Page 42 of A Translation of Desire
His gaze flew to her, a look of shock on his face. “Truly?”
Rose shrugged. “Think about it. Only a select few would know how to decipher such messages.”
Only Hawley and Rose knew how to translate cuneiform fully. Augustus realized Hawley hadn’t been completely forthcoming. He had to be more involved.
Fury festered in him. If Hawley and his government contacts put Rose in danger, he would pummel them. “I will arrange a meeting.”
“I want to be there.”
Augustus hesitated—not because he wanted to keep anything from Rose, but to protect her. She walked to him and placed a hand on his forearm. “It affects me, and you are asking me not to share this with the club.”
“I know. You are right. I will set up a time for both of us to speak with him and ask Devons to increase his efforts in finding the solicitor I met with. I do think this is all connected, even if Hawley’s associates don’t.”
She squeezed his arm. “Thank you.”
They stood only a foot apart, looking into each other’s eyes. Augustus wanted to kiss her. Again. What was wrong with him? Why did he have this uncontrollable need to touch this woman?
She sighed, and he asked, “What is it?”
She thumped him playfully on the chest. “For a man trying to safeguard my reputation, we do certainly spend a good deal of time alone.”
“Yes, we do,” he said, desire still throbbing through him. “I only asked you to meet so we could have a private discussion. I do want to protect your reputation.”
“I’m twenty-eight, Augustus, and have traveled the world. Do you think I care what London thinks of me?”
No, he knew she didn’t. Rose didn’t give a damn about society gossip. “Why come? Is it truly for the tablets?”
Her eyes dimmed slightly. “Mostly, but my mother was a lady and had a Season. She always wanted me to have one. She passed away years ago, but my father wanted me to come to London. You could say he forced the issue. So here I am.”
“Lucky London,” he said.
Her eyes widened, and then she laughed. “I’m not sure that is the case.”
He lifted a brow in question.
“I’m an odd duck here,” she said, blushing.
Shocking both, Augustus gently grabbed her chin, looking down at her. “That isn’t how I would describe you.”
Rose Calvert was so much more than that.
She smirked and said, “Yes—”
He stopped any other words from her by placing his finger across her lips. “You are the most challenging, alluring woman I’ve ever met.”
Their eyes connected, and the attraction they both were resisting didn’t just flare but ignited between them. He dropped his finger from her lips, and she whispered, “Duke, you should be careful who you call alluring. They may think you want to take them to bed.”
The word bed on her lips caused his cock to strain against his breeches. Could they have an interlude? Rose wasn’t like all the other ladies on the marriage mart. Yet, he hesitated, and surprisingly, it wasn’t because of her innocence, but he wondered if he could let her go if they continued whatever this was. The thought was startling.
“Wanting to take you to my bed has already been established,” he said huskily.
Rose grasped his shirt, pulling him closer. God, he wanted this woman.
“How would we keep this uncomplicated?” he asked, surprising her.
She bit her plump lower lip, pondering his question. Finally, she said, “We agree it’s only an affair. Once I’m gone, it’s over—no keeping in touch.”
He nodded, knowing that it wouldn’t be that simple. Yet, Augustus couldn’t fathom making the proper or practical choice. Still, he didn’t want it to be like this. If he had her only for a short amount of time, he wanted more than a stolen moment in a library.
