Removing the scrap from his wallet he placed the fragile paper carefully onto the polished surface of the desk and bent to examine it through the magnifying glass. A few of the letters leaped out at him. “Interesting.”
“What is? Let me see.” She moved closer, her delicate perfume reminding him of early spring. Her hair brushed his wrist as she lowered her head to peer through the glass at the smudged words. Distracted, he breathed her in.She must wash her hair with lavender soap.She raised her head, her gray eyes questioning. “I believe I can make out more of the first line.”
“Tell me what you see,” he said, held captive by her sudden arresting smile.
“I think this is, ‘Abused Lord…and this ‘Kin,’ but the rest is blurred. Surely this must refer to my father. It wasn’t ‘truth’ as we’d previously thought. It’s ‘trust.’ My father’s trust has been abused?”
“I thought the same. It doesn’t tell us much, except that the letter concerns your father. It appears we must be patient until we can consult him.”
A book titledDescription De l’Égypteperched on the desk. Opening it, he found it to be a catalog of interesting notes, engravings, and drawings from over a hundred scholars and scientists.
“It was collated at Napoleon’s decree and covers all aspects of ancient and modern Egypt and its natural history,” she said, leaning back against the desk to watch him.
He turned the page. “Fascinating.”
“I find it so.”
“You’ve read this?”
A flash of humor crossed her face. “I am working my way through it.”
He glanced at her in admiration. Lady Helen was proving fascinating herself.
Beside the book were notes written in Arabic. Although he could read Latin and Greek, his grasp of Arabian script was limited. But one name stood out because it was written in English. “Has your father ever mentioned a Mr. Alexandro Volta?”
She searched his eyes, hers turning a brilliant gray-blue, like crushed violets. “No, why?”
Startled by the change in her, those remarkable eyes, and that delicately flushed skin, Jason fought to order his thoughts. “I remember reading something about Volta. Now, what was it? Ah yes. He was awarded the Copleyby the Royal Society of London for his scientific research. Invented a glowing wire, I believe. One of the many experiments concerning magnetic and electrical power.”
She gasped, her eyes alight, seemingly unaware that her hand clutched his sleeve. “It could have some connection to electric fish!”
His gaze dropped to her luscious lips. “I believe you’re right!” Without thought, he leaned forward and pressed a brief kiss on her mouth.
Somehow, the kiss lengthened. Her mouth softened under his, and she made a small appreciative noise as his arm swept around her waist to pull her closer. He became aware of the soft compliant body within his arm, and the luscious taste of her lips, and his blood rampaged through his veins.
She stiffened, and he pulled away, dropping his hands.
“My lord!” She gave a shaky laugh, her hand to her mouth, and stepped back.
“Forgive me,” he said with a shameless grin, his blood still pounding. “This is not something I normally do, kissing ladies on brief acquaintance. An impulse. I blame the excitement of the moment.”
What a disgraceful fellow he was. Not only had he broken every rule of etiquette, he’d lied. He didn’t regret kissing her one bit. She’d looked so vividly alive and quite beautiful, and he couldn’t resist. But she’d be well within her rights to slap him.
She did not. Her cheeks flamed, and her tongue traced her lips. What he hadn’t expected was his own reaction to the touch and taste of her, and the heat that streaked through him, making him want to draw her close again and kiss her senseless. He cleared his throat.
“I should go. I’m confident Lord Kinsey will enlighten us.”
“Yes…yes. I believe he will.” Doubt clouded her eyes like a summer storm.
“I’ll interview your housekeeper tomorrow. You expect your father home on time?”
“He has been delayed for a few days,” she said over her shoulder and hurried to the door as if he was about to pounce on her.
Jason watched her uneasily. He had not experienced that reaction from a lady before. He cursed himself for his rash behavior, although he still could not regret the kiss.
Walking home, despite the interesting connection to Volta, Jason could think of nothing but Lady Helen. How her feisty, confident manner, so very different to her careful demeanor, had aroused something in him he didn’t quite understand. He’d wanted to draw closer, which surprised him as much as her. She returned his kiss in a very un-spinster-like manner, her hands resting on his shoulders before she pushed him away. But still, it was clear she did not welcome his attentions. Irritated by a rash action that seemed most unlike him, he hoped there would be no awkwardness between them when they met again. He did not normally act impulsively, and certainly not with a lady he respected.
A letter from his university friend, Robert Vale, who was in Italy, awaited him. Jason went to the library to read it. Vale was now studying art in Florence under one of the masters. He had exhibited considerable artistic talent at university, but his passion had distracted him from his studies, and he’d failed his exams.
