Page 6

Why would a lady be in a chamber alone?

He shrank back into the shadows, not wanting to be seen. He needed to be careful in the event she was meeting a lover. But after a few minutes, he heard no steps approaching and wondered if she had perhaps followed him in the hope of trapping him.

Following that train of thought, he decided to confront her and then leave the chamber as promptly as he could.

He cleared his throat to warn her that she wasn’t alone and stepped into the doorway, startling her.

She stumbled back. Her eyes were wide, and her full lips popped open, showing that she had not been expecting to see anyone in the chamber. Still, he couldn’t be too careful with the ladies. After all, their education involved feigning emotions to entice and ensnare gentlemen.

He frowned as he subconsciously noted that the girl was pretty, with an innocent-looking, round face. However, the rest of her seemed anything but innocent, with the curves her stylishly cut dress accentuated. The word voluptuous was sufficient to describe her, as she did not have the conventionally accepted slim build of a noblewoman.

If she weren’t a noblewoman, she would have made for a highly sought-after courtesan, as her curves tempted a man to touch and caress.

William frowned as he realized his hands itched to do just that.

“What are you doing here?” he asked sharply, casting a glance at the door.

He listened for voices but heard none, so he returned his gaze to the lady, who was still staring up at him. He clenched his hands into fists, fighting the urge to turn away.

What could she possibly have been staring at?

She did not look the least bit terrified by his appearance, even though the dim lighting should have lent him a sinister air. Rather, her eyes showed intrigue, which confused him.

“Why are you here?” he repeated, drawing her attention away from his face.

It made him uncomfortable how he had miscalculated her next move.

She blinked and dipped her head bashfully.

“I apologize, My Lord,” she said with a curtsy. “I did not know this room was occupied.”

“You should not be walking around unchaperoned,” William chided with a frown. “If you have come here to meet a lover, you might as well pick another chamber. Or have you followed mein the hope of trapping me in scandal? If you have, you should reconsider, because I will not marry you even if the ton demand it.”

Her eyes flew to his, flashing with indignation. “I assure you I have not,” she sputtered.

“Your assurance means little to me, considering I do not know you or your character,” William told her. “After all, it would be in your interest to secure a match by any means necessary, is it not?”

“I only came seeking a respite from the rigors of socialization. I did not think this chamber would be occupied,” she insisted with a frown.

“You take such liberties in someone else’s home?” he asked with a sneer.

“The Yardleys are close friends of my family,” she answered. “This is like a second home to me. Besides, it would be foolish of me to consider trapping a man I do not even know. You could be a nobleman on the verge of bankruptcy, after all, or a well-dressed valet.”

William snorted a laugh despite himself, but then he cleared his throat to disguise it.

“I still do not trust your purpose in coming to this chamber,” he told her. “Leave at once.”

“I do not recognize you as master of this estate or member of this household, so I will not,” she answered, stubbornly folding her hands across her chest.

It annoyed him how his eyes noted the way her breasts were pushed up and how he liked seeing the angry pout on her lips. Worse, he wanted to see if the pout would remain if he kissed her.

Damn it!

Why was he thinking such thoughts about an innocent?

“It matters not,” he declared. “Leave, at once.”

“I will not,” she reiterated. “In fact, I think I shall make myself comfortable. There is no reason for me to worry.”