Page 29 of An Affair with a Notorious Heiress
“And if he didn’t?”
He grew somber. She didn’t like the way his gaze roamed over her face as though he could read every unhappy moment in her life in the lines and creases that hadn’t been there on the day she wed. “I’d beat him to within an inch of his life.”
“She’s very fortunate, then, your sister.” She’d not meant to travel this road or to have this conversation. “If you’ll give me your message for Gina, I’ll see that she gets it.”
“A question first. Do you know if she’s ever been to the Twin Dragons?”
“She hasn’t, no. I hear it’s a rather fascinating place.”
“It is. I thought to take her there for dinner tonight. I’ll stop by at seven. If she’s not interested, no harm done. I’ll simply go on without her.”
“I’m rather certain she’ll be joining you. She enjoys new experiences.”
“And do you... enjoy new experiences?”
The question was laced with innuendo. She shook it off. The intimation was only in her mind. He wouldn’t risk insulting her when his interest was Gina. So why did he continually ask about her preferences? He should state his business and move on. She should answer his question and not read more into it than existed. “Obviously, when I was younger that could be said of me. I kissed a footman after all.” She didn’t know why she’d said it, why she felt a need to remind him of her reputation.
“Curiosity prompted your actions, then?”
“Among other things.”
Reaching out, he closed his hand over hers where it clutched the digging implement. They both wore gloves and yet it felt like there was no leather serving as a barrier to their skin.
“You’re strangling this poor little spade.”
She meant to merely scoff, but the sound came out rather mocking. “It’s a trowel. I take it you don’t garden.”
“Creating beauty is not my forte.”
Was he implying that he found her little patch of ground beautiful? What she created brought her pleasure but she’d never known anyone else to give it much notice. She stared at him for the longest time, marveling that he still held her hand as though reluctant to give it up. Would he hold Gina’s with the same care, offering her comfort and strength while doing so? Would he gaze into her eyes for long moments as though lost within their depths?
Would Gina notice his long, spiky eyelashes and their burnished shade? Would she see the darker blue circling the pale blue of his iris? Would she yearn to reach up to brush back the curling locks that fell over his brow? Would all the sounds surrounding her fade away until all she heard was his breathing as she waited for the rough timbre of his voice to soothe her?
She loved her sister dearly but there were times when she was a bit flighty, when she didn’t seem to appreciate all she held, all she possessed. Would she appreciate this man?
“You should loosen your fingers a bit,” he said quietly, “before you cause your hand to ache.”
She didn’t like being ordered about, but his words were delivered as more of an entreaty than a command, as though he held true concern for any discomfort she might suffer. She didn’t want to deem him worthy of her sister, but he was making it difficult not to acknowledge that he might indeed be a fine catch. “Will you put her wants ahead of your own?” she heard herself asking in a voice that didn’t quite sound like her own, that rang hollow as though it had traveled from a great distance, down a long tunnel.
Slowly his fingers unfurled and her hand did indeed ache, but only from the loss of his touch.
“I shall do all in my power to ensure she is happy.”
“She requires more than chocolates and theater and waltzes.”
“Hence the invitation to dinner.” He unfolded that tall, lean marvelous body that kept invading her dreams. For a moment she’d almost allowed herself to be lured into believing she should encourage Gina to accept his suit, but still something nagged at her. Perhaps it was merely her own wants and desires.
Standing there, he gave a quick tug on his gloves as though they’d somehow fallen out of favor. “By the by, the invitation includes you. She’ll have a better time if you’re there, so don’t disappoint.”
Before she could let him know she had no interest in going, he was walking away. She almost darted after him to alert him that he couldn’t order her about like that. But she didn’t want to get into an argument that might cause him to rescind the invitation. Even as the thought of going out in public again caused a small measure of panic, she couldn’t deny her curiosity about the private club that catered to London’s elite.
Jabbing the trowel into the dirt, she cursed soundly for lying to herself because much to her mortification, she was anticipating another evening in his company.
Will you put her wants ahead of your own?
Lounging in a chair in his father’s library, Rexton found himself wondering: Had Landsdowne not done that for his wife? Not put her wants first? Every time he was in the company of Lady Landsdowne, he found himself wanting to know more about her: her life before her marriage, during it, after it. Had she always spent time nurturing flowers? What other hobbies did she enjoy?
“It’s quite a risk,” his father said.
