Her gaze trailed lower, taking in his wide shoulders then following the lines of his toned body down to his tapered waist and muscular thighs. He may be the finest specimen of masculinity she’d ever laid eyes on. It wasn't hard to understand why women threw themselves at his feet and fell into his bed.
When she raked her gaze back up his form, his eyes meet hers, a glint of amusement dancing in their depths. She should look away but found herself too captivated to break free. Then he gave a rakish smile, revealing perfect white teeth. She swallowed hard, heat rising to her cheeks as she quickly averted her gaze.
"Oh, nothing important." Rebecca waved her hand through the air dismissing the subject. "Tell us, how did you fare in town?"
Daphne turned her attention to Camden, eager to hear what he had to say. Not because she thought his words would interest her so much as because she needed the distraction.
“First, you must introduce me to these lovely creatures.” The dark haired rogue stepped closer to Daphne.
“Oh, yes, of course.” Rebecca stood. Phoebe and Daphne did as well.
“Lord Brunsford, may I introduce you to my sister, Lady Phoebe.”
Phoebe dipped a curtsey, her gaze boldly meeting his.
Lord Brunsford bowed before taking her hand and dropping a kiss on her glove-covered knuckles. “Do call me Alex. We are family after all.”
“Indeed.” She beamed a bright smile. “And you shall call me Phoebe.”
Lord Brunsford turned his attention to Daphne.
Rebecca gave a nod toward Daphne, gesturing to her with a slight smile. “And this is my sister-in-law, Daphne Summerville, Viscountess Gilford.”
Lord Brunsford, rogue that he was, stepped forward and grasped her hand in his own, caressing it gently as he slowly brought it up to his lips then brushed them softly against her knuckles - lingering far longer than was proper - before finally releasing her hand. His gaze burned into hers as he spoke, “Please call me Alex.” His voice, deep and husky, spoke of anything but propriety, the intensity causing her stomach to flutter as heat spread through her body.
Daphne's throat tightened. She forced herself to nod, unwilling to say his name. She would not, could not, use his given name. But saw no reason to alert her feelings on the matter. Regardless, he would soon figure it out. Or better yet, he never would, because she had no intention of spending time in his company.
The silence lingered between them until he finally stepped back, turning his attention back to Rebecca. Daphne let out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding.
Rebecca lowered herself back onto the sofa, her eyes alight with curiosity. “Now, do join us and tell me about your trip to town.”
Daphne returned to her chair, grateful that the rogue could not sit beside her. A temporary joy as he quickly came to stand near the chair, his hand resting on the back of it. But then, she supposed he hadn’t any other choice. The room was sparsely furnished, containing only a sofa, chair, and table. Camden rested his hip on the arm of the sofa near his wife and Phoebe sat beside her. There truly wasn’t anywhere else for Lord Brunsford to dwell.
Nonetheless, she found his nearness unsettling. Determined to scrub the man from her mind, she focused her attention on what Camden was saying.
“We were met with some success. Alex managed to hire a handful of laborers to begin work on the castle while I put out inquiries for servants and ordered supplies.” He grinned at Rebecca. “Be sure to leave time in your schedule tomorrow to conduct interviews and select furniture.”
Her eyes sparkled. “I am very much looking forward to the task.”
"I fear it may take most of the day. Potential servants will begin arriving at around ten in the morning. Maids, a cook, footmen, and a butler were all inquired after. Of course, if you desire any additional servants, you have leave to hire them."
Rebecca gazed at Camden, love bursting from within the depths of her eyes. “And what of the tradesmen?”
“They are set to call later in the afternoon. Expect them around five. I fear you will have samples of fabrics and catalogs galore for you to consider and make selections from.”
“How splendid. I can scarcely wait.” She glanced from Phoebe to Daphne. “And the two of you will help me. Say you will.”
Rebecca’s excitement was contagious. “It shall be our honor to do so,” Daphne said, excitement blooming within her chest.
“While you ladies are busy with that, Alex and I will be helping the laborers and determining what repairs need to be made,” Camden said.
Drat. Daphne had gotten carried away in Rebecca’s eagerness and forgotten about Lord Brunsford who even now stood too close to her. She feared it may be impossible to avoid him. All the same, she would do her best.
What other choice did she have? She slanted her gaze to him, her cheeks warming and heart fluttering. The mere sight of him sent her body into a tangle of desire. She had been too long without a man. Too long without passion. There was no way she could trust herself in his company. And yet...
She simply had to do her best to avoid the rogue.
"We will come round at nine of the clock tomorrow," Phoebe said, then turned her gaze on Daphne, expectantly.
