The Earl Most Likely by Jane Goodger

Author:Jane Goodger [Goodger, Jane]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2017-07-19T22:31:42+00:00

Chapter 8

Harriet had been at Costille House for about one hour, directing the men where to place objects in the main hall, when Lord Berkley strode in looking like a man who was not having a pleasant day. All morning, Harriet had been fighting the butterflies in her stomach at the thought of seeing him again. The day she’d been away from Costille House—from him—had seemed inordinately long. No matter how many times she chastised herself for falling into daydreams of him sweeping her into his arms, she could not stop herself.

It simply was not in her nature to halt such fantastical thoughts. She wondered if he had even spared her a second thought, had noted her absence the day before. Had relived their kisses over and over until his skin felt too hot, too tight. Probably not. It had, after all, not been the first time Lord Berkley had experienced such passion. It was nothing to him to kiss a willing woman. Try though she did to make certain she did not make those kisses everything, Harriet found she could not. She’d gone twenty-two years of her life never having come close to kissing a man, never mind participating in such a carnal embrace. It was quite likely she would spend her entire life never again experiencing such passion.

Unless, of course, Lord Berkley decided he wanted to kiss her again.

“Mr. Billings,” Lord Berkley said, not sparing her even a single glance. “When do you think this room will be completed? This is where I shall hold my ball and it is imperative that this room have priority over all other projects. Other than the entrance, of course, which I believe is near to completion.”

Harriet stood in the very center of the room. Above her was the new roof, heavy, dark beams criss-crossing the room. Scaffolding lined each side, and men were whitewashing the walls, the slap of their brushes sounding overly loud in the large room. Sunlight streamed into the east bank of windows, and she stood precisely in one of the squares where the light shone through. He could hardly have missed her standing there. Yet he would not even look in her direction.

In that moment, Harriet felt her foolishness like a heavy, wet cloak of humiliation. Hardly a minute had gone by since she’d left two days ago when she did not think of his kiss, did not wonder if it would happen again. Did not feel his hands on her breasts, his tongue in her mouth. Sleeping had been nearly impossible, with all those delicious feelings swirling inside her. It was as if she were sick with some fever.

“It’ll be done, my lord,” Mr. Billings said gruffly. “As I’ve said.”

Harriet looked at Mr. Billings a bit curiously, for his tone had been slightly disrespectful.

“Yes, you have,” Lord Berkley said levelly.

“We’re very nearly done here,” Mr. Billings said, sounding more like himself. “The men have been working hard, they have, and I expect this room to be completed before the end of the week.

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