“To the vicarage, Clarkson.”
It did not escape Jonas’s notice that Grimes broke into a wide smile upon hearing his destination.
Why? Merely because he was off to see Ailis? Why should henotsee her when she was injured? And was it not his duty to see to her wellbeing?
Chapter Eleven
Ailis had justclimbed onto a footstool in the vicarage’s drawing room to give the shelves a light dusting when she heard a man’s deep growl coming from behind her. In the next moment, big arms encircled her waist as she was scooped up and then gently set back on her feet, this time on the steady wood floor.
She turned to face the culprit, knowing exactly who he was, since she had recognized that delicious growl that sent tingles skimming through her body.
“Your Grace? What brings you here this morning?” It was a bright, sunny day, which was why she had felt the need to do a little cleaning, since sunshine seemed to expose the balls of dust gathered atop the shelves. “Your Grace? Are you just going to stand there glowering at me?”
He still had his hands on her waist, his touch warming her to the point of blushing.
“Temple,” he said sternly, “did I or did I not tell you to take it easy when you returned home?”
Ah, he was irritated with her. Hence his referring to her asTemplerather thanMiss Templeor merelyAilis.
She tipped her chin up and tossed him a stubborn look. “You did, and I am doing just that. Since when is light dusting—”
“You might have fallen off the footstool, especially as unbalanced as you are with a healing shoulder and your arm encumbered by a sling.”
He had a point, but she refused to acknowledge it.
“What are you doing here?” He was not the only one who could toss admonishments. Was he not supposed to be at Langford Hall, reveling in the admiration of theton’s most beautiful women?
“Do not change the subject.” He emitted another of those sensual, lionlike growls that shot more tingles through her. “Why are you doing any work at all?”
Instead of releasing her, he drew her closer.
She could not overlook that he still had his arms wrapped around her waist. His touch felt awfully nice, but she was never going to acknowledge this either.
Nor would she ever admit he had gained a firm hold on her heart, a grip she found extremely troubling and unexpected. She hadn’t realized just how deeply she was drawn to him until spending last night alone in her bedchamber and aching for his company.
Reallyaching for him.
This was the true reason he had caught her doing light chores around the house today. She needed to keep busy in order to get her mind off him. And now, his coming around to the manse when he should have been entertaining his guests was not helping at all.
“Which of the ladies is your favorite?” she asked, ignoring his question, since she was never going to answer him honestly and revealhewas the reason she was too unsettled to rest in her bed. “Or is it too soon to select a favorite?”
“It isn’t too soon. My mind was easily made up.”
“Ah, after only a few minutes in their company? You are quite the decisive man. So, which diamond did you choose?”
“None of them.” He frowned again. “Not a single one of them is suitable, as I believe I mentioned yesterday.”
She noticed he was gritting his teeth as he awaited her response to this statement—an outrageous statement at that, since it had taken these young ladies a week to travel here, and he had already dismissed them before a full day had passed.
“I will not be a party to your bad behavior,” she remarked. “You cannot escape them by pretending you need to see about my health.”
“It isn’t a pretense. I would be here even if I adored all four of those young ladies, which I absolutely do not. Each one is a complete and utter mismatch, a monumentally inconvenient waste of time for me.”
“I see. Completeandutter. That is quite decisive.” She attempted to take a step back in order to slip out of his grasp.
He tugged her closer instead, apparently not ready to let her go just yet. Not that she minded his nearness, for he was big and handsome, and his scent was always nice. A hint of fruit, spice, and maleness.
But someone might walk in on them and misconstrue the situation.
