Free The Fifth Kiss by Elizabeth Mansfield

role as teacher. “Then I usually say, ‘You have lovely hands.’” He picked up one of her hands and held it in his.
    Olivia stared at their joined hands for a moment and then broke into a laugh. “Oh, I see! How clever of you, Mr. Crawford. It’s a ruse , isn’t it?”
    He dropped her hand at once and stared at her aghast. “A ruse ?”
    â€œTo take the lady’s hand. I think it’s quite delightfully devious, Mr. Crawford. You needn’t be embarrassed. Here, take it again and let’s proceed.”
    He took her hand again with a cautious hesitancy. “Pr-Proceed?”
    â€œYes. What do you do next?”
    â€œWell, I … I …” he mumbled, reddening.
    â€œPlease don’t mind my curiosity, Mr. Crawford. I’m most truly interested. Just behave as you would do ordinarily.”
    â€œBut … this is not quite ordinary, you see,” he objected.
    â€œNo? Why not?”
    â€œI … er … don’t usually speak quite so … openly … about my intentions.”
    â€œNo? Does speaking of these matters spoil things somehow?”
    â€œYes,” he admitted. “The … mood , y’know.”
    â€œI’m sorry. I should have realized … I should have been warned by Shakespeare’s Helena, for she says that we ladies cannot fight for love as men may do; we should be woo’d, and were not made to woo . But, Mr. Crawford, if I promise to refrain from my shocking bluntness, may we not proceed from this point in the usual way and restore the mood? Here you are, seated in this secluded spot with a lady, her hand tucked into yours. Now, then, what follows? Do you kiss her?”
    He made a slight gurgling sound in his throat. “S-Sometimes …”
    â€œThen go ahead, please,” she said, lifting her face to his.
    He blinked at her. “Do you mean it? Now ?”
    She nodded.
    His eyes lit up. “Well, if you’re certain … ” He leaned toward her with dramatic deliberation, but, as their eyes met, he seemed to freeze.
    â€œWhat is it?” she asked in surprise. “Is something amiss?”
    â€œI … can’t ! Not while you’re staring at me.”
    â€œOh, I’m sorry. What shall I do?”
    â€œI think you should shut your eyes.”
    â€œReally? Why?”
    â€œDon’t have the foggiest, but … most young ladies do.”
    â€œVery well. But do get on with it,” she urged, shutting her eyes and lifting her face to him again. He leaned down and planted a gingerly kiss on her lips. When he’d finished, she opened her eyes and stared at him. “Is that all ?”
    Mr. Crawford’s eyes were startled, and his expression revealed that he’d taken decided offense at her question. “ All ? What do you mean?”
    Olivia dropped her eyes to her hands. “I think I expected something more … more …”
    â€œMore exciting?”
    â€œYes.”
    He frowned. “Well, I warned you that we were not proceeding in quite the ordinary way …”
    â€œNo, of course not,” she said, patting his hand soothingly.
    â€œAnd besides,” he added, defensive once more, “a fellow doesn’t ordinarily stop at one. ”
    â€œDoesn’t he? Do you mean you’d like to … do it again?”
    He looked at her earnestly. “That is usually the procedure.”
    â€œGo ahead, then,” she agreed, closing her eyes and leaning toward him.
    He squared his shoulders, set his jaw and—much more boldly this time—slipped an arm around her and kissed her with fervor.
    She neither resisted him nor responded, and poor Morley Crawford, who had in the past been either wildly resisted or warmly encouraged for this type of effort, didn’t know what to make of this strange impassivity. He held her close until it seemed foolish to continue, and then he let her go. She opened her eyes