“So, you think Walker’s ghost wanted all this revealed?”
Minnie nodded. “Absolutely.”
“So you believe in ghosts?”
“I...” Did she?
Gideon edged closer, his free arm encircling her waist. Leaning into him, her breathing grew ragged as his teeth nipped her earlobe. “You’re full of surprises, Minerva Goodridge,” he whispered, his mouth blowing a trail of soft kisses down her neck.
“I don’t…oh.” The fire in her center burst through, her body tingling. Delicious warmth spread through her limbs, turning her bones to liquid.
He pulled her against him as her legs threatened to give way. His mouth hard on hers, she reciprocated their tongues’ game with a passion suddenly awakened within her. Not that she’d ever behaved like this with any man. But Gideon Drake wasn’t simply any man. When he hadn’t visited, she’d craved his company, his humor, his touch. Yet, she knew nothing about him. Feeling his arousal nudge her thighs, she relished his reaction to her. But was it because of her? Or because she was simply a young woman he could seduce?
Doubts began to seep through the haze, and she pushed her hands against his chest, ending the kiss. “Stop.”
His breathing ragged, he stared at her, his emotions hidden. “You’re right, though it’s damn hard to.”
Slowly, Minnie regained her own breath and extricated herself from his embrace. “Perhaps we could go through the papers later today?”
When people are in the house.
Gideon stepped back. “Yes, a good idea.”
An ache grew in her heart. She didn’t want him to go, but light was filtering through the gaps in the curtains. Soon Beth would arrive–and what would she say about finding Minnie in her nightdress in the company of Lord Drake? Word would spread like a wild fire.
His hands sifted through the loose papers. “May I take some of these?”
“Of course.” She nodded. “I’ll be reading the diary once…once I’m dressed.”
As his gaze raked over her body, the frilly nightgown revealing her curves rather than hiding, she blushed. Before she could turn away, he appeared to regain his composure and shuffled some papers into the leather binding, securing it with a tight bow. “Thank you. Perhaps you’d like to visit Eaton Hall for tea this afternoon?”
Gideon must have noticed her eyes widening, as he added, “Don’t worry, Minnie. The house is bustling with staff.” He grinned, his eyes full of promise.
Her heart bounced. “I’d be delighted. Shall we say three o’clock?”
“Three this afternoon it is.” He lifted the bundle and tucked it under his arm. “Make sure you’ll catch up with some sleep. It’s been a long night.”
“I’m not sure I can rest after all this.” She gestured across the room. “By the way, how did you get in?”
Gideon shifted uncomfortably. “I must confess something, Minnie.”
There was more? “Yes?” She raised an eyebrow.
“I broke into the manor prior to your arrival and left a window latch open.” He pointed at the window in question.
Ah, that explained how he entered. “So you decided to return without asking me first?”
His face colored. Minnie found his discomfort amusing. The tables were turned. She crossed her arms. “Well, Gideon Drake, you’re lucky I didn’t hit you over the head with the candlestick.”
***
Hettie had lived; she had asked for a divorce. To marry Gideon’s grandfather. An earl.
As Gideon was now. Realization sank in as Minnie sat curled up on the settee in the parlor, Hettie’s diary open in her lap.
I’ve kissed an earl. “Sweet Lord, what a mess.”
Chores had prevented her from reading until after a light lunch, but now she couldn’t wait any longer to discover more about the woman she’d begun to grow fond of.
What would she do once they’d gone through all the documents, the letters, the diary? The truth would vindicate Bartholomew Walker, her great uncle, and her family honor would be restored. No longer
Minnie nodded. “Absolutely.”
“So you believe in ghosts?”
“I...” Did she?
Gideon edged closer, his free arm encircling her waist. Leaning into him, her breathing grew ragged as his teeth nipped her earlobe. “You’re full of surprises, Minerva Goodridge,” he whispered, his mouth blowing a trail of soft kisses down her neck.
“I don’t…oh.” The fire in her center burst through, her body tingling. Delicious warmth spread through her limbs, turning her bones to liquid.
He pulled her against him as her legs threatened to give way. His mouth hard on hers, she reciprocated their tongues’ game with a passion suddenly awakened within her. Not that she’d ever behaved like this with any man. But Gideon Drake wasn’t simply any man. When he hadn’t visited, she’d craved his company, his humor, his touch. Yet, she knew nothing about him. Feeling his arousal nudge her thighs, she relished his reaction to her. But was it because of her? Or because she was simply a young woman he could seduce?
Doubts began to seep through the haze, and she pushed her hands against his chest, ending the kiss. “Stop.”
His breathing ragged, he stared at her, his emotions hidden. “You’re right, though it’s damn hard to.”
Slowly, Minnie regained her own breath and extricated herself from his embrace. “Perhaps we could go through the papers later today?”
When people are in the house.
Gideon stepped back. “Yes, a good idea.”
An ache grew in her heart. She didn’t want him to go, but light was filtering through the gaps in the curtains. Soon Beth would arrive–and what would she say about finding Minnie in her nightdress in the company of Lord Drake? Word would spread like a wild fire.
His hands sifted through the loose papers. “May I take some of these?”
“Of course.” She nodded. “I’ll be reading the diary once…once I’m dressed.”
As his gaze raked over her body, the frilly nightgown revealing her curves rather than hiding, she blushed. Before she could turn away, he appeared to regain his composure and shuffled some papers into the leather binding, securing it with a tight bow. “Thank you. Perhaps you’d like to visit Eaton Hall for tea this afternoon?”
Gideon must have noticed her eyes widening, as he added, “Don’t worry, Minnie. The house is bustling with staff.” He grinned, his eyes full of promise.
Her heart bounced. “I’d be delighted. Shall we say three o’clock?”
“Three this afternoon it is.” He lifted the bundle and tucked it under his arm. “Make sure you’ll catch up with some sleep. It’s been a long night.”
“I’m not sure I can rest after all this.” She gestured across the room. “By the way, how did you get in?”
Gideon shifted uncomfortably. “I must confess something, Minnie.”
There was more? “Yes?” She raised an eyebrow.
“I broke into the manor prior to your arrival and left a window latch open.” He pointed at the window in question.
Ah, that explained how he entered. “So you decided to return without asking me first?”
His face colored. Minnie found his discomfort amusing. The tables were turned. She crossed her arms. “Well, Gideon Drake, you’re lucky I didn’t hit you over the head with the candlestick.”
***
Hettie had lived; she had asked for a divorce. To marry Gideon’s grandfather. An earl.
As Gideon was now. Realization sank in as Minnie sat curled up on the settee in the parlor, Hettie’s diary open in her lap.
I’ve kissed an earl. “Sweet Lord, what a mess.”
Chores had prevented her from reading until after a light lunch, but now she couldn’t wait any longer to discover more about the woman she’d begun to grow fond of.
What would she do once they’d gone through all the documents, the letters, the diary? The truth would vindicate Bartholomew Walker, her great uncle, and her family honor would be restored. No longer
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