“I will leave,” she said quickly. “It seems my… the person I am to meet has been detained, and I am growing concerned.”
Large hands wrapped around her shoulders, and she was pulled close. So close that her breasts were now brushing his chest.
“Let me go, Mr. Nightingale.” Ivy fought the heat that slid into her limbs at his touch.
“I’m sorry, Ivy.”
“I have to go.”
“Your cousin sent you that note on my behalf.”
“What? Why would she do that?” She tried to back away, but he stepped closer.
“Because I asked her to. Because I said I cared about you and owed you an apology.” His hand moved to cup her cheek; the other circled her back. “But I wanted to do it where no one would interrupt us.”
“No, you don’t.” She refused to be fooled by another man. “Release me.”
“I saw you in that dress, with your hair up, and I was angry that every other man in that room suddenly saw what I already knew.” His breath brushed her lips.
“Wh-What do you know?” It was suddenly extremely hard to breathe.
“That you are beautiful inside and out. That you are intelligent and strong-willed and that you dressed as you did because you didn’t want another man to humiliate you like Haldane did.”
“No!” She stepped out of his arms. “You can’t know that.”
“I do, sweetheart.”
“Don’t think me a fool. I am no longer gullible.”
His face was so serious as he closed the gap between them once more.
“I’m sorry you were hurt by Haldane. Sorry that those fools that make up society did not see you for the wonderful woman who stood before them. But I see you, Ivy.”
Her heart thudded, and her palms felt sweaty. Even her knees were knocking together.
“Bram, I-I think it would hurt more.”
“What?” He cupped both her cheeks.
“If you walked away from me after saying these things, it would hurt more than when I was humiliated by Jackson Haldane.”
“I won’t walk away from you, Ivy.”
She wanted to believe him.
“Why do you doubt me?” He kissed her lips.
“Because you are you, and I’m… well, I’m me.”
“You know that makes no sense, don’t you, Ivy?” His smile warmed her.
“You are popular. I am not,” she said in a cold voice, not daring to allow herself to believe what he was saying.
“I’ve been traveling the world for years, Ivy. Most of society have either forgotten me or not met me.”
She made a scoffing noise. “You are the brother of a viscount and handsome.”
“Thank you,” he said solemnly. “For thinking me handsome.”
