Page 14 of Tempting a Lonely Lord (The Rakes of Mayhem #6)

Pushing open the doors, he found Bella seated on the settee, flipping through a newspaper he’d left on the side table a few days ago. At her feet, Lacey lay curled up in a warm pool of sunlight, her tail occasionally twitching in contentment.

William paused for a moment, taking in the scene. Bella, as always, was a balm to his weary soul and, in this case, a sight for his sore, sleep-deprived eyes.

“Good day, Bella,” he greeted her as he approached.

“Good day, William,” she replied, looking up with a smile that seemed to illuminate the room. He resisted the urge to sigh again—this time from sheer admiration. Her beauty was a perfect blend of refreshing and breathtaking.

“Are you finished with this?” she asked, holding up the latest edition of the Ton Tattler .

“That old thing?” William chuckled. “It arrived a week ago. I suppose it’s past its expiration date. Of course you may have it.”

He had little patience for gossip and only read the Tattler out of necessity.

Bella grinned. “Oh, the gossip is entertaining, but I’m more interested in fashion. There are two lovely patterns on the second page.”

“Well, I’m glad it’s getting another life. I was about to toss it,” he admitted.

“Happy to be of service,” she said, her tone playful.

“My grandmothers love gossip, even though they claim otherwise. They refuse to subscribe to the Tattler , but I’ve caught them reading over their friends’ shoulders at the tearoom.

” She giggled. “Honestly, I don’t know anyone who doesn’t sneak a peek at it, no matter what they say.

Even if most of it is probably nonsense, there’s some value in it. ”

“I suppose so,” William replied with a deep laugh, suddenly grateful he hadn’t been featured in its pages—at least not to his knowledge. “I’ll ask Harlow to see that the Tattler is delivered to you from now on—after I’ve had the chance to read through it, of course.”

“Thank you, William. You are most kind,” she said, her sunny smile bright enough to light the dimmest corners of his day.

How he yearned to kiss those radiant lips, to taste the warmth of that smile and claim it as his own. But he held himself in check, his hands curling at his sides as though restraint alone could tether the desire threatening to overwhelm him.

~*~

Bella had to keep reminding herself not to stare, though she could easily spend the entire day gazing at him without tiring.

He was utterly captivating—a man seemingly oblivious to the effect his rugged, masculine beauty had on her, and undoubtedly on countless other women.

She couldn’t help but wonder how many hearts William had unknowingly—or perhaps knowingly—broken in the course of his work.

With his golden waves of hair and those striking sky-blue eyes, it seemed inevitable.

Whenever she found herself this close to him, her breath caught in her throat, her chest felt impossibly tight, and her mouth was as dry as a parched desert.

Good heavens, if she wasn’t careful, she might very well swoon on the spot, reduced to little more than a hopelessly smitten fool in his presence.

“I understand you came to talk to me about something?” he said.

“I did,” she said, clearing her throat. She had given a lot of thought to what Michael had told her the other day. Only she didn’t want to go by herself. “Is Michael with his governess?” she blurted, without thinking.

He glanced at the light gold Ormolu clock on the mantel. “Michael’s having riding lessons about now. The boy has probably been up for hours.”

“I didn’t know he was getting riding lessons,” she said.

“I realized it was high time he learned how to ride,” William admitted with a sheepish smile. “It’s entirely my fault that it’s taken this long.”

“I’m pleased to hear that. I’m sure he’ll pick it up quickly,” she replied with a smile.

“Michael is a clever boy,” he said with a chuckle. “And he’s strong, too—much better at climbing trees than I ever was at his age.”

The door opened, and Harlow stepped inside, followed by a footman pushing a cart. “My lord, I thought you might like some refreshment,” he said with a deferential bow.

“Thank you, Harlow,” William replied, offering his arm to Bella. “Shall we?”

She nodded, grateful for the prospect of tea to soothe her parched throat.

As William busied himself with the tea, she thought she caught a faint whiff of something heavily floral and musky.

It seemed out of place, clashing with the savory aroma of sandwiches, biscuits, and the fragrant tea Harlow had brought in.

She dismissed it as her imagination—where would William have acquired such a scent, after all?

But as he settled into the chair across from her, the fragrance returned, stronger this time.

It wasn’t her imagination. The rich, heady scent clung to him like a second skin, unmistakably perfume.

Her thoughts stumbled as she considered the possibilities.

Surely it could not be a member of the female staff or Michael’s governess.

Had he been somewhere—perhaps with someone—whose scent now lingered on him?

The notion struck her like a physical blow, twisting in her gut. Had William taken a lover? The question gnawed at her, unwelcome and unsettling, as she forced herself to sip her tea and feign composure.

“What was it you needed to speak with me about? I doubt it was to ask me to share my Ton Tattler with you,” he said, taking a bite of a sandwich.

She gave a forced laugh, suddenly unsure of what to say. “Uh… no. I wanted to ask…” She took a deep breath as the question stuck in her throat. The question had been important, but she couldn’t ask him. Not now.

“Bella, I can see that you’re upset, but I’m not sure I understand why,” William said, leaning forward, his brow furrowed in genuine concern. “Have I said or done something to offend you?”

Her cheeks flushed as the heavy, unmistakably feminine fragrance lingered in the air between them, as though taunting her. Unable to hold back, she blurted, “Perhaps it’s more about where you’ve been.” Her voice trembled slightly, betraying the ache in her heart.

There was no official understanding between them—not yet—but the thought of him with another woman felt like a dagger twisting deep in her chest. She lowered her gaze, her emotions a tempest she couldn’t quite hide.

“Where I’ve been?” He frowned, confused.

“Last night. It’s clear you were out all night,” she snapped, aware she was making a cake of herself. But she couldn’t seem to stop.

The atmosphere between them grew thick with tension.

“You know where I’ve been? How?” he asked, his voice suddenly raspy.

How dare he treat me like some brainless girl? Anger bubbled up within her. “I may be young, but I’m not ignorant. I know you went to town last evening. And wherever you went, you still reeked of the cheap, tawdry perfume from your illicit rendezvous.”

His confusion turned to shock, which only angered her more.

She stood abruptly. “I’ve changed my mind about my request for a favor.” She glanced down at her slumbering dog. “Come, Lacey, we should take our leave.” Fighting back tears, Bella held her head high as she strode from the room.

The dog growled at William before turning and trotting after her mistress out the door.

~*~