Page 65 of A Most Unlikely Lady
I suppose it is time to find out.
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Ivy had made a list. It wasn’t very long – only a few items from her talk with Millie – and she hadn’t time to alphabetise it, but it sat on her desk, and she stared at it with wide eyes. Could she actually do this? Did shewantto do this?
Yes. And if it becomes too much, he will stop. He will wait.
The truth of that gave her courage. Courage swiftly transformed into complete anxiety when Edward knocked on her door. Because it had to be him on the other side. No one else was knocking for Ivy. She didn’t want anyone else knocking.
Standing, she brushed her hand over her dress, strode to the door, opened it before she could change her mind, and promptly lost all power of speech.
Good gracious, he is handsome.
His black hair showed evidence of recently being disturbed, no doubt by running his fingers through it. Eyes so dark they could have been black were hooded and hidden in the hall’s shadows. His firm jaw looked rough with stubble. He had removed his jacket and cravat. His shirt showed a V of skin at his throat.
Ivy tried to swallow.
‘May I come in?’ Edward’s low voice created a buzz in her belly echoing over her skin.
Words were too difficult with all the butterflies swarming from her stomach to her throat. Instead, she nodded and stepped back, granting him entrance to her inner sanctum.
Edward moved with carefully controlled grace as if he might spook Ivy. As if she might run.
If I did run, would he chase me?
And why did the thought of Edward pursuing her create an illicit thrill down her spine?
What might he do if he caught me?
More ideas to add to her list.
His sharp gaze took in the neatly made bed, the hook holding Ivy’s nightgown and wrap, her neat desk. The list.
Dear Lord. The list. I should have hidden it.
He stepped closer and picked up the parchment.
‘Wait, don’t.’ Ivy took a jolting step forward, but it was too late. Pulling out the glasses she found so appealing, he perched them on his nose. His wicked lips tilted in a knowing smile as he looked from what was in his hands to Ivy. The flare of desire she saw in his eyes froze her to the floor.
Bloody hell.
Heat rose from her chest up her throat and over her cheeks.
‘You’ve made a list.’
Well, there’s no getting out of this now. In for a penny, in for a pound.
Ivy thrust her chin out and schooled her expression to remain calm. ‘I have.’
‘There are only three items on this list. And one is in Latin.’
It was quite possible Ivy’s embarrassment would run so hotly through her body, she would melt into a puddle, thus ending this awkward conversation.
‘Are you unfamiliar with L-Latin?’ Her voice came out as a high-pitched squeak.
Edward took off his glasses and tapped them against the parchment while his gaze burned through her. ‘Quite the contrary. Latin is one of my favourite languages. Only, this word begins with a “c”. It should be at the top of your list, but it’s at the bottom.’
‘I didn’t have time to alphabetise it.’
