Alice was amused by Lord Jonathan's admission, but the man had obviously not taken her point. "Well, I fear your mother has noticed even if you have not, and she appears to be growing irritated."
Her dance partner glanced over toward his mother, but his only reaction was to tighten his hand on hers.
She decided to try again. "In fact, she is beginning to look quite vexed. Really, my lord, I take her point. Is this feast not about finding a bride for you? 'Twill be difficult for you to do so should you continue dancing with me, neglecting the women brought here for you to consider."
"I need consider the matter no further. Any one of them is interchangeable with the others. Besides, I like dancing with you. You do not step on my toes, you do not breathe garlic into my face, you do not spill food on me, and you can converse."
Alice blinked once, twice, then ventured, "Converse? I take it you have found some of the women--"
"Unable to string two words together that have more than four letters in them. And many of them are deceitful. You should hear what they say about each other!"
"Oh, dear." Alice bit her tongue to keep from laughing. Then she became worried. "Oh, my. Your mother is headed in our direction. I suspect she is about to tell you that you should be dancing with the others."
Lord Jonathan glanced over his shoulder, his expression becoming irritated. He promptly began to walk Alice in the opposite direction.
"What are you doing?" she asked in surprise.
"I am getting us out of here."
"Oh, but--" Alice began. She got no farther as Lord Jonathan picked up the pace. He hustled her out of the great hall, and a glance over Alice's shoulder just before they slipped through the door showed Lady Fairley pausing, hands on hips, eyes narrowed, as she watched them flee. She did not look at all pleased. Once again, Alice was reminded that the woman positively did not see her as bridal material for her son. She found herself inexplicably saddened.
Lord Jonathan slowed to a walk once they were outside, and Alice glanced at him curiously, peering at his face in the moonlight. His distraction was obvious, so she left him to his thoughts and they walked in companionable silence for several moments; then she recognized the path he had taken. She smiled slightly.
"The stables again, my lord?" she asked with quiet humor.
"What?" He sounded bewildered, then glanced around and seemed to realize she meant their destination. He shook his head. "Nay."
Despite his negation, they continued silently in that general direction, but Alice didn't question him further. She noted, however, that he was rubbing his stomach absently, his gaze and face working as if he were resolving some problem. Quite suddenly he asked, "Are you hungry, Alice?"
Startled by his use of her given name, it took Alice a moment to digest his question. She considered it seriously and nodded with some surprise. "Aye. Actually, I am."
"As am I. Come." Taking her hand again, he tugged her off the path they had been on and along another, this one leading around the back of the keep. He urged her silently through a door there, pressed a finger to his lips, then led her along a dim hallway that grew warmer as they went.
"Wait here," he instructed, bringing her to a halt outside a set of double doors. He slid through.
Alice obeyed for all of a minute; then curiosity got the better of her. She cautiously eased open the door, and wasn't at all surprised to see that the doors led into the kitchens. And what a huge kitchen it was, she thought with awe. Houghton Castle had a rather large scullery of its own, but this had to be at least ten times bigger. Alice supposed that it was necessary here at the palace. Certainly Houghton Castle, even with all its servants and men-at-arms, still had nowhere near the number of people to feed as did the palace.
Her gaze skimmed the small army of servants cleaning up the kitchens, until it came to rest on Jonathan. The big knight stood talking to a man she could only guess was the head cook, who was eyeing him with a jaundiced eye and shaking his head firmly.
Jonathan, Lord Fairley, was not the sort to take no for an answer, though. As Alice watched, he talked and talked and smiled and charmed, then finally resorted to bribery. He pulled out a small sack of what Alice guessed were coins and pressed them on the man--whose attitude abruptly changed. The chef transformed from a narrow-eyed, grim-faced man to a jolly little cherub who pressed a basket on Jonathan and led him around stuffing food into it. Alice eased the door closed again.
When Lord Jonathan stumbled back out to rejoin her some moments later, he was bearing an overflowing basket and had a skin of wine tucked under his chin. Alice chuckled at the slightly stunned expression on his face, then relieved him of the wine.
"Accommodating fellow, was he not?" she asked with amusement. They moved up the hall.
"Aye, once I showed him some coin." He shook his head. "I think I may have been overgenerous."
Alice laughed softly. "Well, it did appear a hefty sack you offered him."
"I was so hungry, I would have given him half of Fairley Castle . . . and had begun to fear I might have to. He was not eager to indulge us." He chuckled.
Alice grinned at his tired jollity, then leaned toward him, poking at the contents of the basket as they walked. "What did he give you?"
"Everything." Lord Jonathan slowed a bit to adjust for her slightly staggered gait; she was trying to continue forward while twisting about to investigate the booty. "It would be easier to say what he did not give us."
Us. Alice left off poking through the basket, her gaze shooting quickly to the knight's face, then away as the word played in her mind. Us. As if we were a couple, she thought slowly as they exited the keep the same way they had entered. The idea pleased her immensely. In fact, the amount of pleasure it stirred in her was somewhat shocking. Us. She found herself smiling for no reason at all as she followed Jonathan through the darkness.
"Here. The perfect spot."
Pausing as he did, Alice glanced around the location he had chosen: a small clearing deep in the royal gardens. Two benches stood on either side of the path, one not far from a statue that seemed to gleam silver in the moonlight. It was that piece that finally told her where they were: this was the same clearing where she had first met Lord Jonathan, where he and his mother had joined her, her mother, and her uncle that first morning.
Her eyes slid slowly over the statue now. During daylight it appeared sweet, the woman bearing a sad, loving expression. Now, with moonlight casting shadows over it, it looked different. Rather than poignant, the statue's expression seemed seductive, that of a woman calling to a lover. The gown, which had seemed perfectly respectful and demure in daylight, seemed to cling and emphasize a lush shape.
"Ah."
Alice turned her attention from the statue to Jonathan. He had settled on the bench they had occupied that first day, and he was withdrawing items from the basket and setting them in the center of the bench. Giving up her position before the statue, Alice moved closer, smiling as he oohed and ahhed over their treasure. It appeared he hadn't paid much attention to whatever the chef had pressed into the basket, for he was obviously pleasantly surprised by many of the items he set out.
"Ahhhh, a feast worthy of a king." He sighed as he placed the last foodstuff on the bench and set the container aside.
"My, yes." Alice gazed over the fare with wide eyes. "Just how heavy was that purse you gave the chef?"
"Too heavy, apparently." The big knight chuckled. "Come sit."
He patted the empty portion of the bench, on the other side of the food from himself, then lifted a chicken leg and offered it to her as she sat. Alice accepted the offering, surprised to find she truly was quite hungry. They ate in companionable silence for several moments; then, as their hunger eased, they began to talk.
Alice was eating a fruit tart when it happened. The pastry crumbled slightly as she bit into it, smearing some of the berry filling on her cheek by the corner of her mouth. Chuckling, Jonathan leaned forward to catch up the sticky goo with
a finger, then unthinkingly stuck that finger into his mouth. Apparently affected by the action, Alice stared at him, wide-eyed. Her expression made Jonathan aware of what he had just done, and their gazes met in one meaningful moment of silent communication.
"It is a pleasant night," Alice blurted then, setting the rest of her tart down on the bench.
"Aye." Jonathan gazed around, then up at the sky. "A clear, starry night, though there is a cool breeze. Are you chilled?"
Alice started to shake her head no, then realized that she was absently rubbing her upper arms. She shrugged. "A little. But not enough to wish to give up this lovely evening."
Jonathan frowned, not wishing her to suffer discomfort, but not wishing to bring an end to this interlude, either. He took a moment to marvel over the fact that she had admitted as much, herself. But then, he had noted that natural honesty in her quite early. Alice had a strong sense of truth and honor. She had staunchly refused to participate in spying on his mother and her uncle, Lord Houghton. After a hesitation, he removed his cape and settled it around her shoulders.
"Oh, but then you will be cold," she protested, trying to remove the gift.
"Nay, your very presence warms me," he said quietly. Replacing the garment around her shoulders and smiling at the softening of her expression, Jonathan hesitated, then used the cape to draw her closer.
This time there was no sudden arrival of his mother or hers, no interruption to stop him at all, and he let a small sigh slip from his lips as his mouth settled over hers. Her mouth was as soft and pliant as he expected, and he spent a moment just enjoying the warm feel of her before sliding his tongue out, questing for hers. Much to his pleasure, her lips opened at once. He suspected it was more from surprise than an understanding of what he was requesting, for while she allowed her mouth to slide open, she started to retreat at once in surprise.
Smiling against her mouth, Jonathan lifted his hand to the back of her neck, ending her retreat, then kissed her as he had imagined doing since the picnic. After one startled moment, Alice joined in. Her response was definitely lacking in skill, but was enthusiastic nonetheless. Jonathan spent several moments teaching her. By the time the lesson was over and he broke the kiss, they were both breathless and panting.
"Oh, my." Alice gasped shakily as they stared at each other in the moonlight.
"Aye," Jonathan murmured. He brushed a thumb gently over the side of her face; then, because he simply couldn't resist her passion-swollen lips, he bent to kiss her again. She was a quick learner; this time there was no need for tutelage, and she opened her mouth without his bidding, inviting him to deepen the kiss. Her boldness made the blood surge in Jonathan, but when she shifted instinctively closer, pressing her upper body into his, he gave up what little restraint he had and let his hands begin to explore. The hand at the back of her head slid down over the curve of her shoulder, sliding partway across her arm before drifting around to cross their bodies and cover one breast.
Alice promptly stiffened, her breath catching on a small gasp that briefly sucked the air out of his mouth; then her kisses became more frantic. Her arms wrapped around his neck and clutched almost desperately there as he squeezed and fondled until he could feel her nipple grow hard through her gown.
"Oh, please," she said softly against his cheek as he let his lips break away from hers. He slid them along the curve of her jaw. "Oh, ahhhh."
Jonathan smiled against her throat as her head dropped back, her breath coming in violent little pants as he sucked and nibbled at her tender flesh. Then she raised her head abruptly, desperately seeking his questing mouth for another kiss. Jonathan gave her what she wanted, his kisses less gentle and more devouring. His other hand slid down her waist and across her hip over the material of her gown then slowly shifted around to the inside of her leg. She didn't seem to notice what he was doing at first, her senses preoccupied with his other caresses, but when he reached the apex of her thighs and touched her there, she jumped, breaking the kiss with a start. Her eyes went round and uncertain.
Jonathan kept his hand still, allowing her to get used to its presence, and managed what he hoped was a gentle smile before he again brushed his lips lightly over hers. When she remained passive under that caress, neither protesting nor participating in his kiss, he brushed her lips again. He let his mouth drift over to her ear and set to work, nipping and tugging at the soft, plump lobe, then at the sensitive spot behind.
"Ohhhh." The word came out on a quavering sigh as Alice melted beneath his caresses. Jonathan felt relief rush through him. He was hard with desire from just their kisses, and he felt sure he would die if he had to stop now. She was an innocent, of course, and he knew he could not take this too far, but he felt sure that he could control himself. He would just go a little further, enjoy this beauty's awakening passion a little more. Touch her, and taste her, and . . . Dear God, he wanted her as he had wanted no other woman before. But Jonathan knew he couldn't take her innocence. He renewed his assault on her throat and ear, then began to apply pressure between her legs, pressing the material of her gown against her. Rubbing slightly, he slid his tongue into her mouth once more.
Alice was dying of pleasure. Her eyes were open, staring blindly up at the stars above as Lord Jonathan did delicious things to her. She knew he should not do these things, but her body was clamoring under his gentle assault, and she seemed helpless to stop him. In fact, when the hand between her legs slid away, she nearly sobbed in protest. She caught her lower lip between her teeth to prevent such wanton behavior.
Her teeth bit down in surprise when Alice felt his hand actually touch the naked flesh of her calf. He had not stopped, but had dragged her skirt up and slid his hand under to glide gently over her knee to the sensitive skin of her thigh. A nervous giggle slid from her mouth into his, and she squirmed slightly from the tingles radiating out from his caress. His hand returned to its former position--between her legs. And this time, there was nothing to shield her from his touch.
Alice moaned long and low into his mouth, bucking slightly beneath this new caress as his fingers dipped into the slick core of her.
The sensations racing through her then were overwhelming. Alice was hardly aware when he used his other hand to drag her lower body across the remnants of their picnic. She was soon thigh-to-thigh with him. His mouth covered hers again, and he pressed her back as his touch became more aggressive.
They hardly noticed their tumble from the bench. Lord Jonathan took just enough notice to twist them so that he landed on the bottom with her splayed atop him; then he rolled her onto her back, his mouth dropping to cover her breast through her gown.
Alice felt the moist heat through the cloth, then heard Jonathan curse before he removed the hand between her legs to use both hands to tug at the top of her clothing. Missing that touch, Alice promptly began to help him, tugging and shimmying until her breasts were bared to his attentions. She groaned and arched when his mouth latched onto one swollen nipple, then twisted and arched again as his hand found its way back under her skirt and moved directly back to where she wanted it. The combination left her completely mindless, a twisting, trembling mass beneath him.
"Please," she said in a gasp, reduced to begging. "Please, oh, Jonathan, please."
She thrust into his caress instinctively, her hands moving over what she could reach of him; his head, his hair, his shoulders and upper arms. She thrashed her legs restlessly until he cast one of his own over hers, nudging them apart and holding them still at the same time. Then she felt something begin to press deep into her, and she bucked in shock. Alice glanced down, thoroughly confused when she saw that Lord Jonathan still lay half on her and half off, fully clothed, only his hand between her legs. It took a moment for her to deduce that it was his finger inside her, and it was such an odd sensation that she went still, unsure whether she liked it or not. She did know that she missed his caress of a moment before, but then the caress started up again, similar but different, and she cried
out in gratitude. Some part of her mind was guessing that he was using his thumb, but for the most part, her brain was beyond caring or thinking what he was doing so long as he didn't stop. She began to shift and thrust into his touch, clenching her hands into his hair to draw his mouth up for a kiss she desperately needed.
He accommodated her, and the kiss was as fiery and passionate as she'd yearned for. The next moment, Alice tore her mouth away to cry out as pleasure ripped through her. Her inner muscles contracted and vibrated, her thighs clenching around Lord Jonathan's hand, her arms and fingers tightening, her heart seeming to stop. When she regained herself enough to become aware of what was going on around her, it was to find Jonathan gently holding her, murmuring calming words as he pressed gentle kisses on her face.
"I--" Alice began, feeling shame and embarrassment slowly make their inevitable appearance, but her lover shushed her at once. He pressed a soothing kiss to her lips.
"Jonathan!"
Their kiss ended abruptly at that scandalized cry. A scramble ensued as Lord Jonathan quickly tugged her skirt down and sat up, shifting to block Alice from view. She tried desperately to straighten her gown.
"Mother!" There was no mistaking Lord Jonathan's outrage at this interruption, Alice decided as she struggled to right her clothing with hands that shook with humiliation.
"Do not 'Mother' me as though I am the one in the wrong, son. How could you?"
"I think you had best come with me, Alice."
Finished with her gown, Alice stiffened at those words. She sat up to peer reluctantly over Lord Jonathan's shoulder. A little sigh escaped her at the sight of her mother with Lady Fairley. It just figured the woman would be here to witness her daughter's shame, Alice thought unhappily. The only positive point at that moment, it seemed to Alice, was that Uncle James was not also in attendance.
"Alice."
Grimacing at her mother's tone of voice, Alice got reluctantly to her feet and moved around Lord Jonathan to follow Lady Houghton as she turned abruptly and started back up the path.