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“I don’t?” He touched his finger to the naked skin of her arm between her glove and her sleeve and her lips eased open, her gaze darkening in passion. Her pulse quickened at the base of the neck, proclaiming her a liar.

“Perhaps you’re wrong,” she said as her gaze fell to his lips. “Maybe I just don’t like you.”

He grinned, his gaze sweeping her from her ample bosom to the curls in her hair. Her breathing accelerated even more. “No, I don’t think that’s it,” he said in a half-whisper. “But perhaps I should try harder.”

He lowered his head and caught her lips in a fleeting kiss. The moment he let go, she grabbed his face between her hands and gave him a demanding, scorching kiss. Richard smiled before taking her by the hips and bringing her closer as he slanted his mouth over hers hungrily.

God, he’d missed her taste. How had he survived without it for two days? He felt like an animal, thirsty after a severe drought. He slipped his tongue inside, and she sucked on it eagerly. His arms traveled to her waist, and he bent her lightly, his mouth traveling to her chin, her neck.

There was a clearing of a throat, and Jo jumped away from him as if scalded. Richard threw a menacing gaze toward the door, only to see his sister, Isabel, standing on the threshold. Richard’s mood went from anger to annoyance. Must she meddle so?

“Jo,” she said with a tight smile toward her brother. “We were just going to have some tea with the ladies. Would you join us?”

Jo wiped discreetly at her mouth, her lips plump and swollen. Soft and wet. Richard just wanted to devour her whole.

“Yes, thank you,” she said as she threw a timid glance Richard’s way. Then walked past him and out of the balcony without a backward glance.

Chapter 11

“You disapprove of my relations with the viscount,” Jo said after she and Isabel walked most of the way in silence.

Isabel threw her a reassuring smile. “It’s not why you think. I would disapprove of any of my brothers’ relations with women whom they do not intend to marry.”

Jo smiled. “But I am aware of his intentions. He did not lie to me or deceive me. I am a grown adult, and I think I should be able to make my own decisions.”

Lady Vane paused her steps. “You do. But your affair with my brother will be fleeting. And once it is over, I cannot see you amicably continuing your association with either of us. I like you, Jo. And my daughter does, too. I would rather not see you hurt. And I would rather my brother’s thoughtless actions didn’t cost me a friend.”

Jo wanted to protest that it wouldn’t happen, that she wouldn’t get hurt. But she wasn’t so certain anymore. Perhaps Lady Vane was right, and Jo would do better to guard her heart.

They reached the marchioness’s sitting room and joined the few people already there. As expected, Lady Ashbury and the duchess were already there, sharing confidences and laughing. “You did not say that!” The duchess hit her friend playfully on the arm.

“I did. And if he thinks that he can restrict me from visiting my friend whenever I want to, he shall hear a lot more!”

“Who? Ashbury?” Lady Vane asked as she settled in the circle of chairs.

“Yes,” Lady Ashbury said, still laughing.

“Well, don’t tell Richard. Or he’ll think that your husband is keeping you prisoner,” Lady Vane said, and Lady Ashbury fell into heaps of laughter. “Do not mock my words. He thought Milly tried to kill me when she accidentally sicced Button on me.”

All the ladies laughed again.

“Is he so protective, then?” Jo couldn’t help asking.

“Overprotective,” Lady Vane stated emphatically.

“And overbearing,” Lady Ashbury confirmed.

“Overmeddling,” the Duchess of Somerset added with a chuckle.

“Just add over to any adjective and that’s Richard,” Lady Vane said with a laugh.

Jo chuckled. She enjoyed their teasing. It was clear how much everyone in this family cared for each other. Including the duchess who was an honorary member of the Lewis family.

Sometimes Jo wished she had a family of her own… She shook away the thought. Not in this lifetime.

“Needless to say, I am going to Mary’s birthday celebration,” Lady Ashbury said.

“That’s wonderful! Gabriel knows better than to refuse me anything,” the duchess chimed in. She stroked her slightly rounded stomach. “Although travel was never a strength of mine and less so now. But I am not missing Mary’s birthday. And I want to see the progress they’ve made at the asylum. I haven’t been there in a while… Since Grandpa passed, actually.”