They were already much too close for propriety’s sake, and even if Estelle had assured that they would be well out of sight of the garden party for this little encounter, she really ought not to have placed herself in it at all.
Particularly not now that he had put his hand below her chin, and tilted it upwards. Estelle’s lips parted slightly, because now she had to face the question of him kissing her again – which was, of course, the last thing on earth she should be doing. Particularly when he was so infuriatingly entitled about it. So rather than stepping back, she stayed where she was, her face not too far from his, and her tone low. “Perhaps the world doesn’t exist purely to give you what you want, Mr. Maxime,” she pointed out, still simmering with the urge she shouldn’t have. Her hand came up to smooth out a crease of his jacket against his chest. “And if you do – if you ever prove the reason my chances of a good marriage are lost – you should know I will gladly ruin you in turn.”
She didn’t know if he would take the threat seriously – but it was an honest threat. There were plenty of things a lady could say if need be, and Estelle had never been anything but proper before. Anyone would believe her innocence or her victimhood, before they did his. He kissed me against my will – he promised me we were engaged – I didn’t know what was happening. Estelle was not above a useful lie. She wondered if that would change his mind.
Particularly not now that he had put his hand below her chin, and tilted it upwards. Estelle’s lips parted slightly, because now she had to face the question of him kissing her again – which was, of course, the last thing on earth she should be doing. Particularly when he was so infuriatingly entitled about it. So rather than stepping back, she stayed where she was, her face not too far from his, and her tone low. “Perhaps the world doesn’t exist purely to give you what you want, Mr. Maxime,” she pointed out, still simmering with the urge she shouldn’t have. Her hand came up to smooth out a crease of his jacket against his chest. “And if you do – if you ever prove the reason my chances of a good marriage are lost – you should know I will gladly ruin you in turn.”
She didn’t know if he would take the threat seriously – but it was an honest threat. There were plenty of things a lady could say if need be, and Estelle had never been anything but proper before. Anyone would believe her innocence or her victimhood, before they did his. He kissed me against my will – he promised me we were engaged – I didn’t know what was happening. Estelle was not above a useful lie. She wondered if that would change his mind.
