That is not what will happen. I would never force her into such a thing.
The excitement curdled in his stomach, becoming something else entirely, but now Theodore was frozen, stuck between the draw toward Maggie and the certainty that if he gave into temptation, everything would be ruined.
Theodore tried to step back, yet his feet wouldn’t obey his instructions.
Would it be so bad, to give into just one kiss?
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Margaret couldn’t stop staring up at Theo. His lips were so close to hers. Was this it? Was he about to kiss her? Was she about to have all her longing dreams answered?
Theodore’s hands rested on the wall on either side of her. His head tilted down toward her, his lips hovering over her own. It was so near that she closed her eyes, turning her head up toward him.
Would he be gentle? Or would he be rough, kissing her with passion? Both thoughts thrilled her so much that her hands began to tremble.
Then he jerked his head back. She felt it, the shift of the air between them and opened their eyes again.
“Are you trying to distract me just to win?” he teased, the corner of his lips lifting up.
She masked her disappointment with a wide smile.
“Oh, would I be that devious?”
“Perhaps you would be.”
“Oh, no! Penelope!” Margaret cried, looking over his shoulder and pretending to see Penelope sneaking toward the treasure.
Theo looked around, releasing her from her pinned position against the door. Taking the opportunity, she darted around him and sprinted straight towards where the treasure had been hidden.
Reaching her hand into the parasol stand, she pulled out the glittering ornament they had chosen as their treasure.
Realizing her deception, Theodore laughed as he turned to face her.
“I will get it back,” he promised, moving toward her.
“You wouldn’t take it… would you?” She backed up. The thought of him coming that near again was making a pleasant heat creep up her chest and neck.
“Maybe I would.” Then he dived toward her.
She yelped playfully and ran the other way, darting through the door of the music room and running swiftly away.
His laughter that followed her thrilled her. When had she last heard Theodore laugh in such a way? Never! He may have started to give way to low chuckles and stolen smiles, but a full guffaw of such freedom? She had not heard that before.
She kept on running through the house, until she stumbled into the sitting room.
“I win!” she called, as per the rules of their game, holding the little ornament in the air and turning on the spot.
“At last!” Evelina called from across the room.
Margaret jumped as she turned to see Evelina hidden in the corner of the room. She had been reading a newspaper but now put it down and she rested her hands on her round stomach.
“Funnily enough, I grew tired,” Evelina explained. “I must prefer sitting here and listening to the laughter inside this house. Isn’t it wonderful to hear our sisters laughing so much?”
“It is.” Margaret nodded.
It’s a delight for all of us to be laughing so much!
There was a rumble of footsteps nearby on the stairs. Alexandra and Penelope’s voices were heard a second later.
