Page 46 of Teach a Rogue New Tricks
Ada blinked in the sunlight, dizzy from the speed at which Cass moved, caught up in the whirlwind of his insistence. “It’s stopped raining,” she managed to say, hugging the two books to her chest. “Thank you, Lord Albee.”
He grunted, handing her into the hack. “I didn’t stop the rain.”
She rolled her eyes and settled into her seat. “You know what I mean.”
“I do.” He sat across from her and stared out the window. The feral snarl approximating a grin had disappeared, smoothed into the faintest of soft smiles, a gentle curve promising to sip, not snap.
She wanted to tear that silly mustache from his upper lip and kiss him.
She’d tried to fight it. But she could no longer deny the impulse rushing through her, making her fingers twitch, her toes tap, and her breasts tingle. What could she do, though? Kissing him could not happen. It curled a tight rope of anger in her chest, and she snapped instead. “I could have bargained with him about the book. I’ve done it with tradesmen at Cavendish Manor.”
“I have no doubt.” He still looked out the window. Had he not noticed her ire, or did he not care? “My way proved quicker. I’m not a patient man. Villains rarely are. We want what we want when we want it. Usually that’s right away.”
“Villain… ha. You’re such a…” She leaned into the squabs, trying to find the right description. Ah. She had it. “A dear heart.”
As the coach rolled into movement, he threw his head back and laughed.
His mirth denied her claim without words, but she knew the truth. He endangered nothing and no one, except her own peace of mind.
Chapter Thirteen
Whenthey returned to Berkeley Square, Cass trotted across the green to Gunter’s Tea Shop alone. He needed time to think, time to suppress the increasingly and alarmingly strong urges to kiss Miss Cavendish. He ordered three ices, a sweet for him, and a sweet and savory for her because he’d forgotten to ask her preference, but he still wished to bring her something that would delight her.
He took his time ambling back over to the coach, and he resisted itching his upper lip. The damned mustache had been driving him crazy all morning, and he ached to rip it from his face. He looked around the square. The early time of day kept those who had reveled all night still in bed, and the rain had run everyone else inside. They were alone.
The square glowed green and yellow, the storm having knocked flowers from the trees so that the grass seemed dotted with white gemstones.
She waited for him below a tree in the middle of the square.
He scowled. It would be wet there. He marched across the green and stopped before her, ripping his jacket from his arms and spreading it on the grass. “Good thing it didn’t rain too heavy. Under the tree the grass is not too wet.” He scowled at the garment on the ground. “But your skirts might still get wet.”
“You sound positively put out, Lord Albee. You’re producing such a gentlemanly grumble of displeasure ofmyinconvenience.”
He crossed his arms and leaned against the tree.
Ada floated down to settle on his jacket. “Join me down here.”
He squatted, but the amount of ground covered by his coat seemed miniscule. If he sat on it, he’d be sitting almost on top of her. Better if he sat on the coat and she sat on his lap, and—
No.
He plopped onto the wet grass beside the coat.
Her gaze wavered to where he sat then to his face. “Your… backside will get wet.”
“I’ll be fine.” A bit of a soaked arse would help him focus on not ravishing Miss Cavendish.
The sun peeked through gray clouds, banished them, and filtered through the leaves above, dappling Ada’s light-blue gown with sunlight. A breeze blew, and white flower petals rained down on their heads, dotting her dark hair.
She laughed and reached forward, pulling one from his hair. The touch made him shiver, and he drew his knees to his chest, wrapping his arms around them. “How many languages do you speak?”
“Not speak. Read. And I’m not sure. I’ve never counted. Let’s see.” She raised her hand and counted on her fingers. “English, French, German, Welsh—”
“Welsh.”
She nodded.
He whistled.
