Page 16 of The Confessions of a Lady
Penny stretched her lips into an artificial smile, dipped in a curtsy, and sedately exited the room. As soon as the door shut behind her, she took off in a mad sprint to the kitchen. When a crisis descended, tea – apparently doused with whiskey – and a variety of cakes were required. She would make sure Mrs O’Brian had the order correct before she informed Lord Renquist of his guest.
5
Liam settled himself into his chair and placed both hands on his desk. An errant image of Miss Smith’s capable hands wiping lemon oil over the surface filled him with unexpected longing. He exhaled, commanding his cock to stand down. It didn’t listen.
Perhaps he should fortify himself with coffee or break his fast before tackling the task of organising his infiltration into the Devil’s Sons. But that would mean summoning a maid to take his order. And that maid was most likely to be the precise woman he meant to avoid for the remainder of the day.
His father would be laughing in his grave.
You can’t escape your fate, Son. We are a cursed lot. Better to enjoy it than fight against the inevitable.
Even now, years after his father’s death, the man’s words taunted him.
Liam slammed his fist on the desk, the crack of hard wood against his knuckles sharpening his focus.
‘I am not you, Father. I willneverbe like you.’
And now he was arguing with a dead man.Brilliant.
He reached into his vest pocket and found the brass key. Before he could fit the thing into the keyhole of his desk drawer, a knock sounded.
Please let it be Coggins.
‘Come in.’
It was not Coggins.
Fucking hell!
Miss Smith, that damnable curl bouncing against her cheek, her hazel gaze touching him everywhere, reawakened his ridiculously determined cock. She stepped into the study. Her eyes lingered on Liam’s hand holding the key. He tucked it back into his pocket and raised his brow in silent question.
What in the blazes are you doing in here?
‘Sorry to interrupt, my lord. You have a visitor.’
Irritation sparked. He wasn’t expecting any visitors. He certainly didn’t need interruptions. Not from Miss Smith, and not from some unplanned guest. ‘And you felt the need to grant them entrance to my house without my permission?’
Miss Smith twisted her hands together in an uncommon display of nerves. Liam immediately felt like an arse for being rude to her. Which was ridiculous. It was his right to be rude to the servants if they displeased him. He was the Marquess of Stoneway, after all.
And how well I am embodying the role.
The whole situation was galling. Liam ground his teeth together in frustration. Perhaps in lieu of coffee, he needed a snifter of brandy.
‘I would have sent her away, only, it’s the Duchess of Dorsett, my lord. She would not take “no” for an answer. I’m terribly sorry. Shall I say you are unavailable?’ Miss Smith bit her lip and Liam had to stifle a groan.
This is not the time to be noticing her damnably delectable mouth.
One little lip twitch from Miss Smith and suddenly, the wild creature relegated to the darkest corners of his soul was purring like a panther and fantasising about rubbing himself against all of Miss Smith’s hard edges. Because what he needed to add to his already dreadful mood was a shot of untempered lust.
Liam ruthlessly pulled his thoughts into some semblance of order. The Duchess of Dorsett was here. In his home. He could only guess things were dire.
‘No. She wouldn’t allow you to dismiss her in any case.’
Miss Smith’s mouth – which Liamstillstared at like a sycophant – quirked in a wry smile. It was the first time he’d seen such a friendly expression from his prickly maid, and it did mysterious things to the rhythm of his heart. ‘My thoughts exactly, sir. She’s waiting in the emerald sitting room. I’ve ordered tea and refreshments.’
Liam nodded curtly, desperately willing his body to calm down. The last thing he needed to do was meet the Duchess of Dorsett with his cock at half-mast. She would decimate him before he could even enter the room. The woman missed nothing. She was a fearsome creature demanding utmost respect and requiring him to keep all his wits about him.
‘Please add coffee to the tray, Miss Smith.’
