How Pleasance managed to return to the party without collapsing from pure sated exhaustion, she couldn’t know. For heaven’s sake, they were fully clothed if one did not count her breasts being bared to the night and to his touch.
Oh, his touch. She’d never done anything so reckless, but somehow, she couldn’t bring herself to feel ashamed either.
They had walked back to the house in silence after he helped her with her shoes. The stockings and the gloves she could handle on her own. There was a moment when he was kneeling at her feet, tying the ribbons on her slippers, when he looked up at her, and she thought he might say something. But then it passed.
He didn’t look sorry or triumphant like someone who took advantage. No. He simply looked utterly at ease and satisfied. All the things she felt.
But how would he treat her from this point on? How should she react?
The following morning, he did not seek out her table for breakfast. He barely even looked her way. All the heartfelt banter and sly looks seemed to melt away with the sunrise. She tried to take no offense, but her heart throbbed with embarrassed stupidity, or it simply throbbed because she missed him. She liked him. Had she been a fool?
She turned a corner on the way to her room. As she passed the large potted plant at the entrance to the corridor, a hand shot out, pulling her behind the large fern. Beau’s mouth found hers before she could whimper a surprise.
“Please say you missed me as much as I missed you last night,” Gilbert said.
“How did you know it was me that came around that corner. You grabbed me so quickly.”
“Because I can feel you, every time you’re near me, like a tangible thing.” His hand cradled her cheek.
She licked her lips and nodded shyly. Her heart sang again, and she allowed it to fill her with hope.
“Is that a yes? You missed me?”
She smiled and nodded again.
“I’ve known you less than a week, Pleasance, and already I’m half in love with you.” He gazed down at her, brushing his knuckles along her cheek.
“Only half?” She tilted her head coyly.
“I didn’t want to frighten you with the entire truth.”
“Like last night?”
His brow creased. “I don’t understand.”
“Like you didn’t want to frighten me with the entire act?”
He cocked a brow. “Something only a husband should do, I’m afraid.”
“So unfair, don’t you think?”
“Far be it from me to treat you unfairly.” He heaved an exaggerated sigh. “But, I am a gentleman. And I do believe in declarations. In courting. In marriage.”
“Not too much a gentleman, I hope. I did like the stocking trick.”
He chuckled. “I will make a permanent note of it.”
* * *
The drive back to London was not as heart-poundingly exciting as she had hoped because Gilbert did not accompany Pleasance and Felicity back to the city. However, Felicity was good company, and Pleasance certainly saw her as a friend after spending a week together. Of course, she saw Felicity’s enticing brother as more than a friend after her short stay. He didn’t explain why he wasn’t returning, but for some reason, she wasn’t worried. For one, they had not completed an act that might leave her with awkward questions to answer. And for two, she simply trusted him like no other.
Miss Granger had smiled at her knowingly the night she disappeared for an hour but had said nothing. And upon their return to London, Miss Granger was tight-lipped when it came to Pleasance’s father.
But after two days, Pleasance missed Gilbert and found it difficult to hide her melancholy.
“Why don’t you visit with your friends, Pleasance? You look a little long in the face,” her father suggested.
Nicolette had apparently retired to the country for a respite, but Frances was available.
They met at the park, touting parasols and looking the upright ladies they should be.
“How was the country house party?” Frances asked.
“It was pleasant.”
“Like your name?”
Pleasance giggled. “Exactly. And… I met someone there.” She partially hid her face behind the lace ruffle of her parasol.
Frances stopped short and pulled Pleasance off the path under a shade tree. “You cannot stop at that. Please. I’m dying for you to share.”
“He is Felicity Beaumont’s brother, and I have reason to believe he is very interested in me.”
“Oh, Pleasance. That’s dreamy.”
“And you?”
“I’ve met someone as well. Lord Rutledge.”
“He’s a handsome devil. How did you manage that?” Pleasance was happy for her friend. How remarkable that they would make their debut together and, the same year, find possible husbands.
“He asked me to dance, and the rest is history. Since I didn’t have my dearest friends to keep me company, he happily stepped in.” Frances beamed a smile that reached her eyes.
“And Nicolette? Is she still away?”
Frances nodded, looking concerned. “I don’t think she’s ill. And I don’t think she’s on a respite either.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m not sure, but I find it hard to believe Nicolette would take off without saying goodbye. And there’s something else.”
Pleasance flared a gaze, and rolled her hand impatiently for Frances to continue.
“It may be pure coincidence, but the Duke of Havenly is also nowhere to be found.”
Pleasance remembered the dance when the duke had given her Nicolette’s champagne and taken her friend out for a waltz. Could it be that they knew each other? “We shouldn’t speculate where ears as big as Gerald Clifton’s might be eavesdropping.”
“I’m not accusing anything. I’m just concerned. Her aunt and uncle have been going along as normal, so it may just be my woman’s intuition making a mockery of ill-gotten facts. Besides, you’re here now, and I want to know all about this Mr. Beaumont.”
Pleasance smiled. “And your Lord Rutledge.”
There was still a question of when she would see her Mr. Beaumont again.