Page 68 of The Love Potion
“I doubt it will be a seduction. These things are a matter of business, not love.” Oh, how it hurt to say those words. She didn’t examine why. She would break if she focused on her true feelings. Instead, she put on her bravest face. “If he is amenable, I will have my future set on the morrow.”
“And if he is not?”
“Then I suppose I am off to Russia.”
“Ireland might be nicer. Not as cold.”
“Ireland it is.”
Then she kissed her cousin on the cheek, squared her shoulders, and headed off to not-seduce the duke.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Ras sipped hisbrandy and felt his body mellow with the drink. He needed it after that scene with Lady Zoe. How else was going to erase the sight of that girl in his mother’s dressing gown? He’d much rather remember Kynthea with her hair coming out of its plait. It was a honey brown color that made him think of summer days. He wasn’t sure why that was, but looking at her reminded him of the sweetest days of his childhood. Of course, his imagination put them both by a stream engaged in a very adult activity. But thanks to the brandy, he could revel in the thought without throbbing with uncomfortable needs.
He jerked out of his reverie at a scratch at his door. If that girl was back, he was going to lock her in her bedroom and have a footman guard the door. He tied his robe tight and opened the door a small crack. Then he jerked back in shock.
Kynthea’s pale face gazed up at him.
He swung the door wide, glanced down the hall to make sure no one else was there, then quickly pulled her inside, closing the door behind her.
“Is everything all right? Is…” Damn it, he didn’t even want to say the girl’s name. “Is she all right?”
“She’s embarrassed.”
So was he.
“But she’ll recover. Isn’t that what being sixteen is all about? Doing stupid things for glorious reasons?”
“She’d said she’d sacrifice herself to me like a virgin on some hideous god’s altar,” he grumbled. Then he gestured her to the other chair set near the fire. It was too warm to have started one, but the location was cozy, especially with the moonlight streaming in through the window.
She took his suggestion, sitting down with casual grace. Looking at her bathed in moonlight soothed his heart even as his blood began to heat at the sight. She didn’t have that restless energy of so many. Neither did she fake a bored disdain. She was composed and elegant. And she was twisting her hands together in anxiety.
“Would you like some brandy?” he asked.
She looked at first like she would refuse, then she smiled and nodded. “Yes, please.”
He poured, then watched as she took a large swig. She was definitely nervous. He wanted to ease her strain but wasn’t sure how. So he waited, knowing that she would come to it eventually. And in the meantime, he enjoyed simply watching her.
“Thank you,” she said, indicating the brandy.
“Have more if you like.”
“That was plenty, thank you.”
She’d consumed half the glass rather quickly. Her cheeks were starting to color, but he didn’t know if that was from embarrassment or nerves.
“Would you like some food? I could find us something without waking the—”
“No, no. I’m not hungry, but I would like to discuss something with you.”
“And I would like very much to apologize to you. I bungled things so very badly.”
She blinked at him. “You bungled things?”
“You caught me off guard. I wasn’t thinking—”
“Icaughtyouoff guard?” Her sarcasm couldn’t be more plain.
