“What is in the powder?”
She questioned him? Of course.
“Crushed lavender frommygarden,” he said, his jaw tight.
“Lavender for headaches?”
“No, the mulled wine will take the edge off your headache. The lavender is to add scent and make you believe that you are drinking something special.”
“Actually, lavender does soothe the senses.”
He knew that. “Do you have wine?”
“No.”
“I will have a bottle of wine brought over to you.”
“It is not necessary.”
Suddenly, he remembered he didn’t have anything to drink at his house. The lads had sucked it all up and nothing would be replaced until Royce returned. “I’ll leave the flask.” It was the best he could do.
He moved toward the door, careful to stay as far away from her as possible. She could be standing there stark naked and he would not touch her.
“I’m not attempting to be difficult,” she said, following him as he moved through the taproom. “The Society is still free to meet here. Of course, there will be rules.”
Ned stopped at the main room entrance, offended that she was offering him a bone. “Sorry, we don’t enjoy tea and treacle.”
“Well then, let me assure you, the Society’s goings-on thatIhave heard happenedherewill not take place under my ownership.”
“Mrs. Estep,I don’tcondone recent events.” That was true. “That doesn’t mean that the Logical Men’s Society doesn’t have a right to exist and to meet. It is an old and revered tradition in this village.”
“How old? Mrs. Warbler said it has only been around for fifty years. A teardrop in English history.”
“Fifty years is old enough.” He walked into the main room, wanting to be done with this conversation. How could he have ever thought her attractive? She was a shrew through and through. He kept his manner brisk and professional. “I will check on you in the morning to see how you are doing—”
“Is it just me that you have a problem with, Mr. Thurlowe? Or are you this way with all women?”
Her tone alone was enough to set his teeth on edge. He whirled around, not realizing that she was so close, he practically stepped on her toes—and again, caught the heat of her body beneath that nightdress.
In a blink his mouth went dry. His hands wanted to reach for her. He tensed, holding himself back. And then, calmly, enunciating clearly, he said, “It is justyou. I like every other woman I’ve ever met.”
It was a deliberately hurtful thing to say. If she would back away, perhaps then some semblance of his sanity would return. She didn’t.
Instead, her chin rose in defiance, and he had a strong desire to kiss her. It would not take much effort. If he tipped his head down, she was right there.
He was startled at how easily their bodies would mesh together. She was just the right height. And while she accused him of not liking her, parts of his body liked her very much. In fact, he’d never experiencedlikingthis hard—
“I believeyouare a very poor sport.”
That was it.
A mountain of snow could not have cooled his ardor faster.
“Good night, Mrs. Estep.” He turned and walked out of the tavern.
She followed him. Of course she would. “Good night to you, sir.” She sounded almost pleasant.
And then she slammed the door behind him and threw the bar.
