Damn.
Victor.
His tall, elegant frame paused in mid-step on the threshold to the breakfast room.His turquoise eyes met hers and held.
“Miss Hanniford.”He nodded.
“Lord Victor.”She did the same.
“You are awake early.”
“I am.”
“You slept well?”
“Fairly.”
“Not enough fresh air here, yet, I would gather?”He walked over to the other side of the circular table, using a cloisonné walking stick she’d not noticed yesterday, put his hands to the back of a chair and actually smiled at her.
Did he break his mouth to do that?
This morning he was dressed more casually than when she’d sat beside him at supper.Last night, he’d worn formal attire, a black swallowtail coat and white cravat, a pearl and jade stickpin that added luster to his tanned complexion and did a poor job of distracting her from his appealing lips and perfect sculpted jaw.Today, he wore tweed, a brown shot with dark green that turned his skin even more hale and hearty.He also used the assistance of a cane.Odd.She’d not seen him with one yesterday.
“Do you mind if I join you?”
Why?“Not at all.”
Fawkes appeared with the coffee urn in one hand and a set of papers over his arm.At Victor’s side, he paused, his brows high in curiosity.“My lord?You’ve returned from your ride.”
“I have, Fawkes.”
Ada set her teeth.
“Is that coffee?”he asked the butler.“I’d like a cup myself.”
Ada’s hope for solitude withered.
“But I read the papers,” he said to the servant.
“I’ve brought theBath Chroniclefor Miss Hanniford.”As Fawkes poured for her, she saw Victor’s surprise.If she’d been ten and green and unschooled in decorum, she would have chuckled when the butler added, “I still have yesterday’s London papers, sir.Did you wish to see them?”
“No.That’s fine, Fawkes.My mistake.”
Ada took the folded news sheets from the man and placed them by her right hand.
“Read the papers often, do you, Miss Hanniford?”
“Daily.”
As Fawkes fetched a cup and saucer from the sideboard, Victor gazed at her with a mellow expression.A new look for him.
“I’m glad you’re here this morning, Miss Hanniford.”
She let her brows rise to ask the obvious question.
Fawkes poured for him and set before him another place setting.
Victor put both hands to the table’s edge and leaned forward.“I dare say I owe you an apology.”
