Seduced by His Touch(32)

Before the trip, she'd fleetingly wondered if there would be enough room  for all the guests the dowager duchess was inviting. But now she saw  her error. Braebourne wasn't merely grand; it was, for all intents and  purposes, a palace.

Nerves were jumping in her stomach when the coach-and-four rolled to a  stop. But then Jack climbed out, reaching back to lift her down. The  moment his arms closed around her, she knew everything would be all  right.

And so it continued to be, the ten days before Christmas passing by in a  flurry of merrymaking and excitement. Each day brought a fresh influx  of family and friends, the big house filling with so many aunts, uncles  and cousins that they soon reached the proportions of a horde-just as  the duke had once predicted.                       
       
           


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But they were a happy horde, everyone full of good spirits and holiday  cheer. She met the rest of Jack's siblings-brainy mathematician and  inventor Drake; war hero Cade; irrepressible twins Leo and Lawrence; and  precociously artistic ten-year-old Esme, for whom she had once  suggested the purchase of watercolor paper and paints.

Lord Cade's new bride, Meg, was a welcoming presence, her face aglow  with happiness from what she reported to have been a most satisfactory  honeymoon sojourn. Grace took an immediate liking to her soon-to-be  sister-in-law-bonding with her not only because of their similar ages  but even more so because of their shared backgrounds. As commoners, they  both knew what it was like being drawn into the glittering, whirlwind  existence of the Byrons' aristocratic fold.

As for her own family, Papa and Aunt Jane arrived two days before  Christmas, her aunt pausing to whisper her thanks in Grace's ear for  giving her "the most spectacular adventure of my life."

During the day, Grace helped the dowager duchess with the last of the  wedding preparations. In the evenings everyone relaxed, gathering to  dance and sing songs, or play charades and raucous games of hoodman's  bluff.

But the best treat by far was her Christmas Eve sleigh ride with Jack. A  slick coating of snow had fallen the night before, turning everything  shimmering and white-perfect for a cold-weather outing. With twilight  upon them, she'd ridden snuggled close against his side, his hands  steady on the reins as he'd urged their horse to run as fast as it could  manage.

Seated now on the drawing room sofa, she smiled at the memory, the room  abuzz with Christmas morning noise and laughter as everyone opened their  presents. She'd already received a pair of lavender leather driving  gloves from Mallory, a book of poetry from her aunt and the softest  green cashmere shawl she'd ever touched from the dowager duchess-or  Mama, as she kept gently reminding Grace to call her.

Placing the wrap around her shoulders, she reached for another present.

"I was starting to think you'd never open that one," murmured a husky voice near her ear.

Glancing up, she met Jack's twinkling azure gaze. "I hope it's not anise  seed cookies," she teased. "You know they make me sneeze."

He laughed and slipped into a narrow bit of space between the sofa arm  and her right hip. "Not to worry. Considering the spectacle you put on a  couple nights ago after dinner, I've had all the anise seed in the  house locked away until after our departure. I want there to be no  further mishaps."

"My thanks for interceding with the kitchen, my lord."

"Oh, it's no trouble. I wander down there every once in a while to visit  with Cook. She's been with the family since I was about this high." He  held a hand three feet above the ground.

"I suppose she stuffs you full of cream cakes and biscuits during these visits?"

A grin spread over his face. "Can I help it if she wants new recipes tested? Now, are you going to open that present or not?"

Glancing at the box, she studied its small size and square shape.  Without further hesitation, she tugged open the green silk ribbon and  pulled off the lid. A sparkling flash of purple and gold winked boldly  back.

Nestled into a bed of shiny cream satin lay a heart-shaped pendant on a  simple gold chain. The heart itself was created from over a dozen  delicate round amethyst stones, while the center held a miniature  painted on porcelain. Done in a series of fine, delicate strokes, the  artist's rendering depicted a tiny garden, alive with masses of yellow  and white hollyhocks.

Right away, they reminded her of the flowers she'd been drawing that  long-ago day in Bath. The day of her and Jack's very first kiss.

Her gaze went to his, breath stilled in her chest. "Oh, Jack. It's Sydney Gardens, isn't it?"

"That's right, with those stalky, puffy-headed flowers." He gave her a gentle smile. "Do you like it?"

"I love it."

"I chose amethyst, since you said it's your favorite stone. I hope I remembered right?"

"You did. It's so lovely. Thank you. I'll wear it each and every day," she promised. "Your heart tucked against my own."

A peculiar shadow flickered momentarily across his eyes before he reached for the necklace. "Here, let me help you put it on."

"Yes. Please," she said, relieved he'd offered. Her hands were trembling  with so much emotion that she doubted she could have managed the task  on her own.

Turning slightly, she angled herself so he could place the chain around  her neck and fasten the clasp. The slight weight of the gold and stones  grew instantly warm against her skin. "There. How does it look?" she  asked as she moved to face him again.                       
       
           


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"Beautiful," he said.

But when she glanced up, she realized he wasn't looking at the pendant. Instead, he was looking at her.

Her lips parted on a silent exhalation, the room and all its guests  fading away. His eyelids dipped in a way she'd come to recognize, then  his head did the same, his mouth seeking out her own. The quiet majesty  of his kiss rocked her down to her toes.

"Here now, none of that, you two," called her father in a sternly  indulgent voice. "There are children present, if you'll recall, not to  mention a few adults who'd rather not be witness to such goings-on.  You'll be married soon enough. Have patience."

Slowly, Jack broke their kiss and raised his head to address the legion  of onlookers. "Patience, as everyone in this room well knows, has never  been my strong suit. Has it, Grace?" Then he winked and grinned, utterly  unapologetic.

The others laughed, good-natured over a chaste kiss between an engaged  couple on Christmas Day. Grace joined in, but she soon stopped, lowering  her gaze to her lap in an effort to will away her need to blush.

She was actually winning the battle, when Jack put his lips against her  ear. "We'll continue this tonight. Be sure not to lock your door."

Hot roses blossomed across her cheeks, while barely repressed anticipation sparked in her blood.

Despite the danger of being caught, tonight's promised rendezvous  wouldn't be the first time Jack had stolen into her room. Both of them  knew they were supposed to wait for their wedding night, but the days  still remaining before the ceremony were simply too long for either of  them to bear.

Last night, in fact, had been particularly passionate, with Jack  bringing her awake sometime well after midnight. She'd roused to find  herself naked, Jack having slipped off her nightgown without her even  being aware. But she'd barely thought anything of it at the time, desire  burning in white-hot pulses through her aching body. Nearing desperate,  she'd been thankful to let him put out the flames.

Her cheeks grew hotter now as she shifted on the sofa with a sudden,  highly inappropriate discomfort. Thankfully no one was watching them  anymore; they were too busy tearing open the last of their presents and  indulging in the myriad conversations taking place throughout the room.

"Shall I bring you a hot milk punch?" Jack asked with a gentle,  surprisingly knowing smile. "Or would you rather have something cool?"

"Cool. And nonalcoholic, please. You're causing me enough trouble without my being tipsy."

Chuckling, he stroked a cool finger over her warm cheek, then rose to obtain her drink.

Barely a minute passed before Mallory appeared, sliding into the spot so  recently inhabited by her brother. "So," Mallory said without preamble.  "What did he give you? I saw something sparkle from three seats down."

Smiling, Grace showed off her pendant.

"Oh, how exquisite. I didn't know my brother had such good taste. May  I?" Mallory lifted her hand, clearly wanting to touch the piece in order  to get a better view of the tiny miniature inside. But as she reached  out, something shiny glittered on her left hand.