She glanced down at the dictionary, another flush stealing over her cheeks as her eyes passed over the one that would forever be branded in her mind from that day onward.
Carnal.
Fleshly.
Lustful... Lecherous... Libidinous...
Her gaze skipped to the next word:carnality. Compliance with carnal desires...
Dear Lord! What was this?
Phaedra thought of the very first kiss she and Deerhurst had shared in his garden. Did that count as fleshly and libidinous? Surely not. Definitely not lustful and lecherous!
But was it in compliance with carnal desire?
She did not even want to contemplatethat. She did not need a wild imagination for pictures of a shirtless Deerhurst to flit through her brain at those provocative words. He would be all muscle. That she didn’t doubt.
Lecherous? That sounded like an old man pinching young women’s waists.
Phaedra shuddered.
Was Deerhurst a pincher?
Surely not.
Her gaze skimmed over the word again.
Carnal.
Phaedra shut the book sharply.
And just in time too.
Her aunt breezed into the library.
“There you are,” Portia said with a smile. “We missed you at tea.”
“Aunt.” Phaedra clutched the book. “Did you enjoy your trip to the shops?”
Her aunt settled into the sofa on the opposite side. “Of course. How was your ride through Hyde Park with the earl? I heard there was some commotion?”
Phaedra sat up a bit straighter. “Does Mama know about that?”
“Not that I am aware, but do not worry. I won’t mention anything, though I cannot promise she won’t hear or read about it elsewhere.”
“Deerhurst saved the day, again. Well, to be fair, Deerhurst and his friend, the Earl of Saville.”
Portia lifted a brow. “Again?”
Phaedra hesitated, but in the end confessed, “Do not tell Mama, but Cromby cornered me at the Morewood Ball. Deerhurst interfered before anything could happen.”
Portia lost a bit of color. “What?”
Phaedra put the book aside and saved her hand. “It wasn’t all that bad. Deerhurst put him in his place.”
“He seems quite the hero,” Portia said, clutching at her breast.
Phaedra thought about Evie, Macy, and Maddie. “He is.”
