When she was with him, she wasn’t thinking about the past or how she looked compared to the other ladies in the room. She was only thinking about him.
He looked so handsome in his formal evening attire. His jacket fit him like a glove, making it clear no padding was needed to make his shoulders look so broad. His physique suggested an active lifestyle. From what Winston had said, he’d spent a fair amount of time working at his country estate during the past year.
All that masculine grace made her breathless. It made her mouth dry and her palms damp. In truth, she wondered if she could’ve convinced herself he was out of reach if not for the physical reaction she had to him each and every time they were together. Her affliction was growing worse, the symptoms increasing. Especially since their kisses.
The thought had her gaze dropping to his lips. She longed for another kiss with him. The memory of their last one nearly caused her to shiver.
Did he feel any of what she did?
It was impossible to tell as their gazes held. Her breath caught as the stormy blue of his eyes deepened. That had to mean—
“Your Grace. How nice to see you here this evening.”
The feminine tone had Eliza blinking as the spell cast between them was broken. Snapped like a twig on the forest floor.
“Lady Alice. It’s always a pleasure to see you.”
Eliza looked to see the youngest of the Graham sisters rising from a curtsy.
“May I introduce Lady Eliza Chadwick,” Philip said smoothly.
Eliza hid her disappointment that she’d obviously imagined the spark of attraction between them only a moment before.
“How nice to meet you,” the lady said, her tone cool.
Eliza nodded and forced a smile. “And you as well. Isn’t the museum interesting? So many artifacts.”
“It is, indeed.” Lady Alice’s gaze followed Eliza’s around the room. “Though I’m not quite certain what I’m looking at. My knowledge of these sorts of artifacts is rather limited.”
Eliza clenched her teeth. She recognized a hook when she heard one. Did Philip? To her surprise, he remained silent as if he intended to let Eliza and Lady Alice converse.
Lady Alice glanced over her shoulder and Eliza followed her gaze to see Lady Charlotte near the doorway with a purposeful intensity in her expression.
Lady Alice’s face tightened with determination as she looked back to Philip, ignoring Eliza completely. “I don’t suppose you would be kind enough to share some of your knowledge, Your Grace.”
Under other circumstances, Eliza might’ve applauded the woman for finding the backbone to pose the question. But not when Philip was the lady’s target.
She couldn’t help but feel that the moment she’d allowed herself to realize how much she was enjoying his company, fate stepped in to jerk it away.
“I’d be happy to share what little I know.” He gestured toward a nearby display case. “This white jade wine cup was owned by the man who built the Taj Mahal.”
“Truly?” Lady Alice’s eyes opened wide, and she blinked up at Philip as if in awe of his expertise. “How fascinating.”
It was all Eliza could do not to lift her own eyes to the ceiling in response. The lady was laying it on rather thick. She needed to be more subtle if she hoped to disguise her purpose. Or perhaps her effort was more effective if she didn’t bother.
“What of this?” Lady Alice pointed to an open book next to the cup that had a brightly colored picture on the page next to elegant writing that was indecipherable to Eliza.
“Most likely a poetry book as poems were popular during that period. The emperors funded many writers and historians and often had significant libraries in their palaces.”
Now even Eliza was impressed by Philip’s knowledge. “How did you come to know so much about the Mughal Empire?” she asked.
Amusement lit his eyes as he looked at her. “Are you asking because you know it didn’t come from a book?”
Eliza couldn’t help but smile. She truly liked this man—duke or not. Her heart ached as he continued to hold her gaze. If she wasn’t careful, she’d find herself head over heels in love with him.
Philip continued to converse with Lady Alice, reminding himself that it was important that he come to know her. But doing so was impossible with Eliza next to him.
He wanted to take Eliza’s hand and find somewhere they could be alone for a few minutes. She was so appealing in every way that he simply couldn’t keep his attention on Lady Alice. He didn’t care what she thought of the exhibits or anything else for that matter.
