Sophia had kissed those lips. Harriet wondered for just the barest moment what it had been like. Heaven knew she hadn’t ever kissed such a beautiful man. She supposed she never would.

Harriet’s heart lowered. It was a pity there was no real Captain John Frakenham. If there had been, she’d want him to look just like this man, with his dark hair and blue eyes…She sighed, admonishing herself for her silliness.

Still, somehow her fingers found their way through the man’s hair, and then traced the line of his brow to his cheek. His skin was warm beneath her fingertips, his skin shadowed by a day’s growth of facial hair.

If this really were the captain, she could kiss him with impunity. Kiss him because he was a man and because he was hers. The idea made her tingle, and, without another thought, she leaned forward and pressed her lips to his.

For an instant, a warm shiver shot through her, raising the fine hair on her arms and tightening her chest. It was as if she’d stepped through a blast of hot air, her body absorbing the warmth.

Then something happened. The heat intensified. Harriet opened her eyes and found she was right. She had indeed stepped into a blast of heat—one that emanated from his blue, blue eyes. The man was no longer asleep.

Just as in the story, Prince Charming had awakened with a kiss.

Chapter 4

I found a four-leaf clover last week and suddenly women find me irresistible. Never believed in such nonsense before, but now…just last Sunday Miss Hobbinton told me she liked my hat and then on Tuesday Lady Danbury “accidentally” dropped her kerchief right in my path and I stepped on it. But the best was yesterday evening, when I trod on Lady Whistelsmithe’s left foot while trying to waltz and she didn’t even yelp, just teared up a bit. Lud, yes, I’m feeling quite the thing now.

Edmund Valmont to the Duke of Wexford at a chance meeting on St. James’s Street

Chase wasn’t sure what was fantasy, what reality. One moment, he’d been floating in a sea of darkness, an ache behind his eyes as he struggled to find his way to the surface. The next moment, he was being summoned forth by a pair of soft, feminine lips.

His gaze dropped to those very real lips now. Full and moist, they were amazingly sensual in a face that was otherwise rather plain. Indeed, the little servant or housemaid who had just kissed him wasn’t his usual fare.

For one thing, she was far too thin—completely without the beguiling plumpness and lush curves he usually sought. She had brown eyes, brown hair, even her skin was brown, as if she spent a great amount of time outdoors. Nothing about her appealed to him.

Still…she was close. Within reach, in fact.

He slid his hands up her arms and down again, the cap sleeves on her linen gown crisp against his fingers, the fresh sweet scent of lemon tickling his nose. Chase didn’t hesitate—despite the nagging ache behind his eyes, he pulled her across his lap.