Not if his life depended on it. Why would he want to spend any more time in the company of a title chaser than he had to? Even if she wouldn’t be there, their paths would surely cross to some extent. The only favor he intended to do was for himself, and that involved keeping his distance. “I’m sorry. I fear I haven’t the patience for such a task.”
“But it is so rewarding.”
“Do I look to be a man in need of rewards?”
She couldn’t have appeared more stricken if she’d just witnessed him kicking a puppy. Damn her for making him regret the harshness of his tone.
“To be quite honest, you struck me as a man of leisure who might be in want of a way to fill his hours and wouldn’t need recompense for the task.”
Her mien reflected that of a woman challenging a man—damned if he didn’t want to give in to her, to allow her to have the victory, but that way lay madness. “I may be a man of leisure but that does not mean I haven’t responsibilities and duties that take up a good measure of my time.”
“Excuse us, Miss Trewlove.”
Without hesitation, she moved nearer to him, out of the path of the women and children exiting her parlor, bringing with her the tantalizing scent of oranges.
“Goodbye, Mrs. Byng. See you next Friday.” She patted the heads of the children, bid farewell to the mothers, giving attention to each person, large and small, young and old, who walked by. Or were carried. Even the babes in arms received a touch on the cheek or tip of the nose.
When everyone had departed, she looked up at him, and he realized he’d not taken a step back, not one iota, that he’d remained inappropriately near, so close he could feel the warmth radiating from her. His hand flexed, twitched, as though it desperately wanted to reach up and cradle her cheek, determine if it was as silky soft as it appeared.
“My apologies, Mr. Sommersby.” Her low voice was the rasp of whispered secrets. “Of course, you have important matters that require your attention. I do hope you’ll forgive my impertinence.”
At that moment, he had the absurd thought that he’d forgive her anything, and understood with absolute surety that she was a danger. She wouldn’t use the letter as a means to her end. She would use her brown eyes, her luscious mouth, her pert breasts, her narrow waist, her kindness. In the end, some gentleman would fall without ever realizing he’d been felled. Such was her power.
He stepped back. “Good day to you, Miss Trewlove.” Then he strode down the hallway to the stairs and descended them as though hellhounds were nipping at his heels.
Chapter 6
That evening, Fancy slipped out of her shop, closed the door, inserted the key—
“Miss Trewlove.”
With a tiny screech, pressing her hand to her chest in order to keep her heart behind her ribs, she swung around. “Mr. Sommersby.”
He’d not been waiting for her, surely. Granted, she’d been preoccupied with locking up but certainly would have noticed had he been there. He’d merely come around the corner at the precise moment she was striving to sneak away, and her guilt was attributing nefarious purposes to his arrival. People were still out and about, going to the pub, going home. Wagons, carts, and buggies traversed on the street. Children ran hither and yon. Amidst all that, it was merely coincidence that their paths crossed. Besides, after their encounter that afternoon, it was unlikely he’d search for any excuse to be near her. She certainly had no desire to be near him. “If you’re in want of a book, you’ll need to return tomorrow as I’m in the process of closing up.”
“Yesterday, it seemed nothing would prevent you from matching a person with reading material.”
“Yesterday I didn’t have plans.”
“I’m intrigued. You’re not by any chance going to the Jolly Roger for dinner?”
Was that interest in his tone, hope that they might again share a table? The man confounded her. Earlier it had been as though he couldn’t escape her presence fast enough. She owed him no explanation, but found a sort of perverse pleasure in revealing that her life also included things that took up a good portion of her time. “Actually, I’m off on an adventure.”
She peered up at the windows leading into Mick’s office, grateful not to see him standing there. After telling him that she’d be dining in tonight, she didn’t need him to catch sight of her up to no good. She couldn’t remember a time when she was allowed to do anything that wouldn’t better her marriage prospects. She’d been restricted from exploring areas far from home because her mum had worried someone might lead her astray, might introduce her to spirits, cigars, gambling, or profanity. Her siblings had all been able to do as they pleased, whereas she’d been watched like a hawk. Surely a bit of rebelliousness was in order.
“What sort of adventure?”
“I really don’t see that it’s any of your concern.”
He released a long, drawn-out suffering sigh. “I realize you are no doubt miffed about my response earlier—”
“No, not at all.” A lie. She was greatly disappointed his answer would result in them having fewer opportunities to become fast friends and would place an additional burden on Mr. Tittlefitz. “Your time is yours to do with as you please. As is mine.” Then as a bit of obstinacy hit her, she decided she really didn’t care if he knew her plans. As a matter of fact, she took satisfaction from the thought of possibly shocking him. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, a penny gaff awaits.”
His eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze becoming more intense, as though she’d suddenly grown a second head. “Why in God’s name would you go to a penny gaff?”
Again, she owed him no explanation but where was the harm in giving one? While Aiden owned a club catering to women’s fantasies, she was forbidden from going there and had to make do finding her own entertainments. With a sigh, she turned the lock before slipping the key into a hidden pocket at the waist of her skirt, very much aware that light fingers would be about where she was going, so anything of import that might be nicked was hidden away. “When I have my entrée into Society, I will be expected to behave with utmost decorum and places such as this will be forbidden to me.”
“They should be forbidden to you now.”
