“Your definition of importance, madam, and my own differ somewhat.”
Lord, it was difficult to think with him so close to her—bare-chested and fairly pulsing with heat. He was like a raging furnace, but despite the danger, she was drawn closer. “This time I think you’ll agree.” With a will of iron, she released him and held up her reticule. “I have the paper here.” She reached inside and, with trembling fingers, withdrew the paper.
He took it from her, read it, then turned away and read it again, swearing as he did so.
Lucia smiled. “I told you.”
“Hodges!” he called, going to the door. “Hodges!” Lucia shrunk back. Lord, all she needed right now was for one of his servants to see her.
“Hodges, fetch Dewhurst. Try Brooks’s and White’s, then his town house. Failing that—” He glanced at Lucia, his body in the doorway blocking the servant’s view of her. “Where is everyone tonight?”
“The Earl of Hertford is hosting a ball.”
Alex turned back to the servant. “If Dewhurst isn’t at home, try the ball.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Lucia heard the servant walk away, and Alex shut the door and turned back to her. She stared at the closed door, but managed to squeak a few words from her tight throat. “Why did you send for Lord Dewhurst? Will he understand the note?”
Alex glanced at the paper. “Are you trying to get me killed?”
“What?” She stared at him.
“There were a hundred other ways to get me this message.” He held up the paper. “None involve you coming here in the middle of the night. I can only assume you want me dead. You want Dandridge to kill me.”
“No, I don’t. He doesn’t even know I’m here. How could he know?”
“He knows something is going on between us.” He gave her a penetrating look.
“There’s nothing going on,” she said mechanically. But it was a lie, and she knew it.
Alex blinked. “It’s midnight, I’m half dressed, and you’re in my bedroom.”
“I told you to stop undressing!”
“And I told you to stay put.” He grasped her arms at the elbow; the feel of his warm hands on her sent shivers of pleasure careening through her body.
“And I would have, but—”
“No buts, Lucia. For once, can’t you do as you’re told?”
She jerked away. “Do as I’m told? Do as I’m told!” she screamed, flinging her arms out. “All my life I’ve done as I was told. Wear this dress, Lucia. Eat this food, Lucia. Dance with these partners, Lucia. Marry this man, Lucia.”
“You don’t have to marry him.” He leaned against the bedpost. “You made that choice.”
“What choice? Should I call off the engagement and cause a scandal? Hurt my family?” She was pacing now, her slippered feet making shushing sounds on the Turkey carpet. “Oh, that’s a jolly good idea! Not to mention, if I cry off now Reginald will be so angry and jealous, he’ll no doubt drag your name into it.” She spun to face him. “My reputation will be in tatters. I’ll have to go into seclusion because I’ll never, ever be able to show my face in Town again. And my father—” She groaned at the thought and covered her eyes. “You don’t think I want to marry Reginald, do you?”
“Then what do you want, Lucia?”
She opened her mouth to answer, but no words came forth. Her eyes met his.
Chapter Fifteen
Her mind went blank. No one had ever asked her that before. In fact, she’d rarely considered it herself. Good Lord! Why not?
But she knew why. She was afraid. Afraid that if she thought too hard about her future, about marrying Reginald, she’d never be able to go through with it. She would have run away. Disgraced her family. And she couldn’t do that. For once she would play the dutiful daughter.
Alex was watching her, his pewter eyes hard now, but she remembered them differently. She remembered them burning with desire. Desire for her. Could she make them burn for her again?
