important things.” Julia snorted and kept writing.

  “Oh, do stop, or I won’t tell you a thing.”

  “Right. We’re being serious.”

  Nothing would ever get Logan to share some of their moments: the feel of her hair in his hands, or the embrace on his horse, or the feel of her mouth on his. Those thoughts were for him alone.

  He spent the rest of the late afternoon hours and evening reading or playing cards with Julia. When they were heading to bed for an early night, she leaned into his side. “Thank you for today,” she said.

  “Yes, you, too. We should spend evenings like this one more often.”

  “I agree. I don’t know how strong your feelings are for Miss Kate, but I’m half in love with her already if she can bring this much contentment to your life.”

  Logan squeezed Julia back and thought about her words during the whole of his valet’s ministrations. Long after his servant had left, he stood at the window, staring out on the ever busy Strand. If he stood in the corner of his window and looked to the side, he knew the ocean to be in the dark space beyond the buildings and store fronts.

  Kate’s acceptance of their invitation to come to tea tomorrow had already been received. He turned to his bed, his eyes closing with the happy anticipation of Kate here in their home.

  Logan spent the morning hours writing letters to his friends from Oxford. They had not yet responded to his initial conversation, but he had discovered more information to share with them and hoped that their responses were already on their way at any rate. Perhaps he could convince them to come to Brighton. He knew most of them to be in London. How
much more simple for him to travel to town . . . but he couldn’t bring himself to leave—not yet.

  The hour approached for them to receive Kate. Julia had decided to set up all of their tea and extras from cook in the library.

  “Excellent choice,” Logan said.

  “I quite agree, and since there is much we want to show her here, I figured why not?”

  She had taken extra care with the presentation. A small vase of their roses, freshly cut, sat in the center of the extra desk they were using to set the tray and its contents.

  When the butler announced Kate, Logan could hardly stay his pace as he hurried to her side. “Welcome.” He bowed over her hand, enjoying the soft color to her cheeks, the warmth in her returning smile, her very presence in his home.

  “Thank you.” She curtseyed. “I was so pleased to receive the invitation. Julia, thank you. This looks lovely.”

  “I admit to having a little more fun with the presentation than I would usually,” Julia said.

  “And here in the library.” Kate turned to see it. “What an amazing collection. I would spend many an afternoon right here.”

  Julia took Kate’s hands in her own and led her into the room. “Which is just precisely what we have been doing. You would be a welcome inclusion to our party.”

  “Thank you.”

  Kate’s eyes lingered long enough on the books that Logan laughed. “Shall we start with the books, then?” he asked.

  Julia laughed as well. “It looks that way. I admit that Logan and I have very different likes and dislikes when it comes to our selections. But we do know of some that would be of particular interest to you.”

  Kate’s eyes widened, and Logan loved that she would be intrigued. By his books, no less.

  As they walked down each aisle, her fingers trailed on the shelves, sometimes caressing the bindings. “This is incredible. June would love this room as well.”

  “When she returns, we will include her in an invitation. Please feel at ease in reading any you like,” Logan said.