Page 65 of Anything But a Duke
“Well, is it or isn’t it? Time waits for no man.” Repton shifted his gaze between them, finally setting his perusal on Diana. “Or woman, Miss Ashby. I came here under the belief that you would have enough devices to make the journey worth my while.”
“No promises of the sort were made, Repton,” Aidan reminded his longtime business associate. “But we will ensure that you don’t go back to America without five of Miss Ashby’s machines. At least.”
The old man did his usual squint, as if he was giving the matter deep thought. But Aidan knew he would capitulate. At least to this part. Wrangling over cost would be a separate matter. Aidan had stated a price in initial correspondence with the American, but he knew that negotiation over money was the aspect Wilbur Repton liked best.
“I shall check in a week on progress. If all is on track, we can discuss a final sum at that time.”
“Very good.” Aidan stepped forward to seal the verbal agreement with a handshake, as was Repton’s way.
The old man wrenched his arm vigorously and offered one of his signature belly-deep chuckles. “It’s very new. And a lady inventor. Might make for an interesting selling point.”
“Indeed.” Aidan patted the man on the back as he saw him toward the threshold. “We’ll have progress to report in one week.”
When he turned back to Diana, he half expected her to rush into his arms. If she didn’t, he was considering rushing into hers.
“You’ve done it,” he told her. Excitement bubbled inside him. Not the usual exaltation over an investment well-chosen or a project seen through to a successful end. It was the pleasure of knowing what joy this moment must give her.
Yet she didn’t look at all joyful.
She’d settled her backside against the front of his desk and crossed her arms. “You remember I’m here now, do you?”
“Forgetting you would be quite impossible, Diana.” He could easily get used to the sound of her name on his tongue. He liked dispensing with the formality between them.
“But you both did at the end. You deciding that we can do the impossible, and Repton spoke of me as if I wasn’t still in the room.”
They had been asses now that he thought back on the exchange. He’d gotten carried away with deal making and forgotten that it was as much her negotiation as his. “You’re right. He’s used to me. We’ve been business associates for years.”
She lifted a hand and began nibbling on the edge of her finger. “We’ll need materials. I’ll need time in my workshop. Maybe even additional manpower.”
“Can I assist you? I could help obtain whatever construction materials you need, and I have two useful hands.”
Diana glanced down at his hands, and he wondered if she was imagining what he was—touching her, tracing the line of her jaw with his finger, shaping her waist, her hips, and all the curves he’d not yet explored.
She dropped her gaze to the carpet and swallowed hard. “I thought I was to assist you in finding a wife. That will take time too.”
Aidan wasn’t sure if she meant the words to hurt, but they stung like the jab of a knife. Most of all, he hated that she was right.
She began gathering the parts of her device and returning them to the case, shoving and dropping each piece into place. When she was done, she slammed the lid shut and attempted to heave the container onto her shoulder.
“Let me.”
“I can manage.”
But she couldn’t, and she didn’t argue or push him away when he approached and lifted the case into his arms. He let her lead and followed her to the front door. All that he wished to say remained tangled in the center of his chest.
“Have Thomas fetch a hansom for Miss Ashby,” he told the maid. Then they stood in awkward silence in the hallway.
“Diana—” he finally started, unsure of where to begin, knowing only that he had to try.
“That was quick,” she said when the clop of horses’ hooves sounded on the bricks outside his town house. “It works best if we put the device in first before I climb in.” She veritably sprinted for the carriage and waited while he maneuvered the box inside.
Once he was finished, he braced a hand on the carriage wall. Their bodies were inches apart.
“Diana, what happened in the study—”
“I have one more lady for you to meet,” she said in a cool, clipped tone. “Her father is a duke’s heir and will one day inherit. She’s very beautiful.”
“Youare beautiful and clever and determined, and apparently inclined to pretend you didn’t want that kiss as much as I did.”
