Page 16 of A Rogue for Christmas
He left, and Iris realized her heart was racing. Wentworth wanted her, and for some unfathomable reason, he was acting like a gentleman. But he was still a rogue, and she knew that it would take very little to convince him that she belonged in his bed.
It wouldn’t lead to marriage of course, but she realized that she wanted him too. She didn’t think she’d change her mind, but she would take the time to consider what she needed to do next.
Lily. Her sister had married a rogue. One that had spirited her away. Iris needed to speak to her sister and get her advice.
She was heading to her sister’s room when she stopped. What if she and her husband were making love even now? Her face scrunched. She had no desire to walk in on any intimacies between Lily and Seaford.
She changed direction and made her way to her bedroom. She’d ask one of the staff to deliver a note asking Lily to come see her at her earliest convenience.
It wouldn’t be soon enough.
CHAPTER9
Wentworth waited what seemed an eternity for either Thornton or Seaford to come downstairs. He’d prefer to speak to Seaford, but if he had to, Thornton would also do.
He wanted to wait in the breakfast room but expected their wives would be with them. So he made his way to the billiard room.
It was blessedly empty. He set the table anyway in an attempt to distract himself. He didn’t really need the practice, and if truth be told, the act didn’t occupy his thoughts at all.
Iris had managed to embed herself under his very skin, and he was starting to suspect that he very much liked her there.
He’d just sunk the ball for what seemed like the hundredth time when he realized he was no longer alone.
“We didn’t expect to find you here so early. Did you even make it to bed last night?”
Thornton’s words set his teeth on edge. Somehow he reined in the sharp retort that sprang to his lips and turned instead to put the cue stick back with the others.
When he turned, he was relieved to see that Seaford stood next to Thornton.
Seaford was examining him a little too closely, as though he could tell that Wentworth was on edge and why. “Would you like a little competition this time?”
“No. But I do need to speak to the two of you. Alone.”
He moved to the door and turned the lock. When he turned back to face the pair, their expressions were carefully neutral.
Thornton spoke first. “You’re bored. You needn’t worry, we can make your excuses when you leave.”
He clasped his hands together behind his back and braced himself for the men’s reactions. “How did you know when you’d found the woman you wanted to marry?”
Seaford and Thornton exchanged glances. It was the former who asked, “Iris?”
Wentworth’s calm was fast slipping away. “Yes, dammit.” He jammed his hands into his coat pockets and began to pace. “I don’t understand what’s happening. I had a plan. Being trapped here, I was certain I’d soon come to realize I was mistaken about her. That she couldn’t be nearly as interesting as I suspected. Certainly not fascinating enough to account for why my thoughts continue to circle back to our chance meeting.” He stopped pacing and spun to face them. “It was a good plan.”
Thornton raised a brow. “You can’t get her out of your thoughts?”
Wentworth’s lips twisted to the side. “No, dammit, and it’s deuced inconvenient.”
Seaford settled into a chair and steepled his hands at his waist. “When exactly did you meet her?”
Wentworth winced. “It was near the end of the season, during that last ball. I’d arranged to meet someone—no, not her!—in the gardens. I came across her instead.”
Thornton tensed. “What happened?”
Wentworth scowled. “I didn’t ravish her if that’s what you’re thinking. I don’t need to force myself on maidens when I can have my fill of female company.”
“So you what? Had a pleasant conversation with her?” Seaford’s voice was surprisingly even.
“I warned her that it wasn’t wise to make plans to meet someone alone in the gardens.”
