He touched her hair, then his fingers wrapped around her braid.
“I wanted you.”
He tugged her forward until their lips met. This kiss was hard and brief.
“Don’t do that,” Milly rasped, when he lifted his head.
“I wish I didn’t want to.”
She tore her eyes away from the smoldering heat in his, and continued to Mr. Harby’s office.
“I wish to send word to someone. Would you be able to see the missive arrives at its destination, Mr. Harby?
“Of course, I will see to it personally.”
Joseph wanted to stand and look over Milly’s shoulder to see who it was she wrote to, but did not. He was an earl, he neither lurked nor peeked.
“Will that be all you need from me, Mr. Harby?” Joseph addressed the solicitor as Milly began to pen her note.
“Until Lady Millicent wishes to make another purchase.”
“He has to agree to every one?” Milly glared at him.
“I did not make this stipulation, madam. Nor would I have allowed it had I known.”
She muttered something that he suspected was another lusty curse, and turned back to her letter. Lord, how was it that he wanted her more now than he did when she was his betrothed? Her smart mouth and attitude got under his skin like an insect, burrowing deep. It would never do.
He had kissed her again on the stairs. It was not like him to behave rashly, and it was all her fault. He wanted her, and could no longer deny it.
Where had she been for the last four years? How had she survived? There were so many questions he wanted answers to. Yes, his anger toward her had cooled, especially as her actions, however misguided, had been to save him. However, now he wanted to know more.
Why could he not just walk away from her? Was it the courage he now saw in her, or the vulnerability?
“Where will you be staying, my lady?” Mr. Harby said, taking the letter that, by his count, was two pages long. Not a note then. Who the hell was she writing to?
“At a hotel.”
“No,” Joseph said softly. “That will not happen.”
Her blue eyes narrowed.
“You have no say in what I do.”
Mr. Harby cleared his throat, suddenly uncomfortable with the tension between them.
“You are the daughter of a Marquess, and I will not allow word to spread about London that you are staying alone in a hotel, when you have an aunt here. If you will not stay with my sister, then it will be her.”
“I care nothing about society.” She waved a hand, dismissing him. “And I will not disrupt my aunt’s life.”
Joseph was not easily dismissed.
“Society will care a great deal about you, however.”
Joseph thought he had her, as she appeared to think about that. He would make her move in with Eleanor, and yes, it would cause tongues to wag when it was known, but he cared nothing for that, only that he knew where she was—a thought he did not want to examine to closely.
“Then I will stay with a friend until I have set up my household.”
“What friend?” Joseph watched as she regained her feet and held out her hand to shake Mr. Harby’s, much to the man’s surprise.
