“He was kissing you, but he appeared to be rather rough about it,” Robert said grimly.

“He—I—” Lisa paused and frowned, then shook her head, finding it impossible to even attempt to explain the debacle she’d instigated. It certainly hadn’t tuned out as she’d expected.

“If he was forcing himself on you—”

“No, he wasn’t,” she said quickly, and then realizing there was no help for it, admitted, “He saw us after you—last night when we returned to the ball. He figured out something had happened. I admitted you had punished me with a kiss for that nonsense with Pembroke and he asked if I’d enjoyed it and if it was better than his kiss. I said they were completely different, and then I suggested he give me a punishing kiss to compare yours to.” Lisa rolled her eyes even as she admitted that, realizing now just how stupid that had been.

“And he did,” Robert said quietly.

Lisa nodded. “However, it wasn’t like your punishment at all. His was rough and . . . well, rather nasty really. Punishing I guess, just as I’d requested.” She was silent for a moment and then added, “Which made me realize that your kiss hadn’t been a punishment at all.”

“We should really turn back,” Robert muttered, stopping and turning away.

“I never saw you as a coward,” Lisa commented idly, glancing back to seeing the way he stiffened as he paused again. “But that’s what you are, isn’t it Robert? Afraid to marry, afraid to admit you want me, afraid to admit that that kiss wasn’t punishment at all, but just an excuse to unleash the passion you feel for me. And you do have passion for me.”

“We have to return to the others,” Robert growled, not turning back.

“So go back to the others. I’m safe enough out here on my own. It’s not like Pembroke can escape his mother or his other guests and come kidnap me. Besides, what would he do with me then? Bundle me into the hold of the ship with the servants for the return journey?”

Robert hesitated, but then nodded once grimly and headed away, leaving her on her own.