Page 39 of Plucked By the Orc

“I believe we should arrange for your complete pampering,” Duncan declared. “I have already started preparations.”

“Are we going to Bath?” Now that she’d had a taste of bathing in a proper tub, Iris was keen to try something even bolder, like the springs and spas in that place.

“Bath isn’t quite the fashion anymore, though Brighton and a few other spots still attract theton. But I’m trying to bring Bath to you, as it were. I have procured some salts from Epsom that you might include in your bathing ritual while you’re here and a pomade that is said to do wonders for ladies’ hair.”

“La! Is something wrong with my hair?”

When gathering his senses, Duncan clenched and unclenched his fist or made a rough but quiet show of clearing his throat. Now, he did both.

“There is absolutely nothing wrong with your hair, Miss Gabbert. It is only to improve on that which is already lovely.As a jewel on a metal chain ornaments the softest skin so that it almost seems more sensual than when completely bare.”

Iris had only meant to tease him and hadn’t expected such provocative words.

He bent down to trail his finger from behind her ears, over her neck, and to her collarbone, which he pressed gently. As her body came to life at his touch, she lowered her gaze and focused on the porcelain plate at her setting. Otherwise, she felt confident she would jump into his arms and plunge into more of the deep and delicious kisses that made her heart melt with desire.

“But there is something on which I must insist,” Duncan continued, lowering his hand. “For the sake of the household’s propriety. Dancing lessons shall unofficially be cut from your tutelage, at least under my supervision. Mrs. Thompson will certainly be of use in this department. She won’t speak of it, but I understand she is famously graceful in the ballroom.”

Much as Iris had grown to enjoy Mrs. Thompson’s company, and had no doubt the woman was a fine dancing partner, her heart fell. She longed to waltz with Duncan and allow matters to lead where they would. Hopefully, to the same delights as before.

Still, she understood. At the moment, that would not be possible. For the sake of both their reputations, they could not let anyone know what was happening between them at night. Not even Mrs. Thompson and Clemons, who were loyal to Duncan. They would keep the secret, but it wasn’t fair to them to ask them to. It would not have been respectable, as Duncan would put it.

But she didn’t like the idea ofnotdancing with him. She knew he had good reason to keep everything private, as did she. Surely, they could enjoy a little leeway, though.

“I wouldn’t mind repeating our dinner,” she told him. “The Orcan meal. Remember? I still have much to learn about your way of life. In the Hidden Realm and all.”

“You’re still intrigued?”

“You don’t take me for some flighty bird, do you?”

“I do not. You needn’t state something you know isn’t true.”

“Because that isn’t done in your world, it’s not.”

“Correct, Miss Gabbert. Saying something patently untrue is a quality of human behavior I find most baffling. I wish humans would plainly state what lies in their hearts.”

I want to know you better.The words played on the tip of Iris’s tongue but refused to pass through her lips.

“You and your brother have made a fine go of it here in London. I’m sure more of your lot will follow. And then, if I’m to be a proper lady of society and the refined proprietor of a respected flower shop, it behooves me to learn more about the Hidden Realm.”

“Behooves.” He blinked once, clearly approving of the word. “Nicely stated.”

“Grand.” Iris folded her arms before her chest in what she hoped looked like triumph. It wouldn’t do to let him see she was worried.

He should have been more eager to share his customs with her. If he saw her as anything more than a fun tumble under the sheets. What did he really think of her?

Iris knew he’d been writing a book. He referenced the bloody thing often enough. He had the gift of gab, even if he had a long-winded approach to communicating ideas.Maybe he had transcribed his ideas abouther.

“Maybe I could also peek at that book you’re writing,” she blurted.

Duncan had been reaching for a rasher of bacon, but his hand stopped abruptly and dropped to the side. She detected a lowgrowl, but it differed from the lustful sound from the night prior. He didn’t even bother to correct her grammar. “Why? It is about human customs, not those of orcs.”

Maybe so, but Iris was now unbearably curious as to what that journal of his contained, particularly as it pertained to her. “I thought to peek and see if I might glean something about your customs and outlook on life from your descriptions of human ones.”

“It is not even in your language. It is written in the Orcan tongue, in an alphabet thoroughly unfamiliar to the English.”

“You don’t wish to translate for me?”

He sighed. “Fine. But I ask that we wait until it is complete and I have polished the manuscript sufficiently. Until then, I forbid you from reading it.”

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