“That was quite a…demonstration, my lord,” she murmured shakily, forcing a lightness to her tone. “But I imagine you were aided by the effects of the champagne.” She lifted a hand to her temple. “I should never have drunk so much. I didn’t know I would have to defend myself against you.”
He didn’t reply at once to her complaint. Instead his gaze was fixed on her, measuring, as he slowly pushed himself up on one elbow.
Lily had to look away from his penetrating regard. She still felt dazed, and their passionate bout of kissing had left her yearning for more-devil take him. She had to leave. She didn’t trust herself to be alone with Lord Claybourne any longer.
Just then she heard a distant commotion out in the stableyard-the sound of carriages being readied, she realized. Some of the wedding guests would be leaving the ball early to return to London, a half dozen miles away.
“I must go,” Lily said quickly, relieved to have an excuse to escape.
It was a moment before he spoke. “Can you make it safely down the ladder?”
“I…think so. I am almost sober now.”
He corralled the two kittens and deposited them gently back with their mother and sibling. As they scurried down hungrily to root for their dinner, Lily eased her way toward the top of the ladder.
But Lord Claybourne wasn’t finished with her, it seemed.
“Wait a moment. You have straw in your hair. You can’t return to the ball looking as if you’ve been trysting in a stable.”
Lily shook her head as he moved closer. “It doesn’t matter. I am not returning to the ball. I am driving home with my friend, Miss Tess Blanchard, shortly. My sister Roslyn and I mean to spend the night at her house so as to give the newlyweds privacy.”
“But you don’t want Miss Blanchard to suspect you have been kissing me, do you?”
“Well…no.”
“Then keep still while I play lady’s maid.”
Despite her reluctance, Lily obeyed as he plucked the straw from her upswept coiffure. She could feel his fingers in her hair like a soft caress, could feel his gaze lingering on her face.
“I had best hurry,” she said as soon as he was done. “Tess will be waiting for me.”
He put a hand on her arm. “Allow me to go first in case I must break your fall. I don’t want you injuring yourself.”
She couldn’t argue with that, either, blast him. “Thank you, my lord,” Lily murmured, allowing him to move past her.
He climbed down first, pausing partway to wait for her. Lily followed, lowering her feet to the ladder and holding tightly as she turned around to descend backward.
She made it down several steps, but then somehow her foot missed a rung. It was fortunate that Claybourne was below her, for when she slipped, his hand reached up and caught her hip to steady her. Her gasp, however, was due more to his touch on her body than her fear of falling.
“Easy,” he murmured, guiding her foot back to the ladder.
The warm feel of his fingers as they wrapped around her ankle unsettled her even further. Unnerved by the intimacy, Lily bit her lip and descended the final rungs as quickly as possible.
“Th-thank you,” she repeated as she reached the solid ground of the stable floor.
She remained there a moment, swaying a bit dizzily and trying to regain her composure. She was still shaken by his seductive kisses and eager to pretend that nothing had happened between them.
She expected Lord Claybourne to move away, yet he stood close behind her, his hands spanning her waist. His body felt hot and hard against her back, reminding her of his alluring caresses.
Her breath caught in her throat when he stepped even closer and nestled her buttocks against his groin.
Lily shivered. She knew what that male hardness meant. He was aroused from their brazen intimacy.
She was still keenly aroused as well, she admitted. Her body tingled all over, while the warm yearning in her feminine center continued to throb.
“You may release me, my lord,” she whispered hoarsely. “I am quite safe now.”
He gave a low, rough chuckle. “You truly think you are safe?”