A Penny's Worth of Affection novel Chapter 21

The colour drained from Penny's face, and she gasped, shrugging out of Phillip's grasp and hurrying towards the tall maze. Oh no, what did Edward think he was doing? He would compromise the lady if they were caught together, and that would be...

"Where do you think you are going?" Phillip questioned just as she made to enter the maze. She had not realized he had followed her.

She paused and looked at him. "I am going to fetch my brother, of course. Just as I assume you are going to find Miss Rosebury."

She made to walk away, but he grasped her arm once more. "You do not even know how to find your way in there. You will only end up getting hopelessly lost."

"It can't be that difficult to navigate surely. Please let go of my arm. You are hurting me."

He let go, but he angled his body to halt further progress. Penny glared at him impatiently, but he reached for her arm once more. "Just follow me, and don't wander off. I do not wish to go searching for you too."

He led her through the winding passage. There were not many people present, and she realized the only light that filtered through was the moonlight when it came out from behind a cloud. Instinctively, she moved closer to him, feeling the heat of his body as he tightened his grip on her fingers. Several times they came up to a dead end and had to retrace their footsteps. Penny's leg began to ache from the high slippers she was wearing and soon began limping. By this time, they had not even encountered any of the other guests.

"Damnation!" Phillip cursed as they hit yet another dead end. He ran his hand through his hair and swore viciously.

"I thought you knew where we were going?" Penny asked, blushing a little at the foul words that he uttered.

"I thought I did. Henry and I used to romp around this place as young lads. Now it appears the damn thing has been changed yet again." Penny groaned and sank on the soft grass underneath, not caring if her gown was ruined or not. Her leg ached terribly. She slid off her shoe and rubbed at her ankle, biting her lip at the stabbing pain. Phillip moved to crouch next to her and to her astonishment, took her sore ankle and began to rub it gently. His touch burned her deliciously until she could bear it no longer. She gasped and moved from his touch, hastening to her feet, her face heated in mortification.

He rose too and moved to stand so close. "Does my touch affect you, Miss Inglewood?" his tone was slightly mocking and yet serious at the same time. He raised his hand to brush the tips of his fingers over her parted lips, the sensation at once shocking and extremely pleasant, causing her to shut her eyes as waves of longing coursed through her.

"So beautiful," he murmured, and his lips covered hers in a deep kiss.

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She stared at him incredulously. Was that all he was going to say? They had just shared a moment of passion, albeit a very brief moment, but now he was acting so withdrawn and cold?

"Is that all you are going to say?" she whispered, hating how vulnerable she sounded at that moment.

He chuckled and took a step closer, the moonlight illuminating his features so she could clearly see the mocking smile playing across his lips. Those lips that had only moments before been locked with hers in a passionate embrace.

"What do you wish to hear, Miss Inglewood?" he said dryly, his tone mocking and harsh all at once. "A sonnet on how enjoyable it felt to kiss you? Or a proposal? Surely you are not that naive?"

She gasped as his words pierced her like a sword through her heart. Unbidden, she felt the sting of tears but pushed them back angrily. She would not let him see how much his hurtful words had affected her.

She straightened and glared daggers at him. "Enjoyable?" she asked, keeping her tone as cold and disinterested as he. "Hardly. One cannot call that enjoyable, merely something to be endured."