“Of course not.”
“Then what are you doing?”
She avoided his eyes. “I thought you were in the library.”
“Catching Lady Mary.” His acerbic response made her wince. His concentration on her burned like a flame.
“I saw Wells bring you supper.”
“What a busy little miss you are.” It wasn’t a compliment. “I already know you’re the ghost.”
Her eyes flashed up. “I wanted a book,” she said desperately.
“One you can’t find during the day?” His voice bit as he continued. “With dear Mr. Crane’s advice on your choice?”
If he was another man, she’d think he was jealous. But the great Marquess of Leath wouldn’t care about a maidservant’s flirtations.
He went on before she could protest. “Surely you won’t say that you’re here for something to read.”
She raised her chin. Knowing that she risked disaster, she said the only thing that came to mind. “I wanted to see where you sleep.”
Surprise had him lurching back. “What the devil?”
She took advantage of the few extra inches of space to draw a breath, tangy with sandalwood. Turning red as a tomato would lend credence to her explanation. “Please don’t make me admit this.”
He watched her like a snake watched a rat. “Admit what?”
“Must I say? You put me to the blush.” That at least was true.
“Yes, you must.”
She pressed her damp palms to her skirts. How she’d love to punch him, but she had a horrible inkling that his jaw would be much harder than her fist. Dear heaven, help her to sound convincing. But not too convincing.
“Hasn’t a servant ever been besotted with you, my lord?” To her surprise, her question emerged steadily.
“Not to my …” He spoke very deliberately. “Are you saying you have a penchant for me, Miss Trim?”
He didn’t sound pleased. She should be relieved that he wasn’t ripping her clothes off. After all, her confession could be taken as an invitation. Yet again it struck her that he was a remarkably restrained libertine.
She struggled to appear bashful instead of scared out of her wits. “It’s embarrassing.”
“I’m sure.” He sounded skeptical, as well he might. “You’ve never seemed dazzled.”
She turned her face away, staring at his hand spread against the door’s rich mahogany. Like the rest of him, his hand was big and powerful and beautifully formed. Despite everything, she couldn’t resist imagining that hand on her skin. His gold signet ring, visible symbol of his rank, gleamed evilly from his little finger. “I have my pride.”
“Of course,” he said drily.
She struggled to look humble and shy and innocent. All were true. Well, apart from the humble part. Her stepfather had frequently warned her that a mere sergeant major’s daughter had no right to be so stiff-necked. “I’m aware of the gulf between us.”
“And it breaks your heart.”
If only she could squeeze out a convincing tear. “I can’t help my feelings.”
He didn’t move closer. It just felt that way. “Do you really expect me to credit this balderdash?”
Her temper stirred. “You underestimate your effect on an impressionable girl.”
He snorted disbelief. “More balderdash.”
Damn him. A turbulent mix of desperation, anger and reckless bravado gripped her. Frantic hands grabbed the front of his shirt. “I’ll show you balderdash, my lord.”
She stretched up until her lips crashed into his.
Leath stiffened—everywhere—under Miss Trim’s unexpected assault. He had to give her credit. She’d dare the devil. He hadn’t expected her to take this absurdity about her tendre for him to this length.
But then, he’d cornered her, hadn’t he?
Her lips were soft and endearingly clumsy. She kissed like a young girl. This might be another ruse to disarm him, but he didn’t think so. Even more unbelievable than her supposed infatuation, the glorious Miss Trim wasn’t much good at kissing.
Which turned out to be a damned lucky thing. As it was, he was hard as an iron bar. If she demonstrated an ounce of skill, his sanity would dissolve completely.
Because he was still marginally sane, he caught her shoulders. For a moment, he reveled in her slender strength. Then with more difficulty than he wanted to admit, he pushed her away.
She panted as her lips slid free. Throughout the brief, urgent kiss, she’d kept her mouth closed.
“What—” She looked dazed, as if he’d painted her world with rainbows. Imagine if he’d kissed her back, taught her what to do.
Except that he refused to kiss women he didn’t trust. And he most definitely didn’t trust this one. Although the shine in her eyes, firelit amber, might almost convince him that she really was smitten.
She licked her lips again, slowly, as if tasting him. He bit back a groan and drew her closer, when good sense dictated that he throw her out on her delectable rump. Solving the puzzle of her presence was impossible when the wicked urge to have his way with her jammed his brain. He wasn’t used to his head and his instincts being at odds. His head should be winning.
It wasn’t.
“I give you points for trying,” he said, the hint of savagery directed mostly at himself. Her flinch stabbed him with guilt, although heaven knew she’d asked for trouble.
“I’m sorry.” Her slender throat moved as she swallowed. “If you tell your mother I kissed you, she’ll let you dismiss me.”
He was surprised that his mother had mentioned his attempts to send Miss Trim away. “If she knows you came to my room, that’s enough,” he snapped and felt guilty again when she flushed with humiliation.
“So you’ll win.”
More easily than he’d expected. He wondered why he wasn’t happier. He should be dancing a jig, now that this conniving baggage had overreached herself. But his lips tingled from the pressure of hers. His head flooded with the lemon perfume of her soap, more familiar than it should be. Just the sound of her voice made him yearn.
He didn’t believe that she wanted him. But by God, he wanted her. Except she hadn’t claimed to want him, had she? She’d claimed a silly schoolgirl infatuation.
