Page 10 of Not His Usual Style (Diamonds of London #10)

When a footman came to answer the summons, Grey asked that he have someone retrieve his carriage.

“I will need my conveyance. There is a bit of a delicate situation and Miss Amherst needs to be conveyed home post haste, but her father isn’t of a mind to leave just yet.

” The footman nodded and retreated from the room.

As Grey waited, he came toward the sofa where Victoria reclined.

In the candlelight, he was able to discern that her eyes were an interesting bluish-gray hue that put him in mind of storm clouds over the ocean or the skies between twilight and dark.

Damn, he could find himself lost for hours in those pools if he wasn’t careful.

“How are you feeling, Miss Amherst?”

“More poorly as the minutes go by, I’m afraid.”

Which probably wasn’t a lie considering the Drury Lane drama they were both enacting. He nodded. “It shouldn’t be long now, and you’ll be on your way home.”

Sarah drifted over to stand next to him. “Thank you for doing this, Grey. It’s quite heroic.”

He couldn’t help but grunt. Foolish, is what it was, but he couldn’t help himself. Besides Victoria’s looks, that kiss continued to bedevil him, and he wanted to know why. “Do you come with us?”

“Uh, I don’t believe so. You can return and pick me up, but I would like to linger for a while and talk with friends.”

Which basically meant she wanted more time with her lover. Not that he could begrudge her that since he intended on wedding her in a handful of days, breaking her heart and smashing all her dreams. “Very well.” He nodded. “I’ll come back ‘round in an hour to collect you.”

“I would appreciate that.” Then she uttered a tiny gasp. “Oh, would you prefer me to go with you to protect Miss Amherst’s reputation?”

Well, damn. He hadn’t thought about that. “Nonsense. I’m engaged to be married in five days. Not even the worst dragons of society could find fault with me bringing a lady home, and no doubt her father will follow quite soon. Unless Irvington takes issue?”

The baron shook his head. “Of course not. I trust you, and my daughter isn’t one to chase men.

She’s had her heart broken and is good at hiding from anything society related.

” He laughed and clearly couldn’t read the awkward air in the room.

“She only came out tonight because she wants me to circulate more.”

“Ah.” How interesting, and made Grey want to learn more about her.

“Very well.” Sarah nodded. She rested her gaze on Victoria, who truly did appear as if she were fading quickly. “I hope you bounce back tomorrow, Miss Amherst.”

“Thank you.” She glanced at her father. “Please, return to your friends. I’m sorry to interrupt your visit.”

“If you are certain, poppet?”

“I am.” She patted his sleeve. “I’ll be right as rain after a good night’s rest.”

“Very well.” The baron stood then leaned over her and kissed the top of her head. “I’ll see you at home soon enough.”

As soon as Irvington left the library, the footman returned.

“Your carriage is waiting at the curb, Your Lordship.”

“Thank you. I shall be out with Miss Amherst directly.” Nerves suddenly felt as if they were crawling over his skin, while sweat dampened the back of his thin lawn shirt. “Are you well enough to walk by yourself, or shall I carry you?”

Before Victoria could answer him, Sarah took charge. “You are a gentleman, Grey. Carry her. She looks as if she’ll collapse at any moment.”

What was she about, then? Surely, his fiancée couldn’t know that he’d kissed this woman, and he didn’t think he’d acted anything else than a stranger to Victoria since he’d entered the library.

Perhaps it was his mind overly strained, and he was hyper-aware of everything since he had the diamonds in his pocket.

“Very well. I shall come back for you as soon as I see her comfortable.”

Slowly, Sarah shook her head. “On second thought, don’t trouble yourself. I’m sure that someone can convey me home.”

He narrowed his gaze while Victoria watched the exchange with curiosity burning in her eyes.

Chances are that Sarah wanted a quick tryst with Phillip before she came home.

It was irritating, of course, but he refused to bid her nay in light of the fact they’d marry and he wouldn’t release her because he’d made a promise to his father.

“Fine. I will call on the morrow.” Then he went to the sofa.

“Let us leave, Miss Amherst. My patience for this night is rapidly declining.” It was nothing as he’d assumed, and he didn’t enjoy the feeling that he wasn’t in control of anything.

Not giving her a chance to protest, Grey slipped an arm beneath her knees and his other around her back, then he easily lifted her off the piece of furniture.

Immediately, the warmth of her seeped into him, and the scent of lilies and lemon teased his nose.

When she wrapped her arms about his shoulders, he was hard-pressed not to show a reaction.

With a nod at Sarah, Grey carried his armful from the room and then strode along the corridor toward the entry hall.

“Your Lordship, I—”

“Do not say anything,” he interrupted in a hissed whisper. “Not until we’re in the carriage.”

In short order, he gained the vehicle and was grateful that his driver stood near the open door.

With a mumbled thanks, he saw Victoria into the carriage and settled onto one of the well-squabbed benches.

He quickly followed, asked her for the direction of her father’s townhouse, then relayed the information to the driver.

Once the steps were put up and the door closed, he relaxed—slightly—against the back of his bench.

God, it was hard work playing into intrigue.

The conveyance rocked as the driver climbed up into this box then it lurched forward as the horses moved.

Victoria stared at him from across the narrow aisle. “It wasn’t necessary to carry me outside. I was perfectly capable of walking.”

“I am aware of that.”

“You also don’t need to keep hold of the necklace.” In fact, she stuck out a gloved hand and wriggled her fingers. “Please give it back to me.”

“Not just yet, I think.”

“Why not?” A petulant expression crossed her face, prompting a wave of heated desire to slam through his veins.

“While I believe you are capable to absconding with this treasure yourself, I think you’re also intelligent enough to realize that with my rank, I can help you should you need things smoothed over or connections to assist you.

” In the gloom, he couldn’t keep his gaze from her mouth.

“Also, I should apologize for that kiss.” At least because it could have been so much better.

“Ha.” A snort of derision escaped her. “That was hardly a kiss and besides, you’re engaged to Lady Sarah. It meant nothing, of course.”

“Yes, there is that, but still, are you not a bit curious?” Was he? And why the devil did he ask her such an asinine question? There was no getting around the fact he wasn’t free.

“It doesn’t matter if I am.”

Christ, that made things even more tempting.

What was wrong with him? Desperate to escape his thoughts, he plunged on with the conversation.

“The fact is you are a lovely, striking woman who would be recognized on the street unless you take pains to hide your looks. You can’t just walk about with diamonds in your bodice. ”

“But I—”

“—it’s too dangerous, and London is dodgy after dark.” This interrupting her was becoming a habit. “Let me come with you, protect you where I can, at least until you—we—can decide what to do about the necklace once your father authenticates it.”

She blew out a breath. “I suppose that does make sense.”

“Good.” He relaxed a smidge. “For what it’s worth, you have some talent for acting.”

“Oh, thank you.” The giggle that escaped her throat only added to the need shooting through his veins. “It was a lovely change from my real life.”

And that made him even more curious. “I think you should take this theft seriously.”

“I am, which is why I stole the necklace. It’s not right that Lord Dawson has it.”

“Nefariously or did he truly purchase it at an auction?”

“Who can say? It doesn’t matter, because those diamonds are not anything that anyone in England needs to own. They belong to the people of France.”

“I admire your determination in this.” When he glanced out the window, he frowned, for they were approaching the halfway point in the journey.

It wasn’t that far from Dawson’s home in Grosvenor Square to her father’s home in Bedford Square, and damn if he was going to waste the time alone with her. Quickly, he moved over to her bench.

“What are you doing, Your Lordship?” Her eyes were round with surprise reflected in those stormy depths as the carriage passed a gas lamp.

Losing my mind, apparently.

Aloud, he said, “I want to see if my reaction to the first kiss was an aberration.” Then with an ease of odd familiarity, Grey tugged her into his arms as his lips found hers.

That spark he’d experienced from the kiss in the garden was still there, and in fact, the longer he moved over her pillowy soft lips, the more he wanted to continue to kiss her.

Why shouldn’t he give in to the urge? It wasn’t as if whatever was between this woman and him was permanent, for he would marry Sarah in a handful of days.

Besides, she had a lover; why shouldn’t he have the same?

Once Victoria was out of his system, he could go on and fulfil his promise to his father by marrying for his title.

Feeling more hopeful than he had in many years, Grey licked her sweet lips, nibbled at the corners, dared to draw the tip of his tongue along their seam, and just when she eased her palms up his chest, the driver rapped on the roof.

“Approaching the destination, Your Lordship.”

He pulled away with heavy regret. Not because he should never have kissed this woman at all, but because there was no more time to explore her lips or her body.

Damn it all to hell.