She rolled her eyes. Iris placed her hand over her chest and batted her eyelashes. “You think I’m pretty?”
He blinked several times. His gaze focused on her hand, or probably more accurately, her chest. Her wrapper had come undone when she stood up. Her shift wasn’t the thickest of garments, and she feared he might be able to see more of her than she wanted him to. “Absolutely stunning,” he said in a hoarse tone. “Breathtaking...”
Iris swallowed hard. No, no, no... She didn’t need him to desire her. If only he had looked at her this way a year ago. Before he broke her heart... “Stop,” she said in a harsh tone.
“I wish I could.” The tone in his voice was filled with so much need. “I keep telling myself to walk away, but I can’t. I just can’t.” He stepped toward her and pressed his palm to her cheek. “You’re so lovely it hurts to look at you.” Lord Hampstead set the snifter on a shelf and then trailed his fingers through her hair.
What was happening? She should step back before anything else happened. Her heart beat heavily inside her chest and she was having trouble breathing. This was all too much. “Lord Hampstead...” She could barely utter his name.
“Daniel,” he told her. “My name is Daniel. Say it.”
Iris shook her head. “I...” She took a deep breath. “I can’t do that.”
“Yes,” he said. “Iris. Say my name.”
She didn’t. If she did, she would not be able to walk away from him. It didn’t matter that he wanted her to say it. Hell, she wanted to say it. But she knew, just knew, that once she did, there was no turning back. “Why are you doing this?”
“Because I’m weak,” he said. “And I need you.” He didn’t give her a chance to say anything else. He lowered his head and pressed his lips to hers. That kiss a year ago didn’t compare to this one. It was all raw hunger and desire. He kissed her as if he were dying and this kiss was the only thing that could save him, and she fell into it with a wild abandon. She should have run out of the room to prevent this from happening.
Because now she knew the truth. His desire could not be feigned. She didn’t know the reasons he had pushed her away before, but she wouldn’t let him do it again. This kiss stole everything and she couldn’t fight it if she wanted to. But she couldn’t let it go any farther. Not now. He would not be happy he had given in and kissed her. If Iris had any chance of winning him, she had to fight him. Starting with this kiss.
She pushed back and stepped away from him. Iris met his gaze and wiped her mouth. “Don’t do that again.” She clutched the book to her chest and walked out of the room. It hurt to do it, but he had to realize he couldn’t take what he wanted without a thought to the consequences. She had a fortnight, and she would use it to make him fall in love with her. He had to fight for her or she would never believe he did.
Five
Iris woke from a fitful sleep. Once she had returned to her bedchamber, she had not been able to read. It didn’t help that the book she randomly grabbed was a treatise on the best farming techniques. Dry and boring didn’t accurately describe how horrid it had been to even skim over. It definitely wasn’t something she would have chosen if she had bothered to look at the tome before slipping it off the shelf, then running with it in her hand after Lord Hampstead—Daniel, had kissed her.
She brought her fingers up to her lips. If she concentrated, she could almost feel his lips touching hers again. Iris felt...branded. As if his kiss was permanently etched on her lips and if any other man dared to do the same, she would not enjoy it. What was she going to do? He had made it clear a year ago that he didn’t want her. Why would he kiss her now?
His excuse that he was weak was just that, an excuse. Iris didn’t believe him. If he had wanted to control himself, he would have. She was not the alluring temptation that he made her out to be. Iris was far from a seductress, and she certainly didn’t have the skills one would need to be that enticing.
She snorted. Perhaps she should practice her come-hither looks on him and see what happened. What exactly was a come-hither look? Iris laughed and got out of bed. She stared at herself in the looking glass and frowned. No, she didn’t look any different. After a few moments of attempting to look seductive, she gave up. It was a useless endeavor. She didn’t have that type of appeal.
Iris rang the bell on her bedside. She would need her maid to help her dress for the day. Mary had been both her and Violet’s maid before her sister had married. Mary had opted to stay with her, and Violet found a new maid. One that understood Violet’s new station as a marchioness. If Iris ever married, Mary would go with her instead.
Mary strolled into the room. “Good morning,” she greeted her. “How are you feeling this morning?”
Iris had rested after tea, but had managed to attend the evening meal. Though she had only picked at her food. She had no appetite, but now her stomach grumbled in protest. “I’m famished,” she admitted wryly. “Help me dress so I can go down to breakfast.”
Her maid smiled. “It’s good you have your appetite back. You cannot afford to lose any weight. We wouldn’t want you to wither away to nothing.”
“I doubt that is likely to happen.” She wasn’t frail to begin with. Iris had nice curves and a narrow waist. Her bosom wasn’t large, but she thought it was all right. Daniel’s eyes had traveled over it, at least. He seemed to like it...
She shook that thought away. Iris would not dwell on thoughts of the earl. The scoundrel would only take advantage of her weakness. She would go down to breakfast, and if he was there, she would ignore him. That man did not deserve her attention. Even if she wanted to beg him to kiss her again.
“As long as you eat it, won’t,” Mary agreed. “Sit so we can fix your hair.” She studied Iris’s blonde locks. “What did you do to it last night? It’s a mess.”
Iris sat at the vanity, then shrugged. “I cannot say for certain. The bed didn’t like me much last night.”
Mary frowned and started to unravel the tangled strands of Iris’s hair. It didn’t take long for Mary to smooth her locks out and then pin them on top of her head in a chignon. Some curls were left loose to frame her face. “There,” Mary said. “Now that is done, what gown would you like to wear today?”
Iris took the time to consider Mary’s question. She couldn’t recall all the gowns that her maid had packed in Violet’s order. Since she hadn’t been given a choice to attend this house party and therefore hadn’t taken part in planning for it. However, she had noticed the gowns that Mary had unpacked and removed the wrinkled from after they had arrived. “Perhaps the gold one?”
“The one with the lace trim around the bodice and the long sleeves?” Mary asked.
“Yes,” Iris confirmed. It was a pretty gown, and she hadn’t worn it yet. It seemed like a good day to wear it. Perhaps a certain earl would find it appealing, too. She hated he came to mind first, always in her mind. Nothing seemed to erase him from her thoughts, though.
Mary nodded. “I’ll retrieve it, but first let’s get your stays tied.”
