Page 30 of Outrageous

“I am soon to be married—surely I am old enough to merit a glass of wine.” Her wry tone sounded far older than her years, and her words made him realize she spoke the truth. So he poured her a glass.

“Thank you, my lord.”

“You’d better use my name. It’s Godric,” he supplied, when she looked puzzled.

“Godric.”

Hearing his name come out of that beautiful mouth did nothing for the situation in his breeches.

He swallowed down his lust and forced himself to assemble a sandwich of the thick bread, country ham, and crumbly white cheese. Perhaps some food would help clear his mind of lustful thoughts.

“I don’t think I’ve ever known a Godric,” she said.

“Yes, well, there aren’t too many of us about, thank God.” He took a bite of his sandwich, grimacing at the dry, stale bread.

She put a small piece of food into her mouth, her actions dainty and precise, like those of a cat. “You don’t like your name?”

He took a deep swallow of wine to wash down the food. “No,” he said when he’d finished masticating the tough bread.

“Hmmm. I think it suits you.”

Well, what could he say to that?

“Do you think we shall have to stay here long?” she asked, and then took a drink, her lips twisting into a tight pucker.

Dear God. She is just an infant—she isn’t even old enough to drink wine.

“Godric?”

He looked up from her wine-reddened lips. “Hmm?”

“I asked how long you thought we’d be here?”

“Not past tomorrow morning, I’m sure.”

She glanced at the window, even though it was dark and shrouded with hideous green drapes. “It’s still raining.”

He took another bite, not bothering to dispute her observation.

“We could always go back to the main road.”

Godric gave up on the sandwich and tossed aside the dry, stale bread. He took a bite of ham, chewing while he considered her suggestion, which was one he’d thought of as well.

“If you’re worried about anyone seeing me, I promise I’ll stay hidden.”

Godric looked at her as he swallowed and washed down his food with more wine. He’d taken the side road for precisely that purpose, to keep her from view.

“Let’s wait and see what the weather is like in the morning,” he said mildly, not wishing to disturb the tenuous peace between them by shooting down her idea.

“You said your family seat is in this area?”

Godric pulled his gaze away from her mouth; he could not recall a time when he’d found the way a woman ate arousing.

He saw she was waiting for a response. “I’m sorry, what’s that?”

She frowned. “I asked if your family seat is in this area?”

“We passed the road to Cross Hall a mile or so out of Doncaster, so it is southwest of here.” Godric experienced the same bittersweet burn in his chest he always did when he thought about his now empty family home.