“Bloody Christ,” Dashlane swore, banging his tankard of ale on the table. “It’s a dinner invitation for certain.”
Luke sliced his open with his finger and then quickly read the contents. “For tomorrow night.”
“Juliet is behind this. I’m certain of it.” Dashlane’s lip curled up. “I’m not going.”
Luke grimaced. “I’m not one to force a lord of our breed to socialize with such innocent women, but I’d like to remind you that Moorish had been exceedingly kind to us. Providing food, shelter, staff and—”
“I’m doing him a favor,” Dashlane muttered, then gulped down another large swig from his mug. “He’s far better off if I stay away from his daughters.”
Luke clenched his jaw. “And this would be the second time you’ve turned down his invitation.”
“Hellfire and damnation,” Dashlane swore, finishing the pint and waving to the barmaid for another. “I’m going to need a great deal more ale to face this.”
Craven had been silent, holding his note in his hand. “Well then. It looks like we’re spending two more nights in Seabridge Gate.”
Adrianna crouched behind a bush strategically placed so as to see the path down to the bluffs but not be witnessed herself. She’d not be caught waiting for a man who didn’t come. It offended her pride. She pressed her hands together. Perhaps she should go back inside.
Because right at this moment, she was in a position for him to make her look foolish. Which was a situation she never allowed. Why was he an exception? But she knew the answer. She liked him. Which, honestly, was dangerous. As the youngest sister, she’d see her sisters safely wed before she sought a match for herself.
“What are we staring at?” Luke whispered just next to her ear. It took every ounce of her control not to scream.
“You cad.” She turned, swatting at him. “You frightened me.” How had he gotten the drop on her when she’d been trying to do the same to him?
“Your dress picks up the moonlight. You look like a fairy. Or a moon goddess.” He wrapped a hand about her waist, pulling her close. “Do moon goddess’s take night walks on the beach?”
“You are a silver-tongued devil, you know that?” While her insides warmed, her mind hesitated. He’d thrown her off guard again, just as he’d done earlier. She felt off balance, hot and giddy. The sensation swirling through her both delightful and worrisome.
He chuckled drawing her close, his breath tickling her ear. “I had no idea.” And then he drew her toward the path.
She hesitated. “You said you wanted to talk. We can talk up here.”
He stopped, turning toward her. “Are you worried?” His touch softened. “Don’t be. I know who you are and I won’t compromise that.”
She grimaced. “You already have.” And that was the truth. Being alone with him demonstrated a definite social gaff that could have dire consequences, but when she was with him, she forgot to worry about such things. She’d never allow one of her sisters to participate in such behavior.
“Adrianna.” He brushed his fingertips down the back of her arm. “That’s it exactly. I want you to tell me who you are and what you want. Perhaps I can help you.”
“Help me? Help me to what?” Tingling raced up and down her spine.
“You want to help your sisters in the marriage market? Find a husband for yourself?” He drew her a bit closer. “That is definitely something I can aid you in.”
Was he considering proposing? She allowed him to pull her closer. “How? Why?” Her body came into contact with his, warmth radiating from every spot their bodies touched.
“Because I like you. Because you helped me today and because everyone needs help sometimes.”
“Oh,” she murmured, but she didn’t say more.
He took her hand and started down the path, his words easing her trepidation about being alone with him in the dark of night on the isolated beach. Yes, she’d wanted more time with this man and certainly she’d wondered where this was building, but moonlight walks seemed more like the behavior of a rake and less like a gentleman wishing for her hand. But if he were doing this to help her as a friend, then that was entirely different.
They made their way down to the beach as the wind whipped at their clothes. She shivered and he slipped an arm about her, pulling her against his chest. “Did you say there was a shelter down here?”
She nodded, placing her arms about him too. “This way.”
As they moved together, he lightly kissed the top of her head. Somehow, the intimacy in his gesture further relaxed her. Surely rakes were not so tender as that?
Was she being a fool? Part of her worried she was.
Chapter Ten
Luke held Adrianna close as he breathed her in. Damn, this woman felt so good against him.
She led him toward the cliff and in the darkness he didn’t notice that one section jutted out, wrapping around the rock face and creating an open-sky shelter until they were nearly upon it.
He stepped inside, looking about him as the rock immediately cut the wind and the temperature warmed considerably. He stepped on something soft that shifted differently from the sand. Looking down, he realized there were several blankets strewn about. “What’s all this?”
Adrianna chuckled. “Ophelia and Rathmore had a picnic here. Remember? I told you of it earlier. We’ve been so busy, we forgot to clean up.”
After letting go of Adrianna, he reached down and felt about the sand until he grasped a wax pillar. “Candles?”
“One hundred of them, I believe. Rathmore used them to propose,” she said as she dropped down next to him.
He heard the catch in her voice. She found that romantic, did she? “And you want that too? A proposal by candlelight?”
“Oh. I don’t know,” she said softly, her voice sighing over his skin. “I’d be happy with any sort of proposal so long as the man cared for me.”
“Too bad we didn’t bring a lit candle down. We could have restarted some of them.” He could try to start one with his flint but finding dry enough material would prove challenging on the beach.
“A candle would have never made it down here tonight. Too windy,” she murmured.
“Well.” He reached for her hand, bringing it to his lips. She wore no gloves and his lips caressed her silky skin. He threaded his fingers through hers. “You are interested in getting a proposal from a man who cares about you. I can help you with that.”
“Really?” she asked, her other hand covering his. “Luke. I…” Her voice tapered off.
Rather than speak, he took advantage of the silence by pulling her in for a soft kiss. He’d teach her how to make a man beg for more of her kisses. He knew it wasn’t exactly what she wanted from him and he’d hate to let her go when the lesson was over. She’d been the first person to break through his shell in such a long time. But he also understood he wasn’t the man who’d give her forever either. He didn’t know how to love any longer and he wasn’t certain he could ever really open himself up again.