“Ah, humph,” her father said in farewell.

A small smile lit Chloe’s eyes and she dropped a kiss on his bald head. She put her hand on Lord Holland’s arm, ignoring the secret tingle that she felt at his touch. She felt as if she were in some kind of dream. What was she, plain Chloe van Stork, doing at Vauxhall with Charlotte Daicheston? In the last months the gossip columns had anxiously chronicled every move Lady Charlotte made. She knew with absolute certainty that her own name would appear in The Tatler tomorrow morning. Chloe shivered a bit with excitement and looked up at Will Holland.

His bright blue eyes looked almost black … it must be the lighting in the corridor, Chloe thought. He drew her quickly down the stairs and toward the carriages. Finally she was almost running to keep up.

“Sir,” she gasped, pulling him back slightly.

Will turned his head, completely surprised. He was feverishly thinking of getting Chloe into the carriage and kissing her again; he didn’t remember ever being so obsessed that he forgot the normal social graces.

“I apologize,” he said. And then it just came out of his mouth: “I wanted to kiss you again, in my carriage.”

Chloe’s eyes widened. She knew that Will Holland was courting her only for her money. Why on earth was he so eager to kiss her? It must be part of his courtship routine. Will felt her infinitesimal withdrawal and cursed inside. He tucked her hand back into the crook of his arm.

“I’ll tell you what,” he said firmly. “We will amble toward the carriages and I won’t touch a hair of your head: how’s that?” He turned rather anxiously to look down into her blue eyes.

But she surprised him again. Chloe’s eyes were dancing, unmistakably enjoying his discomfort.

“I should enjoy that,” she replied.

Will looked ahead again. Enjoy what? What would she enjoy? Ambling? Or him not touching her? He drew her hand closer to his side and consciously controlled his walk. Chloe smiled to herself. They proceeded toward the carriages at a snail’s pace.

Chapter 10

Chapter 10