“Ridiculous, is it?” the lady murmured knowingly. “I was speaking to you for five minutes and I’m quite certain you didn’t hear a word I said.”
Other than being contrite that her attention had wandered to such a degree, Constance was annoyed that she’d allowed Devin the power over her to ignore everything else around her. But him.
“I’m terribly sorry, Marguerite.” She reached out and took the lady’s hand in hers. “I daresay you have my full consideration now.”
The countess rolled her eyes, although she said, “I was just pondering what color I should make my waistcoat. Do you have anything in mind?”
Constance could feel her lips twitch. “I’m quite fond of puce.”
The laughter that followed caused more than one head to turn in their direction. She threaded her arm through Constance’s. “Oh, you wicked girl! It’s why I adore you so.”
That night, Constance left the countess earlier than usual. She told herself it wasn’t because she intended to confront Devin about his trip to Madame Elodie’s, that she shouldn’t care in the slightest what he did with his time, and yet, as she walked in the front door of the town house they currently shared, the first thing she did was seek him out—considering he was even there.
When the parlor and the library came up empty, she walked up the stairs and saw a light shining from beneath his closed chamber door. She closed her eyes and exhaled a slow breath. She did not want to have this discussion in his room, as it was entirely too intimate, especially considering what had happened in there the last time she’d entered his domain.
Somehow, she found the will to straighten her shoulders and glare at the door as if it was her nemesis and boldly knocked on the oak.
She waited.
And waited.
Annoyance began to bubble in her veins. How dare he ignore her?
With a huff, she pushed open the door, expecting to see that smug look where he reclined in bed. But it was empty. A quick glance around the room showed the same.
She stilled. Was he even here at all, or had his new paramour been so pleased with her expensive gift that she’d invited him to stay the night?
She was about to spin around and find Luke and demand what was going on, when she heard a splash coming from the closed door of the water closet.
Immediately, her mind conjured up all sorts of images of Devin’s naked body, rivulets of water coursing over the hard planes of his chest and the rugged contours of his stomach and legs. Her throat went dry as she imagined joining him in the tub, the slick contrast of their skin causing the water to steam with their passion…
Constance knew she needed to move, that she had to leave now, before he emerged from that room, but she was rooted to the spot. Her legs wouldn’t obey even that simple command.
She listened as the water sloshed even louder—and then stilled.
Moments later, the door opened and Constance instantly looked away. She finally broke out of her trance and spun toward the exit of his room.
“Leaving so soon?”
Her hand was on the doorknob, but then his dry comment made her pause. Blast! When she’d owned Montfree’s she’d dealt with men even more handsome than Devin and infinitely more dangerous, and yet, for some unknown reason, she was only discomfited by this one.
She clenched her fist and dared herself to turn around and face him, praying that he was properly dressed.
He wasn’t.
Her mind went blank as her gaze took in every glorious inch of his strong, muscular body. And she meant every inch. His cock was strutting boldly out in front of him, pulsing with energy, although it was his crossed arms and his piercing, dark gaze that held her captive.
“Why are you here, Constance?” It was a softly spoken query, but one that held a decided edge.
She wanted to play the coquette, to play with his emotions as she was accustomed to doing in the past, but even Madame Corressa had quietly shut the door on this interlude. “I saw you today. On Bond Street,” she blurted out.
He lifted a lazy brow. “And?”
She gritted her teeth. “What were you doing there?”
He lifted his hand and slowly rubbed the backs of his fingers along his jaw. “Hmm. You expect me to explain myself when I asked the same of you with Sir Isaacson and didn’t get the same regard?”
“You didn’t give me a chance!” she cried, and then caught herself from saying more. She never lost her composure, and yet, Devin managed to bring out all of the emotions she’d buried deep inside.
