He’d not been lying when he said she was his weakness.
Goose flesh pebbled his skin. Seeing hunger in her eyes had him teetering on the edge… Even in the sunlight, her pupils had darkened. She’d licked her lips.
He’d noticed her fingers twitching, almost as though she wanted…
But no. What the hell was he thinking?
He’d lifted her out of her sheltered life and she was obviously going a little mad.
Leopold spun away from the mirror. He was wasting time.
He couldn’t have weaknesses, not with the sort of life he lived.
He reminded himself again that the only reason she was here was for protection. This wasn’t a damn house party, now was it? Not when danger could emerge any minute thanks to her father’s bloody bad choices.
Normally, he would have relieved this tension by tossing himself off. But there wasn’t time, so while making himself presentable, he turned his thoughts to more serious matters.
The knowledge that Crossings’ ship drifted up and down Leopold’s coast worked like a bucket of cold water. It also reminded him of his own recently unloaded shipment and the trunks stacked in the cellar awaiting his inspection. Then therewere the various vehicles set to arrive later today to transport them to London.
And all the details involved.
Ten minutes later, fully dressed but unshaven, Leopold marched into the dining room, satisfied to have full control of all his urges.
The smile she met him with, however, smashed that satisfaction to pieces.
She wore the same gown she’d been wearing at the cliff, but had added a ribbon to the waist, the same shade but a little darker. She’d also done something more complicated with her hair, which reminded him…
“You don’t have a maid,” he said, and found himself half-waiting, half-wishing that she would complain. Complaining could make her less attractive—remind him that her expectations always far exceeded anything he had to offer.
But of course.Of-bloody-course, her smile only beamed brighter.
“I don’t need one!”
“But you will, won’t you? Eventually?”
She shook her head enthusiastically. “Not really. Sally, the maid who helped me at The Goat’s Tail, was kind enough to show me how to style my own hair. It takes me three times as long as she needed, but I must admit, I like it better than my usual coiffure. And it requires half as many pins.” She turned her head side to side so he could see the pretty little braid winding around the crown of her head. “And, in addition to the crochet hook, Bessie brought up a needle and thread. She said I could alter any of the gowns stored away in the wardrobe. They’re a little out of date and musty, but with a few alterations, I can make them work in a pinch.” She frowned. “Unless the original owner will want them back…”
“She won’t.”
Lady Amelia nodded. “That’s convenient, then.” But a strange tension tightened her voice, and she wasn’t looking at him.
Surely not because she had discovered another woman’s clothing?In his house.
Leopold found himself wanting to put her at ease. “The estate’s previous owner sold off most of his valuables, but left the furnishings. It didn’t make sense to throw it all out when a polishing and a few screws could give them new life.” And then he added, “Although I did replace the mattresses.”
“Oh.”
“A good mattress is important, don’t you think—for a good night’s sleep?” He couldn’t help himself, mentioning the unmentionable to a lady, waiting for her cheeks to pink up.
But she wasn’t fooled, and instead met his gaze defiantly. What the hell had happened to all those proper ways of hers?
“I quite agree.” She pursed her lips. “But I’m most appreciative of the modern plumbing. I can do my own hair, but I’ve not come so far that I’m willing to deal with…” She swallowed, obviously gathering her courage. “Chamber pots.”
Barely keeping his laughter in check, Leopold rubbed his chin. The whiskers scraping his fingers told him he needed a shave. The last time he’d bothered with a razor was the morning he’d stopped Foxbourne’s coach.
Three days. It had only been three days, and his priorities were already shifting.
But they hadn’t really. It was just that the importance of protecting Lady Amelia had moved to the top of the list.
