Page 101 of The Viscount Who Vexed Me

Hattie blinked with surprise at the abrupt end of the kiss. She stared back at him, her eyes heavy with lust. She slowly ran the pad of her thumb across her lower lip. “We really must stop doing that,” she said in a whisper. “I beg your pardon for my part.”

She didn’t look as if she wanted his pardon. She looked like she wanted to toss him on the rug and have her way with him. And he was a heartbeat away from doing it for her. She was the most unique woman Mateo had ever known—he was spellbound by her. But he knew one thing—he could not offer marriage to Miss Raney when he felt this strongly about Hattie Woodchurch.

“I don’t want to stop doing this,” he said. “I won’t apologize for it.”

“Teo! You are going to marry myfriend. I can’t...youcan’t.” She bent down to pick up the dropped invitation. “This is madness—I should go.”

“You don’t have to go,” he said, feeling frustrated now. “Stay. Let’s talk—”

“About what?” She stood up and looked at him. The desire had been replaced with unshed tears. “What is there to say? You can’t imagine how difficult this is for me.”

“I can imagine very well. It’s difficult for me.”

“I really must go.” She stepped around him, hurrying to the door before he could stop her.

Mateo let her go. This time. But he wouldn’t let her go again.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

WELL,THATWASIT, then. She was desperately in love, but the clock was ticking—he was leaving, and she had only so many more opportunities to be with him.

She carried on the rest of that day in a terrible fog of uncertainty and poorly buried desire and hopelessness. Daniel said she looked like the walking dead.

The next day, Mrs. O’Malley remarked how sad Hattie looked. She wasn’t sad, she was exhausted—she hadn’t slept at all the night before. “I’m a bit under the weather, that’s all.” She managed a smile.

“Oh dear. Well, have some chocolate.” Mrs. O’Malley handed her several pieces.

The chocolate did not help.

When she’d finished her work at Mrs. O’Malley’s, she went to Flora’s house. On Fridays, Flora liked to visit her cousin Moses.

But Flora wasn’t there.

“Oh, Hattie,” her mother said. “Flora’s gone out. Didn’t she send word?”

“No,” Hattie said. “I thought...I thought we were going to visit Moses.”

“Moses?” Her mother looked confused. “She and Queenie have gone for ices.”

Ices?Hattie rubbed her temple. “Should I wait?” she asked, also confused.

“Perhaps a quarter of an hour? I’m not certain when she’ll be back. Have a seat in here,” Lady Raney said, and directed Hattie into the formal parlor.

She sat on the edge of a chair, waiting. This was not like Flora. She was usually so eager to see Hattie that she came bounding down the stairs and made Hattie rush back up to her rooms with her.

She had a terrible sense of foreboding.

She’d waited a half hour when she heard Flora come in. She was laughing, and she told the butler a rain had started. Hattie stood up and walked to the door of the parlor.

“Oh. Hattie,” Flora said, her voice cool and distant.

“Good afternoon. I thought we were to visit Moses today.”

“Yes, well... I decided against it.”

She was so cold. She stepped into the parlor, forcing Hattie to take a step backward.

“Actually, Hattie, I’ve decided a few things,” Flora said. She glanced over her shoulder, then quietly shut the door.