Page 57 of A Viscount's Bet of Seduction

She tilted her head to the side as she squinted. “Something’s different about you.”

“Yes. It is.” Silas felt different. He hoped that it was true. He didn’t want to be the old Silas anymore—profligate and wandering. He had responsibilities, ones that he took seriously. He wanted to be true to Lucy. That meant something to him, more even than words could express.

“Well, when you go back to being your old self, let me know.” She leaned in, kissing him on the cheek. Silas flinched.

“I don’t plan to,” he told her with a smile.

She grinned at him, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “When you are who you are, you cannot change,” she said. “People like us, we don’t change.”

“People like us?” He raised his eyebrow.

“People with passion,” she replied. “Libertines.”

Silas considered this. He had once been such a person. But Lucy had changed him, entirely for the better. She sashayed away, moving on to another table filled with young people. She leaned in, towards a gentleman, and the two of them seemed to be flirting. She threw him a glance to see if he was watching and grinned when she saw his eyes on her.

He turned his gaze away, towards the wall. He wished that Lucy were there. This certainly wasn’t her type of place. She would have hated the noise and all of the drunken banter. But he ached for her, as though he were missing the other half of himself. Silas sat, sipping his ale in silence until Levi returned.

“I saw you talking to Miss Worthington.” Coming from Levi, this was a statement of fact. Had it been Michael, it would have been tinted with suspicion—a definite accusation.

“So I was,” he replied. “Her charms can no longer tempt me.”

Levi smiled at him. “I’m so happy for you. Are you ready to move on? We can make a stop at the club.”

“I’m not interested, though I can walk with you,” Silas offered. What he wanted to do was to go and call on Lucy. Though, it was late.

***

Silas parted ways with Levi outside of their gentlemen’s club, where Levi was going to meet with the rest of their friends from school. Silas found that he wasn’t in the mood for them. He wanted to see Lucy. It was an ache, deep in his chest. He would not be able to rest until he saw her.

He took a hansom cab across the city, to Harley Street. He got out, handing over his payment to the coachman, and then he turned, bounding up onto her front step.

He knocked at the door, then waited. From the street, he could see that someone was home—in the parlour, which was lit by a low, flickering light. The door opened, and he found himself face to face with Lucy.

“Silas?” she asked, her brows knitting together in concern. “What are you doing here, at this hour?” She was dressed in a simple, grey muslin. Her hair was pulled back, and she had a black shawl wrapped around her shoulders. Her fingers toyed with the little golden locket that hung from a chain at her throat.

“I missed you,” he admitted, realizing then that it was likely later than he had thought. “I wanted to see you.”

“Aunt Joan isn’t home.” She sniffed, wrinkling her nose. “Have you been drinking?”

“Yes. Levi’s only just returned to London.” He leaned forward. “Please,” he whispered. “Let me sit with you.”

She looked at him, her cheeks brightening. “It wouldn’t be proper.”

“No,” he agreed. “It wouldn’t. But how I feel about you is hardly proper.”

She gasped. He leaned in, his cheek against hers as he whispered. “Please, Lucy.”

Her breath hitched. She looked to see if anyone was watching. Seeing no one, she stepped back to allow him inside. He walked in, and she closed the door after him.Here, alone, he thought, pleased. He beamed at her.

He leaned in, pressing his lips to hers. When he pulled away, she was smiling up at him.

“I was sitting in the parlour, reading,” she said, folding her arms.

“Lead the way,” he murmured, pleased that she had allowed him entrance.

She walked up the stairs, and he followed. His heart was racing with the thought that they were finally, blessedly alone, for the first time since they had started courting. He sat down on the settee, enjoying the familiar and comforting sight of the parlour.

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