Page 23

Jenny swallowed, she couldn’t help to think that was more than a warning about bees.

David walked into the house. He needed to put some distance between him and Miss Bennett. She was too young, too naive, and too of everything he should not be around. Once again, he chided himself for making that silly arrangement with her.

Truth be told, he was not sure why he did it in the first place. It was her stubbornness and her naivety that drew him in. He felt this incessant need to protect her even though he hardly knew her.

He stood in the parlor looking out over the grounds. He watched as she and Frances walked back to the terrace just outside. He couldn’t help but watch her expressions as she talked with Frances. Her features were so expressive. What must it be like to be so free with your expressions?

Visions of her lying on his bed flashed through his mind, her expressions guiding his hands and his tongue to the right spots.

Voices drifted in from outside, and David righted himself. He should not be thinking these things. He offered her help to find a suitable match, not to bed her. She needed to be with a man who was more suitable for her—someone who was gentle, who would make her laugh.

As if on cue, her throaty laugh drifted in through the open doors. He closed his eyes to let the sound settle over his body. It felt like a warm blanket comforting him.

He took a deep breath and stepped into the doorway, leaning against the frame. He wanted her to see him. He needed to see her reaction to him up close. He needed to know she was affected just as much as he was.

It was as if he called to her. Her head snapped over her shoulder, and she looked directly into his eyes. A slight blush stained her cheeks. He tilted his head in acknowledgment, which had her turning her body away from him to hide her blush.

She moved to the far corner of the terrace, pretending to look out over the rose garden. It was a game of cat and mouse. Except now, he was the cat and she was his prey.

He walked to the railing parallel to her and leaned over it, taking in the same view. He noticed her shoulders stiffen at his movement. He smiled down at his hands that were gripping the railing, happy that she was, in fact, affected by him. Without saying a word, he looked over at her. She was looking out over the garden, but her chest was rising and falling rapidly.

He straightened up and sauntered over to a table behind her where Frances and Thomas now sat. Not bothering to interrupt their conversation, he stood there, pretending to look at his pocket watch, when he felt her shift from her spot. When he looked up, he saw that she turned around and was now facing him, with only the table between them.

She chewed on her bottom lip while her eyes darted around, looking for an escape. She rushed to the door he had just come out of, and bumped into the back of Frances’s chair in the process.

“My,” Frances said. “What is the hurry? I wonder where she is going. Do you think I should go check on her?”

David couldn’t have that. “Pilton, I heard you’re having some difficulty with renovations in your home.”

Pilton’s hand hit the table while Frances sank in her chair, groaning. “I cannot stand that carpenter! He is a pompous arse who knows nothing of how things are made properly.” He gave his wife a pointed look.

Frances only rolled her eyes. “We hired him becauseyousaid to!”

Pilton reared back in his chair. “Since when do you listen to me?”

Frances’s laugh echoed through the terrace.

Satisfied that Frances wouldn’t follow Jenny, David tucked his pocket watch back in his jacket and walked into the house.

He stood in the small entryway and listened for any sounds. He heard rustling behind the first door. He opened it and peeked in.

Jenny was standing in front of a window, once again looking out over the garden party. He slipped in through the door, noticing that they were, once again, alone.

She said nothing, but she was positively radiating nerves.

How delicious.

“We’re going to have a problem if you keep looking at me like that, kitten.” His voice carried across the room, startling her.

Her whole body tensed up at his words. “Correct me if I’m wrong, Your Grace, but I’m currently not looking at you.”

She still didn’t turn around. She just stood there, staring out the window.

He grinned.

Cheeky, little kitten.

“You know what I mean. You’ve been throwing bedroom eyes at me the whole party.”