Page 47 of Scandalous Heiress
She silently agreed.“Can you tell me about your business please?The items you import?”
He told her about the blue and white porcelain popular with Americans.About peonies, which he had his coolies cultivate for export and for extracting oils for perfumes.“We also export ancient Chinese art that many wish to collect.Glazed statues of animals, especially from the eighth century.”
His tales sparked her imagination—and she speculated if she might help him grow flowers and choose art to sell.“It sounds like a wonderland of beauty.”
At the end of dinner when Lily and Julian declared they must return to their house in Green Park, Victor took that as his signal to depart as well.
Pierce went to his side.“We’ll get our coachman to come round and take you home, Cole.”
“Kind of you, but no, I will hail a hack.”
“No trouble at all,” Killian said and told Foster to notify the coachman he was needed.“Our man grumbles he has little to occupy him.”
“In that case, thank you,” he said and turned to her.“Miss Hanniford, I wonder if you will come outside for a few minutes to talk with me while I wait?”
She’d be on her own front step and it was perfectly proper, even, from the looks of it, approved by her family.Besides, she needed to talk with him and tell him not to come here again.Not for her.
“Yes.Let’s,” she agreed while Foster fetched Victor’s evening cloak.
“Would you like a shawl, Miss Ada?”Foster would get one if she wished.
“No, thank you, Foster.I won’t be long.”She walked out onto the small porch.
Victor held out his hand to assist her down the steps.The wind was brisk and she shivered, but for some reason, she thought it not the breeze but that same odd feeling she’d had this morning at the flower mart.
“Can I give you my cape while we talk?”he asked her, his concern lit by the rays from the gas lamps.In the light, his hair shone like a golden halo.The man was much too handsome.
“No.”She was careful to stand far enough away that she would not inhale his intriguing cologne or chance to touch him.The wind whipped up her hair and strands of it fell about her cheeks.“Did you really come to the gallery tonight to see Pierce?”
“I did plan to meet with Pierce next month.Planned it before I left Shanghai.But tonight, I went and hoped you would attend.”
She lifted her chin.Did she look brave, resolute?“I don’t want to see you, Victor.”
He tapped his top hat securely on his head.“I should doubt that.”
“Don’t.”
“Well, then.”He stepped close to her, so near she could see the blue fire in his eyes.“I cannot stay away.I must learn why.”
“You mustn’t.”
He raised a hand to trace a fingertip over the rise of her bottom lip.“Is there another man you prefer?”
She shivered.“No.”
“There is no other woman I prefer.”
She gave a sound of helpless appeal.“You shouldn’t tell me that.I’ve no need to know.”
“Are you certain?”He looked heart-broken and oh, so appealing.
He sank both hands into the wealth of her chignon, the supple leather of his gloves against her scalp a silken claim.On a groan, he drew her flush to him and put his hard hot mouth to hers.He was at once gentle, deliberate, probing and fierce.She was lost in him, all his to kiss, to persuade.She clutched his cape, pulled him ever so much nearer.He kissed her once more in a lavish claim of her mouth and too soon, too soon, he steadied her on her feet and stepped away.
She gazed at him through hazy desire.Did she love him?Hate him?Need him?
He smiled at her with such assurance that she yearned for the claim of his lips once more.She was going mad.
He laughed up at the stars.“I see you still want to kick me in the shins.”
