"It's not as if promises were made between us." Abashed at her own capriciousness, Percy fiddled with the handle of her cup. "When I see him at the Lipton's ball on Thursday, however, I shall make matters clear to him."
The longcase clock along the wall began its sonorous toll. "Oh, heavens," Charity muttered. "I'm supposed to be back at the shop by now—there's new inventory arriving today."
"Do you want me to come along, lend a hand?" Percy asked.
"Thank you, but you know how particular Papa is about the shop," Charity said apologetically. "I shall see you soon, I hope?"
After Charity left, Percy decided to clear her mind by browsing the books. She made her selection and headed to the massive circular counter at the center of the emporium. As she waited for the clerk to ring up her purchase, she studied the dome overhead; it soared three stories high, revealing stacks upon stacks of volumes.
The clerk returned andhanded her two wrapped packages.
"There must be a mistake," she said. "I only bought the one book."
The clerk pointed to the bill of sale attached to the second parcel. "Says here it's yours, miss,"—he looked to the lengthy line of customers behind her—"and ready to go."
Bemused, Percy collected her things and stepped to the side. She tore the string and paper off the unfamiliar package, revealing a first-rate edition of Greek mythology. She flipped open the cover, and her heart sped up at the sight of the masculine scrawl.
Meet me in Ancient Rome. -H.
* * *
Gavin was not a man driven by impulse. As he looked over the second floor balcony, the bookshop's famed dome rising above him, he told himself he had good reason to search out Percy today. He needed to solidify his position with her, to ensure that she did not have second thoughts about the new terms of the wager.
That's bollocks and you know it.Gavin scowled. He wasn't a man to lie to himself either.
The simple truth was that he wanted to see her again. Had been craving the sight of her since she'd climaxed in his arms four nights ago. Almighty, her passion had been so sweet, so abandoned. His shaft stiffened at the memory of her hot honey coating his fingers...
He'd come to terms with the fact that he could not ruin Percy as he'd initially planned. She was too rare, too fine to use in such a manner. Instead, he wanted to… keep her. To have her passion, her bright laughter all for himself. Then it had struck him: he could have herandhis vengeance. All he had to do was seduce Percy's heart as well as her body.
He knew her fierce loyalty toward those she loved; if she was in love with him, he could use that to keep her at his side even after he'd won the wager. In fact, he'd realized that by marrying her—a man could do worse than wedding the sweetest, lustiest wench he'd ever met—he could exact a different sort of revenge. How would Morgan like having his only sister claimed by his enemy? Once Percy was Gavin's, he would never let the bastard near her again.
In return for her loyalty, Gavin would see that Percy wanted for nothing. A big house, carriage, fine clothes—he would do better by her than that bloody viscount. All he had to do was convince her of it. That, he assured himself, was why he'd come. And why his pulse thudded at the sight of the jaunty straw bonnet appearing at the top of the steps. Christ, she stole a man's breath. In a yellow-striped frock that clung sweetly to her bosom and swirled around the rest of her lithe figure, Percy looked as fresh and vital as spring itself.
She came toward him, peering anxiously this way and that.
"There's no one near," he told her. He'd chosen Ancient Rome for the privacy it offered.
"What are you doing here?" she said, her eyes wide.
He quirked a brow. "Can't a man shop for books?"
"Oh... of course." Her lashes lowered, and her cheeks turned pink.
A smile tugged at his lips. Obviously, his little minx had thought he'd had other ideas in mind. "And I wanted to see you," he added gravely.
Her azure eyes sparkled up at him. "You did?"
Before he could answer, he heard footsteps coming up the stairs. Taking her hand, he led her quickly into the maze of the stacks, following several twists and turns until they reached a secluded nook. Towering bookshelves surrounded them on three sides.
Leaning against one of them, Percy said breathlessly, "This is rather exciting. I've never had an assignation in a bookstore before."
He flicked a look around the corner. No one about. "Precisely how many assignations have you had?"
"A lady doesn't speak of such things, sir," she said.
The fierce stab of jealousy took him by surprise. "Don't play games with me, Percy," he said shortly. "Is it Portland? Or are you dangling after some other fine lord?"
"I was only teasing. I am not dangling after anyone. Gavin, you're holding me too tightly," she protested.
