Page 40 of Snowed In with the Runaway Bride

Though he had always been selective, he was no green boy. There had been plenty of willing widows to keep him company when he was on leave. But while he had enjoyed them, he had never felt like this. Hungry. Possessive. Wanting to sweep her from the room and up the stairs to be private, to keep her all for himself.

Instead, he dropped his arm from around her waist and placed her hand on his decorously extended forearm. "Would you like a glass of punch?"

"Yes," she said, her voice a little faint. "I would like that very much."

"Permit me," he replied, and guided her to the punchbowl, where Mrs. Roberson was awaiting them with an indulgent smile on her face and two glasses of punch.

"Ah, the newlywed days. Enjoy them as you can, my dears, and try to keep that spirit in the days ahead for you."

Recognizing this as the blessing it was, Hugo raised his glass in salute and took a sip, letting the combined sting of hot liquid and alcohol ease his suddenly aching throat. Penny smiled at the older woman and took a sip as well.

A line began to form behind them, and Hugo led Penny away to a far corner. She was limping slightly, so he looked around and found an empty stool. Wordlessly, he pushed it behind her knees and she lowered herself onto it with a gusty sigh.

“I think,” she said, “that I have done enough dancing for tonight.”

Hugo nodded and, after a moment, lowered himself to the floor to sit next to her.

“You can continue, if you like.”

“No, thank you,” Hugo said. If she was in pain, he had no intention of leaving her side.

She nodded and took another sip of her punch. The revelry around them was becoming raucous, and Hugo could see Mrs. Robson gathering up her children with a smile that was only slightly strained as she ushered them out of the room.

“It may be time for us to retire to our room as well,” he murmured to her. “I think the wind is changing in here, and not for the better.”

She looked down at him, her expression unexpectedly serious. “I will follow wherever you wish to go, Hugo.”

He found he could not look away from her. It felt as though she was making a pledge. A promise. And he was not sure he was prepared for what such a promise would mean for both of them.

12

Penny gave her hand to Hugo and allowed him to help her up from the stool. She felt strangely solemn on this night, the night when she ought to have been the new Duchess of Kendal, with the consummation behind her. It was a day she had been anticipating, either with excitement or dread, since she was twelve years old.

Now all of that was exploded by her own hand, and she was preparing to embark on a new path. One she hoped Hugo would travel with her.

She stumbled a little when she stood, and his arm immediately went around her waist to steady her. She leaned against him so he would keep it there while he led her from the room, leaving the revelry behind.

As they climbed the stairs, she slipped her own arm around his waist, leaning her head against his shoulder. His step faltered for a moment and he glanced down at her. Then he looked forward again, face set.

She would not allow him to stay away from her again. She needed to know what was between them. Now, tonight.

Before the snow began to melt.

When they reached the final landing before their room, she halted, and he turned to look at her, puzzled.

Without speaking, she pushed him against the wall, pulled his head to hers, and kissed him with as little preamble as he had kissed her in the woods.

After only a moment’s hesitation, his arms went around her, crushing her to him as their bodies melted together until Penny’s knees could barely support her.

At last, she broke the kiss and took one step away. Instinctively, he reached out for her and she took his hand again, leading him up the last few stairs to the locked door of their room.

“Penny?”

“Open it.”

As though mesmerized, he drew the key from his pocket and unlocked the door. She pulled him inside, hand still in his, and took the key from his unresisting clasp to lock the door behind them.

She turned her back to him. “Unfasten me.”