He nearlylaughed out loud. Badgers tended to be crafty little creatures.
MissDunforth tried to look ill. A hand fluttered to her temple. Shegrimaced again as if in terrible pain. She was a terrible liar and aworse actress.
“MissDunforth? Alexandra? Are you sure you must leave?” Mirandapouted. “I wanted to show you the library. We haven’t even talked about thelatest Lord Thurston novel.”
“I am sovery sorry, but I find that my head aches terribly. My constitution isdelicate at times, or so I’m told.”
“Indeed.”The Dowager gave a small snort of disbelief. “And you a sturdy lass fromHampshire. Who ran a farm. Alone.” His grandmother’s knowing gazeflicked to him, then to Miss Dunforth.
“MissDunforth, I do hope it’s not that sudden illness I’ve heard is making therounds of theton. Young ladies suddenly struck down as they drinktheir tea. You must get home immediately before you find yourselfunable to do so.” Sutton composed his face into one of bland concern knowingit would irritate the little Badger. He was not disappointed.
MissDunforth,Alex,looked as if she would argue with him, saw hisgrandmother watching her, and changed her expression to one of illness.“Possibly, my lord. There are all kinds ofill humorsandvilethingsto be found in London that I, growing up in Hampshire, am notaccustomed to. I was likelyexposedto something at Lady Dobson’s,which didn’t agree with me.”
Most womendid not compare Sutton to anill humororvile thing. Her subtleinsult made him want to laugh out loud. Or kiss her senseless. Hestrode over to the settee. “Please allow me to escort you out, MissDunforth.”
“That’s notnecessary, Lord Reynolds.” The Badger stood. “I am quite capable offinding the front door myself.” She gave a false wobble, and pretended asif she would faint at any moment. “Lady Reynolds, Miranda, I bid you goodday. My apologies again.”
Sutton leanedover Miss Dunforth,Alex. “I insist.” The look of horror onher face was so comical he bit his lip to stifle the laughter bubbling upinside of him.
She ignoredhis arm, prickly thing that she was, and proceeded to the door determined tosee herself out. She stopped only when his grandmother spoke.
“I wouldtake it much amiss, Miss Dunforth, if Sutton didn’t see you out.”
Alex’sshoulders slumped as she paused for effect and whispered. “I don’t wishto trouble Lord Reynolds, my lady.” The pathetic tone in her voice had anedge to it. “Your footman is right down the hall.”
“It’s notrouble at all.” Little coward. He held his arm out again, daring her totake it.
Alex’sfingertips brushed the top of his arm lightly, as if he was a leper she didn’twish to touch but was forced to.
“You cannotbe too careful, my dear Miss Dunforth. A headache can make one so weakand dizzy. I would not have you fainting in the hallway. Suttonwill put you in my carriage, least you collapse on the steps.” TheDowager commanded in a severe tone, but her eyes twinkled in delight. “Ithas been amostilluminating afternoon, Miss Dunforth. I cannotwait to further our acquaintance. We shall call on you soon, won’t weMiranda?”
Mirandanodded and took another bite of the raisin cake.
Sutton ledthe subdued Miss Dunforth out of his grandmother’s parlor. She lookedlike she was being escorted to the gallows instead of being seen to the waitingcarriage of a Marchioness. He heard the laughter of the Dowager behindhim. No doubt his grandmother would be full of questions.
***
Alexandrafelt the heat of Lord Reynolds through her fingertips. The sensationsseeped down her arm, through her chest and lodged between her legs. Heremotions vacillated between anger at his high-handed behavior, embarrassment athis acknowledgement, and a nervous, filmy excitement that rushed through her inwaves.
As always,Alexandra tried to think logically. She decided that his goading ofher was nothing more than dismay in finding her taking tea with hisgrandmother. Fine. She could understand his confusion. Shewould explain the situation to him. She would likely run into him again, if shewere to further her acquaintance with the Dowager and Miranda so she would liketo smooth over any misconceptions he may be under. She couldn’t fault himin thinking that most women would try to use their previous meeting asleverage. Her irritation abated, though she still thought him a conceitedass. She snuck a look at his beautiful profile.
“My Lord,”Alexandra turned, taking a deep breath. His eyes were so green andmesmerizing that it took her a moment to continue. “Please let meexplain. I met your grandmother purely by chance at Lady Dobson’s, andshe invited me to tea. My appearance is in no way related to our unfortunatemeeting last night. My discretion is assured.” Surely he didn’twish for anyone to know that she’d witnessed his assignation with LadyFellowes. Or, their previous meeting. She certainly did not.
His eyeswidened a bit. The gold flecks set in among the emerald glinted in thelight.
“Let usbegin again,” Alexandra said proudly, impressed she could even think with theexotic allure of Lord Reynolds’s surrounding her. She managed to sound asif his company caused her little distress. A feat of incredible magnitude,for the smell of him, like a warm cinnamon bun, played havoc with hersenses.
The greengaze settled on her bosom then wandered down between the valleys of herbreasts.
Why was hebeing so….so….improper with her? It was unwarranted. He hadintimated that she was plain and mannish in front of his grandmother. Hecould not possibly be attracted to her. Maybe he was trying to get her toapologize for losing her temper. She was beneath him socially and shesupposed it was incredibly incorrect. He didn’t strike her as a sticklerfor those types of things, but maybe he was.
“I am alsotruly sorry for my unladylike display of temper.” There, shethought. That should placate him.
“Yes.Your very unladylike display of temper.” His brow wrinkled, and he frownedslightly, as if it truly disturbed him. The big body moved closer toher.
Alexandrafelt overly warm, as she had in the parlor. Apparently, Cambourne Housewas not well ventilated. Surely, a maid or footman could open a window.Besides being warm, her irritation returned at his manner. He didn’t needto sound so…put out. If she recalled correctly, he’d called her aneducated, overgrown rat at their last meeting. That wasmuchworsethan being called a peacock.
“My Lord,”Alexandra said through clenched teeth. Her senses were reeling from hiscloseness. It felt as if she were being pushed up against a wall of warm,hardened marble. She thought of the green dragon tattoo again. Thetail moved and reached out for her. “If you will not accept my apologythen I bid you good day.” The words came out in a slight stutter, and shewinced. She sounded like an idiot.
