Free A Kiss for Lady Mary by Ella Quinn Page B

sick of war but of politics. I asked for someplace quiet and was sent here. Despite being a market town, the living here is a pittance. They were having trouble filling the position. I accepted it as the money didn’t matter to me. I have a comfortable independence.”
    Eunice had wondered at his seeming freedom to act in all matters. This explained quite a lot. “How nice it must be not to have to answer to anyone.”
    “It is, rather.”
    Rising, she placed her hand on Mr. Doust’s arm. She felt good about telling him the truth and was ecstatic he had taken it so well. “Despite my mother’s machinations, Mary has been insisting she’ll have a full Season and be allowed to fall in love. That will create a problem.”
    “I don’t see any way around a marriage with Mr. Featherton,” Mr. Doust said, then was quiet for a moment, frowning. “Surely she’ll see she’s been outmaneuvered?”
    “So one would think; however, Mary can be stubborn, inventive and, in many ways, naïve. Quite frankly, I do not expect her to simply fall in with Mama’s scheme.” Eunice glanced at the sky. She had been away longer than she had planned. “It is time for me to check on her and Mr. Featherton, and change for dinner.”
    Mr. Doust twined her arm with his, drawing her close. “Invite me, and I’ll try to discover his intent.”
    She gazed up at him. “You would assist in this conspiracy?”
    His eyes warmed. “My lady, I would have thought that by now you’d have realized there is very little I would not do for you and those who matter to you.”
    “Oh my.” Warmth rose in her face. How long had it been since she’d blushed? “You have me acting like a girl again, and I must tell you, my salad days are long past.”
    He raised her fingers to his lips, kissing them one by one. “I think you are the perfect age. I would be honored if you will call me Brian, and may I call you Eunice?”
    This was more than she had expected and everything she had wished for. Pulling his head down to her, she pressed her lips to his. He moved slowly, gently at first; then she touched her tongue to the seam of his lips and he opened his mouth to receive her. Frissons of pleasure shot through her as he tilted his head, deepening the kiss. She threw her arms around him, pressing her breasts to his chest. Who would have thought a rector could kiss like this?
    Their tongues tangled and caressed. He tightened his arms around her. Oh, God. How could she have lived so long alone?

CHAPTER SEVEN
    W hen Brian finally lifted his head, breaking the kiss, their breathing was ragged. He’d waited months to do that. He pushed a loose strand of hair away from Eunice’s lovely face. She and her niece looked very much alike, with their golden hair and gray eyes. Eunice’s complexion was still clear, but small lines had appeared around her eyes. Her figure wasn’t that of a younger woman. It was mature and soft in all the right places, which suited him just fine. As soon as she was free of her responsibilities to her niece, he’d ask her to marry him. “Eunice, I have enough wealth to command some of the elegancies of life, including residing in Town for the Season, if that is important to you. Please tell me I may court you.”
    “I thought that is what we were doing,” she replied in a slightly breathy tone.
    She linked her arm with his. “I would like that extremely, Brian.”
    He had cleared that hurdle easily enough. Now he needed to know what Featherton was thinking. The sooner Lady Mary was settled, the sooner Eunice and he could be married. “I’ll escort you back to the house before I return to the rectory to change.”
    As they retraced their way, Brian saw the young couple, though he supposed they wouldn’t appreciate being called that, in another section of the garden. “They appear to be getting along fairly well.”
    “No doubt she told Mr. Featherton everything.”
    Brian lifted a brow.
    “That is Mary’s way. She is honest to