“I’m sorry,” he began, and then let out the sneeze he had been fighting. It was followed by three more, and only then did Thomasina drop her hand away and he discovered she was…

She was laughing.

Tears of mirth, not humiliation, streamed down her face as she bent over, clutching her stomach with every bubbling giggle that rose up in her. He stared, not just at how changed she was when tied up with such humor, but because looking at her in such a state made him feel…lighter. Lighter than he had in a very long time.

“Oh God, when you started sneezing!” she giggled, wiping helplessly at the tears. “Oh Jasper, you should have seen my face! I know I was as red as a currant and poor Juliana must think my room is positively infested with some kind of squeaking animals.”

“Squeak,” he argued. “I’ll have you know I never squeaked in my life.”

Her laughter grew louder. “I beg to differ, my lord. Squeak you did!”

“Well, be that as it may, I’m glad you think it’s funny,” he said with a shake of his head and a small smile of his own. He motioned down at his dark clothing, which was now pale gray with dust. “Look at me.”

She came a step closer and her laughter continued. “Oh, Jasper,” she wheezed. “Your lovely vest.”

He shot her a playfully dark look. “My valet will certainly have questions.”

She moved around the bed now and his awareness of her ratcheted up as she began to brush the dust away from his clothes. She was giggling helplessly as she did it, completely unaware of him as he stared down at her, wanting her so much that it stunned him. And there she was, within arm’s length, still in that flimsy chemise and it would be so easy to just…

But no. He had to regain some self-control. They had already almost been caught in a most compromising position. He had to remember that he was a gentleman and he had to wait for what he wanted, just as he should have from the start.

“I am sorry,” he said softly.

She jerked her face up to look at him instead of his dusty waistcoat. “Why?” she asked, and her tone held genuine confusion.

He motioned his head toward the door. “We were almost caught. I ought to have been more mindful of the humiliation I could have caused you tonight. The scandal.”

She wrinkled her brow, and instead of continuing to brush off his vest, she rested her hand gently on his chest. He felt the warmth and weight of each of her fingers and was keenly aware of both the desire they inspired and the peace that unexpectedly followed.

“What scandal is that?” she asked.

He motioned again to the door and rolled his eyes as he tried to keep focus. “Your sister.”

She smiled and shook her head. “You mean if Juliana had realized you were under my bed? You mean if she had confronted me about having you in my room doing…well, some very naughty things.”