“I have been known to read.”
“Even romances?” she asked, tilting her head up toward him. She was so near now that Christopher could have leaned down and kissed her.
Scandalous… even the thought of it.
His eyes flicked to those lips before he tore his gaze away, staring at her blue irises instead.
“Even romances,” he assured her. “I say this all to keep you away from a dull man like Lord Mistwood. Any woman who has the spirit in her that you have should not be with a man as dull as dishwater.”
“Ha! You seem eager to disapprove of Lord Mistwood, eager indeed. Why is that?”
“For the reason I have just told you.” He spoke low, in a deep voice, with the words escaping him fast. “Pick a better man than him to marry.”
“Pick one that gives me this excitement you talk of?” she asked, folding her arms across her body. “This thrill? These shudders?”
“Is that so wild an idea?”
“I have never felt such things,” she murmured. It was a whispered confession. A few weeks ago, Christopher knew they never would have talked so openly together, not even in their challenging and argumentative way, but the manner in which she whispered those words was a heartfelt confession, a private one. It was a secret Christopher intended to keep for her.
“Then hold out until you do feel such things,” Christopher whispered to her. She breathed deeply, her cheeks blushing. He could have mistaken her for feeling such things at that moment, but she couldn’t have done, for she had denied knowing them at all. “Do not be rushed into marriage, especially by men like me making throwaway comments about spinsters.”
“I see.” She smiled a little, mischievously. “Is this your way of apologizing for your words outside of the modiste’s shop?”
“Perhaps.” He matched her playful tone, finding his own smile. “Just because you intended to injure me with your words yesterday, does not mean I should have done the same thing, but I did.”
“I injured you? How?” She seemed baffled, her smile falling. He shook his head, having no wish to get into it at that moment.
“Let us return to this important discussion instead. Wait for excitement, Lady Helena. And forget a boring man like Lord Mistwood. I’m certain he has not the spirit for you.”
“And what spirit should I be partnered with?” She laughed. “Audacious indeed, I must say. You and I are not quite brother and sister yet, but still, you intend to give me advice as if we are.”
“Well, maybe I have more kindness in me than you are prepared to accept.” He raised his eyebrows, watching as she chewed her lip, evidently holding back words she longed to say. “Choose a spirit as fiery as your own, Lady Helena.”
She breathed deeply. That sharp rise and fall of her chest Christopher found intoxicating. His eyes lingered where they shouldn’t have, and he felt the tension in the air between them in the silence that followed. He tore his eyes back to meet hers, finding she had plainly noticed just how he had looked at her. She didn’t comment on it, but neither did she turn away from him.
What is happening here?
He wracked his brain, confused about how he had ended up in this conversation at all. He’d come to discuss their families, and if he didn’t know any better, he’d say he had ended up flirting with Lady Helena.
There was a tap on the door. Lady Helena leapt away from him so suddenly, she nearly tripped on the edge of the rug. He reached out to stabilize her, but she snatched her arm away from him, just as the door opened.
He breathed a sigh of relief at her quick thinking. If they’d been seen together, standing so close, or worse with his hand on her arm, comments might be made.
“Helena? Are you in here?” Lady Julia appeared. She clearly thought nothing of their meeting in the library, for she smiled sweetly when she saw the two of them. “There you are. Father has been asking for you, and I fear we need your intervention.”
“Intervention? What for?” Lady Helena asked, stepping closer to her sister.
“Our uncle is intent on causing trouble. I fear he intends to take some of Lord Isaac’s money.” She sighed and raised her hands to cover her cheeks. “This evening is not going well, is it?”
“It will take time, Lady Julia,” Christopher called to her as he collected his tailcoat from a nearby chair and pulled it on over his shoulders. “And fear not for my great-uncle. He may be old, and his sight is failing a little, but as long as my mother is beside him to tell him what cards he is holding, I’ve never seen a man beat him yet.”
“Oh, that is good news.” Julia took her sister’s hand and pulled her out of the room. “Come, both of you, please. You must help me keep the peace.”
Lady Helena was dragged behind her sister with her head jerking toward Christopher. He met that gaze, uncertain of what was in Lady Helena’s expression. She left swiftly, and he stared at the empty space she left behind her.
Christopher did not immediately follow. He distracted himself by fussing with the tailcoat, trying to think of what that strange conversation with Lady Helena meant. He hadn’t meant for it to happen, and he wished he could go back and undo it, but somehow, things had changed between them. It had been an intimate discussion, one of thrills and excitement.
Christopher hurried out of the room and into the adjoining parlor where the families were either playing cards or watching the game unfold with rapt attention. The only one not paying any attention was Percival, who came to stand beside Christopher.
