Page 102 of The Wallflower Takes All

Bea’s face softened despite herself.

“He said a husband should value my loyalty, my wit, my courage, my kindness, my stubbornness, and everything attached to my life. Mama. Freddie. The chaos.” Poppy looked at her hands. “He named those things without flinching. He made them sound less like burdens and more like reasons I might be worth…” She stopped.

“Loving?” Georgie supplied gently.

Poppy’s throat tightened. “He didn’t use that word.”

Bea settled her hands in her lap. “And then?”

“And then he kissed me.”

Georgie inhaled.

Bea leaned forward. “Where?”

Poppy frowned. “My mouth.”

Georgie made a choking sound that might have been a laugh.

Bea looked heavenward. “I meant where were you standing?”

“Oh.” Poppy’s cheeks burned. “Beside the Serpentine.”

“Thank heavens,” Georgie said faintly. “For a moment I feared we had added inexplicable improprieties to the afternoon.”

“Please do not say improprieties. It makes me sound as if I did something scandalous.”

“You were kissed in Hyde Park by your solicitor,” Bea said. “You did do something scandalous.”

“He is not precisely my solicitor now.”

“That wasn’t the scandalous part. Not entirely,” Bea informed her.

The words quieted the room.

Georgie’s smile faded. “What do you mean he’s not your solicitor now?”

Poppy stared into her teacup. “After the second kiss?—”

“The second kiss?” Bea’s brows shot up again.

Poppy bit her lip. “I asked for it.”

“You asked him to kiss you again?” Georgie’s voice was a mixture of alarm and admiration.

“Yes.” Poppy nodded.

“And he did?” Georgie continued.

Poppy nodded again.

“Good,” Bea said. “At least the man has some sense.”

“Bea!”

“What? If a woman asks to be kissed again and a man spends five minutes explaining propriety, he deserves never to be kissed by anyone.”

Poppy’s mouth twitched. “He did not explain propriety until after.”