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“No, I can see that about you. It must be the Scottish blood.” A wide grin curved his lips.

“That being said, I’m happy to oblige.” When he reached out and then tugged her into his arms, she made no protest, and when he settled her into his arms and kissed her, Lydia couldn’t help but shiver with the thrill that went over her.

Though he started slowly by moving over her lips as if he were introducing himself to her through physical touch, the moment she layered herself against his chest and looped her arms about his shoulders, the embrace heated as if a match were set to tinder.

When she uttered a moan of approval or encouragement, the viscount pressed her back against the wall, trapping her between it and his hard chest. The hint of an evening shadow on his cheeks and upper lip enhanced the sensations he imparted by claiming her lips or drawing the tip of his tongue over them.

As he probed their seam, she immediately opened for him, let him deepen the embrace, and she joyfully fenced with his tongue as they dueled for dominance.

Heavens, but it had been a year or so since she’d last had any sort of relationship with a man, and kissing this one brought out a wealth of sensations that danced over her skin and through her blood.

It revived the longing for physical touch, to allow a man access to her body merely for the pleasure that would bring, had an acute need to indulge in scandal that she’d buried for so long since she first gave away her innocence a few years before to one of the footmen in her father’s employ.

“Alexander…”

“Mmm?”

“I need more,” she whispered against his lips, wanting to continue chasing that high.

“As do I.” The man took direction well, for he lost no time in cupping her breasts, and once he did, he worked the nipples into stiff peaks through the fabric of her day dress.

A soft moan left her throat, for that pleasure was enough to make her feel as if her feet were leaving the ground. With the slightest pressure of her gloved fingers at his nape, she hoped to encourage him to continue.

“Well, I hadn’t expected to come upon this charming picture, but this is not the time nor place.”

“Shit,” Alexander breathed as he wrenched away from her. Shock shadowed his eyes as he glanced from her to the man coming up the narrow stairs. “You could have warned me, Lewis.”

“I could have, but where’s the fun in that?” Behind him on the stairs was a woman Lydia had not seen before who was dressed like a young man in breeches, shirt, and waistcoat with slouch-style cap, much like what she’d worn to the boxing match last week.

How interesting.

The woman spoke as she took in the damning scene. “I should probably go home.”

“No, don’t.” Alexander cleared his throat, and even though it was now terribly crowded on the tiny landing, he acted as if he were in a drawing room.

“Miss Tetford, this is my brother Lewis, or rather the Earl of Lethbridge, as well as his wife, the Countess of Lethbridge. As a matter of fact, he owns the salon.”

To her credit, the countess waved. Amusement danced in her eyes. “Please, call me Cecilia.” Her smile immediately put Lydia at ease. “Why are you and Lord Wexley out here?”

“He misplaced his key.”

“Ah.” The earl chuckled as he glanced at his brother. “And to pass the time, you decided to violate a doctor’s daughter?”

Well, that was rude. Lydia frowned. “I’m nearly a doctor in my own right; I just don’t have the certificate.”

“Don’t come the crab, Miss Tetford.” Lethbridge waved a hand. He quickly unlocked the door and ushered them all into the office. “Does this mean the two of you are courting?”

Before Alexander could answer, she huffed. “We are not. That was merely a kiss.”

“A scandalous kiss,” the earl rejoined.

“Do hush, Lethbridge,” his wife said with a smile. “I remember those days.”

Alexander snorted in derision. “As if they were so long ago? You only met my brother just under two months previously.”

“That’s enough.” Ruddy color rushed into the earl’s face. “In any event, my wife wished to come by the salon so we could do some sparring.”

Now that was interesting. “Ooh, that sounds fun. I wouldn’t mind indulging in such exercise.”

The Stapleton brothers exchanged uneasy glances. Finally, Alexander shrugged. “You’ve only had one lesson, and that wasn’t truly sparring. Only punching.”

She popped her hands on her hips, and her reticule smacked against the outside of her thigh. “Are you implying that I won’t be able to hold my own?” She could have him on his back on the mats in a twinkling from her Japanese combat training.

When the viscount looked her form up and down, she tamped down on the urge to shiver, for it felt as if he’d run his hands over her body. “You are hardly dressed for sparring.”

There were entirely too many people in the office. Heat swept over her person. Why wouldn’t they open a window? “I can undress to my unmentionables or tie my skirting between my legs if stripping to a state of undress bothers you.”

A flush rose up Alexander’s neck. “Uh, that won’t be necessary. Perhaps we can have a lesson some other time.”

“Nonsense.” The earl took command, clearly enjoying his brother’s state. “Miss Tetford can spar in her dress. It’s just the family here. We can have tea afterward.”

Lydia nodded. “That is acceptable, Your Lordship. Thank you.”

“Call me Lethbridge.”

Then the countess linked their arms. “Before we start, let me show you around the space.” But she looked at her husband. “That is if there are no clients on the salon floor?”

Alexander cleared his throat. “I believe Duncan has a few, plus walk-ups.”

“Ah, well, we can do that another time, then, but Lewis is so proud of it, and he is a wonderful manager.” She pulled Lydia to the windows that overlooked Brook Street. “In the meantime, we can let in some fresh air.”

As they did that, Alexander guided his brother to the door that led to the salon. According to his facial expressions and the tight way he held his body, he was in a temper with the earl, so she strained her ears to overhear their conversation.

“What the hell, Lewis?”

“What?” To the earl’s credit, he did seem confused.

“Why are you talking about courtship? You already know Miss Tetford isn’t one for marriage,” he hissed while jabbing a forefinger into his brother’s chest.

Lydia’s eyebrows went up. Had they previously discussed her? In what context? She bit her bottom lip, for she didn’t know how she felt about that.

“Does that mean you’re interested in perhaps pursuing such a thing with her?” Though the earl had a few inches on his brother and was a bit wider in the chest, Alexander stood his ground. It was obvious the two of them argued and got into each other’s spaces frequently.

“To be honest, I’m not interested in anything except getting beneath her skirts.”

Lydia glanced at the countess, who shrugged but couldn’t quite tame a smile even if her cheeks blazed red. “What a prick he sounds like,” she whispered to the other woman.

“Oh, I don’t know. There is something lovely about a man who knows what he wants without being too wishy-washy about it.”

“True.” Was he the same type as her former fiancé? Surely not. She’d seen enough of him to know that already, but then, she wasn’t averse to the idea he’d proposed, if evidenced by that kiss on the landing. Though she didn’t want a marriage, she wasn’t opposed to a tryst here and there.

Especially if it would gain her another peek at that fine physique of his.

“Behave yourself,” the earl demanded in a fierce whisper. “Our family doesn’t need any more scandal attached to its name.”

“Ha!” Alexander shook his head. “ You started the scandal.”

“And I’m saying don’t add to it,” the earl growled as he wrenched open the door. “I’ll go and find out when the salon will be free.” He slammed the door behind him.

With a sigh, Alexander turned to glance at her. “In the meanwhile, I should be happy to teach you the finer aspects of sparring here in the office if you’re of a mind? And then perhaps you could spar with Cecilia?”

Both she and the countess agreed, and she lost no time in removing her spencer and bonnet.

“Please don’t let me forget my other bonnet.

I’m rather fond of it,” she said as she deposited everything on the desk.

“I’ve looked forward to my next lesson.” It wouldn’t end as she might have hoped, but there would be other times alone with the viscount.