He stood once again, and Alice and Adam did the same.
“May I have a word with her alone in the drawing room?” Adam asked.
“Briefly, for I am paying her to instruct, not to flirt.”
Alice’s cheeks warmed. And then she thought of the other two concerned females.
“My lord, will you explain your decision to Lady Beasley and Lady Susanne?”
He sighed. “Indeed, I shall. And heaven help me when I do it.”
Alice led the way to the drawing room, amazed at the turn of events. But Adam didn’t wait until they were in the relative privacy of a room, even one with servants’ ears at every door.
“That went well. I hope you are pleased.”
“I am bewildered,” she confessed, “both by your wish to court me and his lordship’s acquiescence.”
“But are you pleased?” Lord Diamond persisted.
That was the primary emotion, so she told him, “Yes. I look forward to an outing.”
They entered the drawing room, and Adam even closed the door behind them.
She stared, then smiled. “I confess I feel like a naughty child.”
He grinned back at her. “As do I. But I thought hard about this and could see no reason why we shouldn’t enjoy ourselves while we are able, as long as Lord Beasley agreed not to terminate your employment. I didn’t want to incur your anger from the start.”
“I am amazed at your courage in speaking to his lordship on such a matter. You were like a dog in a doublet.” She chuckled. “And Lord Beasley shall have to be equally brave to tell her ladyship of his decision.”
Suddenly, he reached for her hand. “Will you accompany me to a concert and after, let me finally be alone with you. Recall I reside in a townhouse on the Royal Crescent.”
She recalled only too well, but she was not going to see it.
“I am only agreeing to attend a concert or go riding with you. Anything we can do in public. Nothing more. I must emphasize that I am pleased to have your companionship while you remain in Bath, but I intend to stay here and keep my employment.”
He grinned. “I trust one thing will lead to another.”
She shook her head at his cocky manner. “You cannot mean what you are intimating.”
“I know we’ve only known one another a brief while —”
“Very brief, indeed,” Alice said.
“But you feel it, this thing between us, like magnetism, if I had to name it.”
She wouldn’t lie and say she didn’t, but she didn’t have to bare her soul or her desires.
“I would be very happy to go to a concert.”
Lord Diamond stroked the back of her hand with his thumb, making her shiver. Then he released her.
“Tomorrow night. I shall collect you at eight.”
Going to evening events would expose her to those from whom she wished to hide.
“Since I do not have an appropriate wardrobe,” she protested, “I would prefer to go to daytime concerts, meaning we must wait until the week’s end.”
“You may wear a bed sheet for all I care,” he shot back. “I predict you’ll end up doing so by evening’s end, anyway.”
