Her eyes narrowed on him. “Tell the truth. Did you do it to secure me as your wife?”
Mason rocked back on his heels. “How is that possible? Only one word from you can secure our future together. I wanted to show your sisters I’m in earnest.”
“You did not have to go to such lengths!”
Mason studied her fair complexion from a respectable, and safe, distance. She looked damn beautiful spitting fire at him. Even the material of her simple purple day gown clung to her curves in a provocative manner. How could his thoughts not trail into another path? A sinful direction.Would she spark as bright from him in bed?Oh, yes. He just knew those beautiful, vivid eyes would hold a sparkle of mischief between the sheets.
Mason nearly groaned out loud.
He knew her body to be plump in all the places that made a man’s heart stop. She shot another glare his way, and his body hardened. If things went on like this, he would be embarrassing himself very soon.
Caroline. . .Caroline. . .Caroline. . .
A month ago, he would never have thought he would meet a woman who could ensnare him like this. Unfathomable, but he could no longer imagine a life without her in it.
“Well?” she demanded, hands moving to settle on her hips.
“I thought I went to just the right amount of length,” he teased.
Her glare turned fiercer even as her voice lost all its fervor. “Can you not take anything seriously?”
“I am all seriousness, which is why I went through the appropriate amount of length to win your sisters to my cause.”
“It is not that easy to win them over,” Caroline snapped.
As if on cue, a soft knock sounded through the room, and two heads poked around the door before entering. Mason watched in amusement as their expectant faces flush with excitement. He sent a triumphant smirk to Caroline.
Clair was the first to speak. “Are you really marrying the viscount, Caroline?”
“When will you marry?” Kate’s question followed. “I heard summer weddings are the best.”
Mason bit back a laugh.
He cast his own expectant glance at Caroline.Yes, when will we marry?
“Nothing is decided yet,” Caroline said helplessly.
“Why?” Clair asked. “The viscount is a splendid match, is he not?”
Mason grinned at Caroline.
God bless little Clair. He might feel like a scoundrel half the time, well, most of the time in her presence, but he wasnota bad catch, if he had to admit it himself.
Kate laughed.
Caroline shot them all a hot look. “Nevertheless, these decisions will have to wait. First we celebrate Christmastide.”
“Oh, right!” Clair perked up. “It’s Christmas today! Will we still sit around the fire and drinking steamed honeyed milk? Will the viscount join us?” She looked at Mason with huge, expectant eyes. His heart pinched.
“Naturally.” He looked to Caroline. “That is, if your sister does not mind me joining?”
“Of course not,” she said. “We usually light a yule log then gather before the fire and drink honeyed milk, as Clair said.”
He inclined his head. “Then I shall be happy to join you.” He paused. “You can inform Mrs. Brown of anything you need.”
“Thank you.”
Mason hitched the corner of his mouth as Caroline ushered the girls from the study, sparing him the briefest of glances before she followed in their wake. He cast a thoughtful look at the poor Persian rug. She could run through every single rug he had in his house if it meant she’d stay with him. He’d purchase a thousand rugs if he had to.
