Page 25 of The Viscount in her Bedroom
She blinked at him, startled by his vulgarity—but then intrigued by it. Had he been thinking abouther, as she’d been thinking about him? She should encourage it—for his recovery, of course. Not for the fact that her palms had gone damp and her mouth dry.
“I thought I was offering friendship,” she said.
“Or pity.”
“I don’t pity you, my lord. I pity those children in the factory that you spoke of.”
He slowly smiled. “You have me there, Miss Shelby.”
“Riding again is your choice, of course. I am simply glad that you decided you could sit with me.”
“Youarealone with me on a terrace. Is that permitted?”
“Your grandmother told me to come. And it’s the middle of the afternoon.”
“It’s always night to me,” he answered softly.
She blushed, though he couldn’t see it, and found herself watching his mouth. “Right now there are several elderly ladies who are probably peering through windows at us as we speak.”
“I don’t think they’re worried about your virtue,” he said dryly. “Not anymore.”
She stiffened in outrage. Did he know what had befallen her at Lady Ralston’s? “I beg your pardon?”
ChapterSix
Simon was surprised by the alarm he heard in her voice. Did she know about the rumors circling London about her? Or did she mean something else?
“I’m referring to the fact that I’m no longer looking to marry,” he explained. “My grandmother’s friends would surely think you’re safe with me.”
“Oh.” She sounded relieved and embarrassed.
He was intrigued. “What did you think I meant?”
“The same thing, of course.”
She didn’t lie very convincingly.
“One of your grandmother’s friends said that you were off the marriage mart,” she continued. “Lady Wade assured her it wasn’t so. So who was wrong?”
But he wasn’t going to let her unusual reaction go. “I can tell that you’re not saying what you were thinking a moment ago.”
“So you’ve gained new abilities now that you’re blind?”
It was rare that anyone mentioned his infirmity, and he found himself grudgingly respecting her for it. “You thought those ladies wouldn’t be concerned with your virtue. Why?”
He heard her inhale swiftly. “You wouldn’t be speaking like this were I not a servant in your home.”
“You’re not a servant, and I’m only trying to help.”
“Not a servant? Do you know what a companionis, my lord?”
“I thought I did,” he said with hesitation.
“What you have here at Enfield Manor is not reality. Your grandmother is a wonderful woman, and treats me with the utmost respect. Even you, in your strange way, have treated me with respect.”
“Even me? I’m not sure I’d go that far,” he said, remembering how he’d stalked about her in the night, breathing in her scent, wanting more than a touch.
“But at my last place of employment, when I truly had no recourse for monetary support but that position…” Her voice faded away.
