Page 49 of The Earl’s Entanglement

“But they were nothing quite like yours.”

They?

“How were they different?” Garrick struggled to keep his voice neutral.

“Well,” she narrowed her eyes. Damn if she wasn’t trying to remember them. Multiple past kisses with different men.

“For one, I’d never opened my mouth before. Your tongue . . .” She’d reached the limit of what propriety would allow her to say.

A shame.

It was a shame there were different standards for what the two of them could discuss. And that she’d felt the need to stop.

“If you never kissed a man using your tongue,” he said, “then you’ve never been properly kissed.”

“But—”

“Before me,” he clarified.

“Did you kiss your intended?” she blurted.

“Did you kiss Graeme?” he shot back.

This was a dangerous game they played.

He inhaled, the scent of burning wax overpowering the stores of wheat surrounding them.

“Why would I kiss Graeme?” she asked it innocently enough, giving him his answer.

“Sometimes admirers will—”

“I never said the chief was a suitor.”

“So he is not? He expressed no interest—”

“I didn’t say that either.”

“So he did express interest.”

Of course he had, Garrick admonished himself. The man had asked for permission, as if it were his to give, to visit Kenshire Castle. To properly court her.

“You never answered my question,” Emma said.

They looked across the table at each other, Garrick wanting nothing more than to pull Emma onto his lap and show her a proper kiss. Ensure that no matter who came after him, it would not be the same.

“I didn’t even meet her,” he said, his tone neutral.

“Oh.”

Did she seem pleased by that news?

Neither of them said another word as they continued to pick at the meal.

When they were both finished, Garrick pushed himself away from the tray and stood. “If you’re ready?”

Emma stood as well and wordlessly turned toward the stairs. This was it. The last time they were likely to be truly alone together. She had just put her foot on the first wooden step when he stopped her.

Garrick, this is not a good idea.