Page 35 of Sinfully Wanton
Healeyshouldhave sent a note. Better yet, he should have called on Aunt Lottie and informed her of Kenebruke’s illness. He had to be aware of the relationship between the earl and Aurora’s chaperone, or at least, suspected the pair were friends. Aunt Lottie’s mood would vastly improve were she to know that Kenebruke wasn’t purposefully ignoring her but had instead been ill.
“My uncle is recovering slowly,” Healey continued. “Last night, I allowed him a brandy and to finally leave his bed for dinner. I fear he is not used to being ill. He’s a poor patient. I’ve been handling his correspondence and business affairs while he recovers.The Adventures of Captain Duncanwas recommended to him by a friend, though I can’t imagine anyone at his club did so.”
It could only have been Aunt Lottie.
“Miss Maplehurst will be most relieved to know Lord Kenebruke is feeling better,” Aurora ventured. “But quite distressed to find Lord Kenebruke has been ill and she was unaware.” She dared to admonish him.
Had Healey deliberately kept word of Kenebruke’s illness from them or was it merely an oversight on his part?
Healey’s upper lip twitched, unable to completely stop the sneer trying to form at the mention of Aunt Lottie. Nor did he make any excuses. Aurora thought that very telling.
“I must take my leave, my lady.” The ugly look faded to be replaced with his usual shy smile. “My uncle will be attempting to leave his bed and I cannot allow it without at least some supervision. He still coughs quite a bit. And I must still visit the apothecary on his behalf to purchase a syrup for his cough.” He bowed to her.
Good.Healey would be sure to bump into Aunt Lottie at the apothecary. He would not be able to ignore her without being outwardly rude or creating a small scene. The news about Kenebruke would come better from him, at any rate.
“I bid you good day, Mr. Healey. Again, please convey my best wishes to Lord Kenebruke.”
“I shall.” He hesitated. “Now that my uncle is better, I’ll be in attendance at the Travers’ ball.” The unspoken question hung in the air.
“As will I,” Aurora answered.
“May I be so bold as to request my dance now?” His tone had grown warm and accommodating, which made it easy to forget his stuffy behavior. Healey tended to be overly polite and conscious of every impropriety, but he also possessed a dry wit. He could be quite amusing. Aurora was certain a passionate soul beat beneath that properly tied cravat. She need only force it to the surface.
“You may.” Aurora allowed him to take her hand and nodded politely. She waited until waiting until Healey made his way to the clerk’s desk to pay for his uncle’s book before turning back to the shelf before her. Though she liked Healey, his attitude toward Aunt Lottie was troubling. As was his near obsessive need to watch his uncle’s every move. Perhaps she was making more of Healey’s devotion to his uncle. Or maybe his behavior was more indicative of a controlling streak.
That wouldn’t bode well for a future together.
Aurora resumed her perusal of the books, humming as she considered Healey and then Grisham. One of them must be induced to at least steal a kiss. Now having known arousal and the resulting pleasure, Aurora wouldn’t settle for less in a husband.
Carefully, she stepped to the other side of the shelf where much more wickedness abounded in the form of scandalous works and penny dreadfuls. Aurora quite enjoyed a good penny dreadful. Odessa had introduced her to such shocking reading matter after marrying Jordan, along with criminal broadsides, which Aurora hadn’t even known existed. Criminal broadsides tended to be much more gruesome.
“The Highwayman’s Revenge.” Aurora chewed on her lip in thought. Was she in the mood for pistols and coach robbing? She put the slim volume back down. No, she was not. No pirates either.
Spring Heeled Jack.Her eyes widened at the cover which had a macabre figure with claws hovering over the top of a building, about to leap on the unsuspecting young couple below.
Perfect.
“You’ve rather shocking tastes in literature,” a voice drawled through the books lining the shelf. “Though given your recent reading material, I can’t say that I’m surprised.”
Aurora’s pulse ticked up, the rhythm becoming unsteady. A whiff of citrus and leather caught in her nostrils along with a hint of orange.
This was entirely unfair. First her thoughts, now he’d appeared before her.
She wastryingto forget him.
Yes, but that isn’t going well.
A pair of sparkling eyes the color of sapphires peered at Aurora between two tomes clad in red leather.
“Mr. Worthington.”
Aurora steadied herself as he came around the bookshelf. Leaning against a stack of criminal broadsides, Worth studied her with an amused smile. Bloody breathtaking as always. Not so much as a small cut from shaving to mar his perfection. Her entire body stirred in reaction to his appearance.
Entirely, absolutely, unfair.
“In the flesh,” he murmured.
The wickedness of his reply sent a ripples along her skin. A gentle caress spread low in her belly before darting between her thighs.
