Page 64 of The Love Potion
She spoke right over him. “You overwhelm me. I—I am overcome!”
Wasn’t that the dialogue from the very bad comedy playing at the London theater? And—oh no!
Lady Zoe launched herself at him. It wasn’t done from impulse. It looked like she steeled herself to do it and then jumped like she might leap over a very large puddle. Either way, he was obliged to catch her. Or rather deflect her as he quickly leaped to the side. He made sure she didn’t fall, but he was not going to let her pursed lips land anywhere near his face.
She stumbled as she landed but remained true to her athletic nature. She pivoted quickly, then cried out.
“Your Grace! I need you!”
“No!” he snapped. “You most certainly do not!” And in case she didn’t understand, he held his hand straight out in front of her. She would have to bodily overcome him to approach. Unless she used his hands to her advantage, which she did to horrifying effect.
She grabbed his wrist and slammed his hand against her breast, what there was of it. She was mostly muscle and surprising strength.
“Oh, Your Grace!”
“Absolutely not!” He leaped back, bodily jerking his hand away. And when she stepped closer, he let out an undignified squeak of alarm. He could overpower this child in a heartbeat, but he didn’t want to touch her. He didn’t want her to touch him!
He scrambled to his bedroom door and hauled it open fast enough to roar, “Kynthea! Come out here immediately!”
If he’d been thinking properly, he wouldn’t have used her formal name. He had no right to call her Kynthea yet. And damn it, Lady Zoe was quick enough to catch the slip.
She frowned, stumbled to a halt, and whispered, “Kynthea?”
The lady in question came rushing out of her bedroom, hastily buttoning up her dress as she bolted from her room. Her hair was down, and he was man enough to see how beautiful it looked. But he was more interested in the way Zoe’s gaze hopped between the two of them.
“You called her Kynthea,” she accused. “You have… You are…” She sniffed. Was she crying? Surely not! She wasn’t a girl who cried, but clearly something was overcoming her emotions.
“What is happening?” Kynthea said, her eyes widening as she took in the sight of the two of them. “Zoe?”
Oh hell. It looked just like…well, just like Zoe had probably intended. “She came to my room,” he said. “She… I did not!” He backed away from the girl like she was the destruction of all his hopes. And damnation, if any of his staff discovered them like this, then it might just happen. Even the most loyal servants whispered. “Damn it!” he cursed. Then he jerked his fingers at Kynthea. “Get in here. Please!”
His gaze must have been wild enough to convince her. She crossed the hallway quickly and he shut the door solidly behindher. Then, keeping himself as far away as possible from Zoe, he gestured to the girl.
“She is confused. Nothing happened.” He looked desperately at her. “Can you help?”
She’d already understood and was crossing to her cousin. But Zoe skittered backwards as she wrapped her arms tightly about herself. “How could you?” she asked as her eyes shimmered with tears. Her gaze was all on her cousin and there was true pain in her voice. “You knew he was to be my husband. Youknew!”
“Zoe, please try to understand—”
“I even put the potion in his wine. He drank all of it!”
Ras jolted. “What? You dosed my drink?”
Kynthea shot him a frustrated look. “It did not harm you.”
“You knew?”
She shrugged. “Not that she’d done it. And I did warn you.”
He threw up his hands as he looked at the girl. “Why would you do this? I have been clear with you from the beginning.” He frowned. “Even Mother said you were too young, and she said it to your face!”
“I am sixteen!”
“Exactly!”
Kynthea held up her hands. “Hush! Both of you! Or we’ll end up with an outcome no one wants!”
To which Zoe rounded on her cousin with a harsh expression. “But I do want it!” she all but screamed. “That’s why I’m here. Do you really think I want to… to…” She glanced at the bed and shuddered. A real live shudder that shook her whole body. He would have been insulted if he weren’t so relieved.
