Free Accidentally in Love by Claudia Dain Page A

bowed. Lady Dalby smiled. Eleanor giggled. Mama made another muffled noise.
    “I am delighted to meet you, Mr. Culley,” Sophia said. “You are the man of the hour in Town. ‘Tis a rare honor to have achieved so much in so little time.”
    “Thank you,” he said, which hardly made sense. He continued to stare at Emeline, his eyes melting and burning at once.
    “The footman has been let go, Mr. Culley,” Eleanor said. “No one at Melverley House holds you responsible. Quite the contrary.”
    “Thank you,” Kit said again, his eyes never leaving hers. It was growing quite awkward. He really should know better, and behave better, especially in front of lords and ladies.
    “I should think you could be more gracious than that,” Emeline said to him. “With the backing of Lord Melverley, you won’t have to leave Town.”
    “I am not leaving Town,” Kit said, his dark blue eyes boring into hers, looking as if he wanted to read her thoughts.
    “How delightful,” Sophia said. “I’m certain you shall add so much to this Season, Mr. Culley. Strong, decisive men of resolute action are sadly lacking in Town.”
    Lord Raithby did not so much as wince at the implied insult. Likely because he was not known for being a man about Town.
    “If you will excuse us,” Kit said, “I must speak privately with Miss Harlow.”
    “Of course,” Eleanor said, her smile quite impish.
    “Poor Lord Raithby,” Sophia said, “and it was my only wish that you achieve your dearest desire. You were, I fear, too late to the post. Consider it a lesson learned, darling Raithby.”
    Emeline, as usual, had no idea what Lady Dalby was talking about. Not even when she leaned closer to whisper, “Well done, darling. You have him in the palm of your hand.”
    She had whom? She did not know, nor did she very much care. All her attention was trained on Kit.
    Kit looked down at her and she looked up at him expectantly.
    “Well?” she said.
    “I’m not leaving Town.”
    “I heard. What is so private about that?”
    Kit continued to stare at her. It made her feel tingly, almost itchy in places. Uncomfortable places.
    “You were very rude to Lady Eleanor,” she said, trying to diffuse the moment, “and she was so very thoughtful of you. And I can’t imagine what harm you did to yourself with Lady Dalby just now. She’s very powerful, you know. How you expect to thrive in Town if you continue on as you are doing---”
    He stopped her with a kiss. It was such a kiss. It was the kiss she had dreamed of at night, alone in her soft bed. It was not at all like the kiss she had playacted, using a full-blown rose as a substitute for Kit’s mouth. Kit’s mouth was nothing like a flower. Kit’s mouth was a fire lighting her up, a wave sweeping her away, a cloud lifting her to the sky. Kit’s mouth, Kit’s breath, Kit’s tongue, Kit’s heat and height and breadth and scent enveloped her and encompassed her and carried her away.
    And when he stopped, when he lifted his head and stared down into her eyes with his Greek god perfection, he whispered, “I didn’t know I was in love with you. Why didn’t you tell me?”
    “You love me?” she breathed.
    “Of course,” he said, holding her in his arms, kissing her brow, her cheek, her lips. “I’ve been in love with you all my life. Didn’t you know?”
    “No, not actually,” she said, leaning into him, the warm, familiar scent of him. “I hardly dared hope. It took you quite a long time to realize it.”
    He lifted his head, tucking her into him, resting his chin on the top of her head. “I know now.”
    “Aren’t you at all curious as to whether I love you?” she said, leaning back to gaze at him.
    Her eyes went to where Mama stood. She was being chatted up by Lady Dalby, and by the look of it, Lady Dalby was doing a splendid job of it. Lord Raithby looked at her and smiled, cocking his hat at Kit. Eleanor simply smiled a beaming, glowing smile, and Emeline had the odd thought that