Page 78 of The Rules of Matrimony
“For disposing of the rules? I thought you liked them.”
“No, I hate the rules. Thethank-youis for not getting mad about my mother.”
“Oh, I’m mad about it, but not mad at you. You didn’t do anything wrong.” He paused for a moment. “Wait, you hate the rules?”
She had said that, hadn’t she? She stood suddenly, her courage for the night fleeing. “It’s getting late. I really should return home and get some sleep.”
He stood too. “You’re avoiding my question.”
“Am I? Yes, I suppose I am.” A sliver of a smile formed on her lips—one she had not thought possible a half hour ago. “Good night, Ian.”
“Wait, I will see you to the door.”
There was a look in his eyes that she couldn’t quite place. It wasn’t an expression she had seen on him before. Should she be nervous? “Very well.”
He held out his arm to her, and she took it. A second later, he put his other hand on hers. She glanced at it and then up at him.
“For practice,” he said. “So we are ready when your mother comes.”
Is that what this was? Well, she wouldn’t complain. “Weareout of practice. We might need a lot of it.”
He nodded, the blue of his eyes darkening and softening all at once. “My thoughts exactly.”
When they reached the front door, Ian called for the carriage to be prepared. “Now that my father is turning a corner, I will likely return to the townhouse to sleep. I have a few things I want to finish here, so do not wait up for me.”
“After the long day I’ve had, I don’t think I could if I tried.” Though the thought of him staying nearer brought another wave of comfort to her.
“Good,” he said. “I hope to spend some time in the morning reviewing records from the Old Bailey before I return here. We need to find as many unjust cases as we can to use as evidence to convince the representatives. We have a few days left to sway at least a dozen key people. I could use the help of a secretary.” He raised an expectant brow.
Did he really want to spend time with her? “What did you do with Lord Grumpy?”
Ian chuckled. “I don’t think you should be alone after today. If your mother or your uncle shows up, I should be there. I imagine your mother won’t be far behind her letter.”
Amie sighed inwardly. So he didn’t want to just be with her. “Since I make an excellent secretary, I will gladly accept. And I will be most grateful if I am not alone when my relatives arrive. I can handle Mama, but ...” Her voice waned, fatigue settling over her just thinking about her uncle and cousin.
“I understand. I have met them, remember? They’re partially to blame for our marriage, you know. I couldn’t bear leaving you with them.”
The way he looked at her and the emphasis on his last words sent a wave of pleasure through her limbs. “Despite all your fuss to the contrary, you’re a good man, Lord Reynolds.”
“I do try, Lady Reynolds.”
She smiled at his flirtatious tone. “It shows.”
“Does it?” He grinned. “I generally try to hide my halo. I would hate to appear a braggart.”
She laughed. “I said you were good, but an angel?” Her brows lifted in question.
Ian shrugged. “Not all of them look this good in a cravat.”
She bit her lip but couldn’t hold back her escaping grin. “You certainly fooled me.”
He leaned impossibly close. “My secret is out, and the lady did not even swoon.”
She pushed lightly on his chest. “Hardly. It takes more than an angel to tempt me.” She didn’t know where those words came from or how they dared escape her mouth.
Ian’s lips twitched. “Is that so? You have a taste for wicked men?”
She cleared her throat. “I wouldn’t saywicked. I prefer mostly good with the occasional dark mood to keep things interesting.” Warmth bathed her cheeks as she heard herself speak. She was turning into her mother and blurting all sorts of ridiculous pronouncements. Her ramblings seemed to amuse Ian all the more. Thefamiliar sparks lit between them as his gaze heated. He didn’t pull away, as he usually did. She sensed he lingered by her side for the same reason she wanted him to.
