Page 55 of The Duke and Lady Scandal
The young woman offered her a conspiratorial smile and a wink. “Well, off with you then on your adventure.”
Ben told himself that he should regret kissing her.
He was a man with nothing to offer, not even an accurate family history, and she was fond of those.
Toying with Alexandra Prince was unthinkable. He admired her too much to pretend he was the marrying sort. He’d decided long ago that it wassomething he’d have to forgo until he’d achieved his goals. Maybe someday, but not anytime soon.
And yet he couldn’t regret a moment of that kiss. He’d replayed it dozens of times in his mind, allowed himself to imagine freeing her from that red dress, from her corset and petticoats, and laying her out on his bed, taking his time tasting her, savoring every moment—
“Are you finished with the newspaper?” Helen stood in her coat, donning her gloves.
“I...” Ben looked down to find the papers he’d collected from the newsstand this morning as crisp and unbent as when he’d purchased them. He’d been daydreaming for bloody hours.
“Never mind.”
“No, take them.”
“No, no, I have my book to read on the omnibus.” She pulled a knit hat on, arranging it at a jaunty tilt, then stared at him for a moment. “Are you all right?”
“Of course I am.”
“Very well. I must be off.” She started toward the door and then turned back. “Perhaps you’ll tell me later what has you so preoccupied.”
“Perhaps.”
Once she’d gone, he pushed a hand through his hair and forced himself to focus on perusing the newspapers, a task he usually relished on his days away from the job.
He flipped pages, absorbing little, until two words caught his notice.Crown Jewels.
The story detailed how the Crown Jewels werenow back at the Tower after cleaning and repair at a local jeweler’s, and the new Jewel House where they were encased at the Tower of London was open for visitors.
When he’d contacted the Tower after Alexandra’s first visit to his office, there’d been no mention of the removal of the regalia. Then again, as he scanned the news account, he realized it was scant on dates. It could have happened weeks ago and the release of the information had been delayed. The Crown dictated tight control of any information, and sometimes misleading information was released to deter threats against the regent and the other royals.
Perhaps the jewels’ movements had been what inspired the men Alexandra overheard. Perhaps they’d planned some move on the jeweler rather than a much more difficult theft from the Tower.
Thankfully, to his knowledge, there’d been no attempt on the regalia at either location.
For the first time in his life, he found himself curious to see the collection. Alexandra could probably recount the history of every gem encrusted in the crown and scepter and orb and whatnot.
A knock sounded at the front door, pulling him out of his ruminations.
As he approached, he could see the shape and colors of his visitor through the patterned glass and his heart began a fierce tattoo.
“Hello,” Alexandra said brightly when he opened the door. “You’re at home.”
“I am,” he heard himself say, even as his mindtripped over how lovely she looked. It was as if he’d summoned her with constant thoughts, and a part of him couldn’t quite believe that she was here.
Once she stood in his drawing room, brightening the whole space, she turned to face him and looked suddenly uncertain.
“I thought we might...”
His throat went dry, his mind returning to all he’d been imagining for the last twelve hours.
“Go for a walk,” she finally said.
“A walk.”
“Or take lunch together.”
