Page 20 of Crash Landing
But she quickly restored her mask of defiance and covered up these feelings when she realized he was watching her.
Timmons was standing on the front steps in wait for them, along with several footmen, when their carriage drew up in the courtyard. The excursion to Weymouth had taken much longer than anticipated because Hermia moved so slowly, but they still managed to arrive in daylight, the hour nearing eight o’clock in the evening. Trajan realizedFlorence and her aunt had to be hungry by now. Florence especially, since she had not eaten anything but a few cakes earlier on his terrace. He was also famished, for he had not eaten since then either.
Timmons, capable as ever, came to the rescue. “Mrs. Palmer has supper warming for you. Shall I have it served in the dining room in fifteen minutes?”
Trajan helped Florence’s aunt down from the carriage. “Is fifteen minutes enough for you, Miss Newton? There is no need for us to change into more formal attire, for meals here are quite casual. Most nights, I dine alone.”
“Oh, dear boy. How sad for you.”
“It is all right, for I usually prefer solitude to the crush of fancy parties.”
He next assisted Florence in stepping down, and felt an unexpected jolt of heat the moment his hand touched hers.
She felt it too. Her eyes widened and her plush little mouth formed a perfectOfor just that instant.
Curious.
His blood seemed to heat whenever he touched Florence. It had been happening all day. To be truthful, the same had happened last year, too.
Were his feelings something real?
Well, it was too soon to tell. However, was this not better than pining for Eden? Come to think of it, his thoughts had not been much on Eden since meeting Florence last year.
Was this mere coincidence?
“Is fifteen minutes long enough for you, Florence?”
She was still staring up at him with her mouth adorably rounded. “What?”
“Fifteen minutes to prepare yourself before coming down to supper. Stay dressed as you are, no need to change,” he said, repeating what he had just told her aunt, who had already been escorted insideby Timmons.
“Oh, yes. Perfect.”
“Good. I’ll show you to your room, since Timmons must have already handed your aunt over to my housekeeper, Mrs. Albright, the most efficient person you shall ever meet. She will have taken your aunt upstairs by now. Mrs. Palmer is my cook, and she is also excellent at her job.” He tucked Florence’s arm in his and escorted her inside the house. “I’ll introduce you to the rest of my staff tomorrow. We’ll spend a quiet evening tonight. I’ve given you and your aunt adjoining rooms, quite apart from mine.”
“For the sake of propriety?”
He nodded. “But I vow I shall nail shut your windows and door if you dare take a step out of this house tonight.”
“Understood,” she replied, batting her eyelashes and smiling at him.
Gad, she was irritating.
But he cast her a polite smile in return. “I’ll give you a tour of the house tomorrow, all except my bedchamber, since that is my bastion. My sanctuary. No one trespasses there.”
“Why would you show me your bedchamber?” She stopped suddenly and frowned up at him. “I have no intention of joining you in your bed, if this is what you are suggesting.”
He cleared his throat. “Um, how did you get that meaning out of my words? Did I not just say I donotallow others in there and willnotshow you this one room? However, since you seem to be keen on—”
She gasped. “I am no such thing.”
“Florence, you raised it, and obviously misconstrued my words because you were thinking of doing exactly that.”
“Exactly what?”
“Joining me in my bed.”
She gasped again.
