“Well I would rather that than ask Robert to give me a gentle kiss,” she admitted wryly, and Lord Findlay released a burst of startled laughter that made the arms holding her shake and vibrate. Lisa smiled wryly, glad she’d amused him this time, and then, in the next moment, Charles began to whirl them to the side and right out of the ballroom.

Lisa glanced around with surprise as he walked her across the terrace. She hadn’t realized they’d been so close to the doors while speaking and hadn’t expected the moment to come quite this soon. Actually, she hadn’t really been thinking at all when she’d made the suggestion: she’d mostly been desperate to have Lord Findlay wipe the memory of Robert’s kisses from her memory, and hopefully stir the same passion he had. If Charles could . . . well, perhaps all would be well after all.

Lord Findlay stopped walking and she glanced around to see that he’d led her to the darkest corner of the terrace where no one was likely to notice or see. When he then turned her to face him, she shifted nervously, her eyes shooting everywhere but to his face.

“Punishing, huh?” he murmured thoughtfully, seeming reluctant.

Lisa was about to call it off, and let him off the hook when he suddenly caught her arms, dragged her up against his chest and planted his mouth on hers. This was definitely punishing, Lisa decided as his mouth crushed hers bruisingly against her teeth. Had Robert really been trying to punish her? Not bloody likely if this was punishing, because this was nothing like what Robert had done, she thought with dismay as Charles bit at her lip and forced her mouth open with his tongue. When it then swept inside, it wasn’t with the questing grace of Robert’s, but with a conquering fervor, filling her until she thought she would choke on it or suffocate.

Robert may have called it punishment, but his kiss hadn’t been punishment at all compared to this. Good Lord, and she’d asked for it, she thought with dismay as Lord Findlay continued to mash his mouth over hers. What on earth had she been thinking?

The kiss, if that’s what it was, seemed to be interminable, and Lisa was more than relieved when it finally ended and he lifted his head.

“Well?” he asked, breathing a bit heavily.

Lisa stared at him blankly for a moment and then cleared her throat and offered, “It was much more masterful than . . . er . . . you know.”

Really, it was the best she could do under the circumstances. She could hardly criticize it when it was exactly what she’d asked for.

“Lisa!”