Page 41 of Conveniently Trapped with the Marquess
“I think you’ve seen enough of me all day,” she said. She kept backing up until she found the armchair on the other side of the desk. Hopefully, the solid piece of furniture would be enough to keep him from affecting her as much.
Alice didn’t have much faith, however. Every time she saw him, her heart would begin to race and all she wanted to do was attach herself to his side so that he could never leave her again. She wanted to be with him all the time, hoping he would hold her hand and rub his thumb across the back of it like he had last time. Here, alone, those thoughts escalated to places they’d never gone to before.
“I did see a lot of you,” William agreed with a nod. The single candle flame and the distance she’d put between them, meant it was more difficult to see his expression. Alice didn’t know if that was a good thing. “For such a large Manor, we do seem to run into each other more often than you would think.”
“Yes, well, since the gardens are currently unavailable, I’m afraid I have far less places I can escape to.”
“Unavailable?” he asked, sounding bemused. But then, he nodded. “Ah, yes. I should have known it would make you a little anxious to go back there after what happened.”
“Not anxious,” Alice corrected. “Simply wary.”
“There is no need for denying that you’re afraid, Alice. Anyone would be. It isn’t something to be ashamed of.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t think you called me here in order to lecture me.”
She caught sight of his white teeth as he grinned, leaning over the desk. “I called you here for an entirely different reason but lecturing you does have its winning points. Perhaps I shall just do that from now on.”
“And cease from teasing with me with your sickly sweet words? You drive a hard bargain.”
“Don’t act as if you don’t like it when I flirt with you, Sweetheart.”
Alice narrowed her eyes, even though her lips twitched with a smile. She hoped he couldn’t see her face, couldn’t see just how much that single word affected her. “I like it better when you aren’t talking at all.”
“Ah!” William’s hand flew to his chest and he sagged against the chair. “Such hurtful words!”
Without warning, laughter escaped Alice’s lips. She giggled uncontrollably, feeling every bit of lingering anxiety rush out of her as a result. William straightened, chuckling himself.
“Has anyone ever told you that you have a beautiful laugh?” he said after a moment.
Alice’s laughter caught in her throat, making her let out a little squeak. Embarrassed at being caught off-guard like that, she rose and walked away, delving into the shadows marring the other room. “Time and time again,” she managed to say, even as she tried to get a grip on herself. “You would be surprised at the lack of creativity among gentlemen when they wish to court someone.”
“Or perhaps,” came William’s voice from behind, “it would simply be an injustice not to mention it to you when your laughter is as lovely as the songs of angels.”
He was getting closer. Alice knew she wouldn’t be able to escape, knew that she looked quite cowardly retreating into the darkness like this. A part of her was afraid what would happen if he bridged the gap between them once again. Another part of her wanted nothing more.
“Songs of angels?” she watched him grow nearer, noting that he’d opted to leave the candle behind. “Is that your attempt at being original, William?”
“Is it working?”
“I think you’ll have to try a little harder than that.” Her words took her by surprise. Was she flirting back?
William smirked, coming closer still. She continued to back away, not because she was trying to get away from him but more through that lovely game of cat and mouse they’d fallen into. When her back hit the bookshelf behind her, Alice licked her lips in anticipation.
“I’m not sure if I have anything else in me, Alice,” he said to her, his voice a low, enticing whisper. “I find it hard to think straight when you are around.”
“That has never been an issue before.”
“Because I didn’t know how I felt before.”
Her heart thudded. Alice gripped the sides of her dress, trying to quiet the chaotic questions surging in her head. She sifted through the lot of them to ask one: “What are you doing, William?”
“What do you mean?”
“I thought you already knew that I won’t fall for your charms. Why are you—”
“What if I were to tell you, Alice,” he cut her off, “that this is not simply me trying to charm you.” With one step, he bridged the space between them. Now, she could feel his hot breath on her cheek and every nerve in her body buzzing.
“Then…” she swallowed, her composure slipping. His lips were so close to her now, his gaze trained on her own. A part of her had hoped that something like this would happen, even though she couldn’t believe that it would. “Then, what is this?”
