Page 12 of A Rogue's Rules for Seduction
“Willa,” she answered. “If I am free to call you Gilbert, I insist that the familiarity be reciprocated. If we cannot be at liberty here on Mr. Longbridge’s island, wherecanwe have freedom?”
Something burning traveled the length of her back, and she glanced over her shoulder to find Dom in the middle of the room, staring intently at her as she flirted with Gilbert. Dom’s jaw looked hard as granite and his eyes blazed, but he stayed rooted to the spot.
“Do you think Mr. Kilburn would appreciate my boldness?” Gilbert asked.
“What matters is whether or notIappreciate it,”she answered with a toss of her head. “And I can assure you that I do.”
Gilbert’s smile widened. “Then I shall be delighted and honored, Willa, if I may escort you to dinner. For I find having you on my arm to be exceedingly charming.”
“Any lady can becharming,” she said, taking his proffered arm. “It’s my intention to be unforgettable.”
“Whoever considers you forgettable is entirely a fool,” he answered gallantly.
“Precisely my sentiments.” She looked directly at Dom as she spoke.
Dom only clenched his jaw harder—a muscle actually leapt in his cheek—before moving toward the fire. He turned his broad back toward the room as he moodily stared at the flames, effectively blocking out everyone, including Willa.
She glowered at the wide expanse of dark wool stretching across his shoulders. How dare he look so brooding and enigmatic and untamed, especially in comparison to the sleekly handsome and refined Gilbert. It was like having a spaniel and a wolf in the same room.
Even so, she made sure to rest her hand more firmly on Gilbert’s arm, and though Dom couldn’t see her, she directed a winning smile up at Gilbert. It was a useless gesture, yet she had to claim some kind of victory, no matter how Pyrrhic.
Mr. Brown, the butler, appeared at the doorway. “Dinner is served.”
“We’re all far from the constraints of Society,” Mr. Longbridge said with a smile, “so there’s no need to stand on ceremony. Walk in to dinner on your own, or partner as many people in as you like. No precedence, either. Rules have little place on this island.”
Naturally, the married couples paired up and glided from the room, while the two widows and Miss Steele linked arms, chatting animatedly as they walked to dinner. Mr. Longbridge’s smile widened when Baron Hunsdon offered him his arm. The two gentlemen strode out together.
“I suppose this means you’ll forge your own path, Willa,” Gilbert said, glancing down at where her hand continued to rest on his sleeve.
She cast a quick look at Dom. They were the last three people in the drawing room, and he turned away from the fire, his expression grim as he stared at her and Gilbert.
“I would hate to deprive you of my company,” she answered Gilbert teasingly.
Her escort laughed. “You are kindness itself.”
“This rugged and wild atmosphere has sharpened my appetite.” Shewouldshow Dom that she had moved on. Long ago, she had learned that she could pretend to be invulnerable.
Chapter 5
Dom was the last one to enter the dining room, and his gut clenched when he saw that there was only one available seat left—and it was next to Willa.
A footman held the chair out as Dom approached. Willa looked between the chair and Dom, her chin tipped up, her eyes bright. Unless he wanted to look like the biggest ass in Christendom, he had no choice but to sit beside her.
Huge and clumsy as a barge trying to dock in a tiny berth, he lowered himself down into the ornately carved and plushly cushioned chair. Big as the piece of furniture was, it barely contained him. He was all legs and elbows as he sat, jostling Finn on one side and Willa on the other.
She shot him a look before pointedly turning to Cransley next to her and laughing at something the overbred nob said.
The table shook from the force of Dom’s thighs hitting the underside of the wood.
“Easy, old man,” Finn murmured for Dom’s ears alone.
“Can’t help it,” Dom muttered back. “This damned aristo furniture’s scaled for dollhouses.”
“I’m sure there’s a boulder on this island to serve as your table,” Willa said with an acidic smile. “It will be appropriately impervious to your ungainly movement.”
He’d forgotten that she had excellent hearing.
“Everything nobs use is too small.” He picked up his fork and glared at the tiny piece of silver. “Too many blue bloods mating with other blue bloods, and what are they left with? Feeble hands and puny cutlery.” He cast the fork down onto the napkin beside his plate.
