“I plan on it.”
Chapter Eleven
“Iwill countto three, and if you have not come down from there, you will regret it.”
Trevor paused on his way to the library. He crinkled his forehead and listened closer, wondering who could be saying that…and why?
He glanced up the hallway then down from whence he came. The female voice echoed through the silence he had requested his servants keep during the morning hours while he worked in his study. So who could be ignoring his wish?
“I mean it. Blast it all, get down. Now.” The voice lowered into a grumble. “Spooks, you are the Devil’s own animal.”
Trevor took soft steps toward the library, hoping not to alert his servant, although he had a sneaky suspicion who disrupted his quiet morning, anyway.Louisa. She seemed to disrupt a lot of things in his life lately.
When he reached the door, he stopped and peeked inside. Standing on a stool, Louisa teetered as she reached the top shelf on tiptoes. What was the foolish woman trying to accomplish besides tempting fate and perhaps breaking her neck?
Wearing her maid’s black dress and white apron, he realized he’d have to instruct Mrs. Smythe to find her another dress…one that wouldn’t fit her body so well. The material stretched across her back and tiny waist, reminding him she wasnotthe young girl he’d thought he’d ran over with his carriage, but awoman full grown. From this vantage point, her slender ankles and calves flashed at him.
Louisa growled and stretched farther. The stool tipped and she gasped. Arms failing about as she searched for something to grab hold of. He rushed to her side just as she slipped off. Before she hit the floor, he caught her.
A whoosh of air escaped her throat, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, clinging to him. Closing his eyes, he enjoyed the moment, even if it was only for a few seconds. The scent of roses drifted around her and he held himself back from burying his face in her neck and inhaling deeply.
“Oh, heavens.”
She gripped his shoulders and looked at him. Her gaze touched every inch of his face, resting a mite longer on his lips than necessary. How could he look away when she tempted him so? He’d admired her lips yesterday afternoon in his study before almost kissing her. Indeed, he should have had better restraint. She was off limits. Yet, even in his dreams, she tormented him.
Once again, the urge to follow through with what he’d started yesterday became strong. He wouldn’t mind feeling her lips rub against his in a passionate kiss. He longed to have her arms wrapped around his neck as she leaned into him, participating fully.
Bringing his thoughts to a screeching halt, he reminded himself of her status in life—a servant. He steeled himself.I am not my father.
She inhaled sharply and scrambled out of his arms and curtsied. “Oh, good heavens. My apologies, Your Grace. I—I didn’t see you.”
He chuckled. “How could you when you were not looking my way?”
Moving another step back, she fidgeted restlessly.
“What I would like to know,” he said, pulling his thoughts away from the desire stirring inside of him, “is why you were talking to my books? More importantly, I fear for your frame of mind because you spoke as if you expected an answer.”
Her eyes widened then she giggled. “Oh, no. I was not speaking to your books. I was trying to coerce the cat down from the shelf.” She pointed to the bookcase. “Spooks did not want to come down, so I was convincing him otherwise.”
“Spooks?”
“Yes, sir. He’s the cat I gave the twins yesterday.”
Trevor nodded. “And what is he doing in my library?”
She shrugged. “He’s either trying to further his education by reading, or he’s hiding from me.”
He chuckled again. Louisa certainly had a quick wit. Lately, he found himself laughing more than he had before when she was around. He also realized he’d begun to desire a woman. Gwen had somehow taken that ability away from him since he married her, but slowly, Louisa was bringing it back.
He glanced to the top shelf. “It appears as if your attempts of coercing him down have failed. I suppose I should try.”
“Oh, no, Your Grace. Let me do that.”
He ran his gaze over her petite frame. “You, my dear, do not have arms long enough.” Trevor’s gaze slid playfully toward the stool. “Obviously.”
Carefully, he climbed on the stool and peeked on the top shelf. Spooks curled in a ball and slept like a baby, which made it easier to slip his hand under the animal and carry him down. Once Trevor’s feet were firmly on the floor, he handed the bundle to Louisa.
“Honestly, Louisa, I don’t know why you thought this animal belonged to the Devil. I had no problem with him.”
