Though the memory of his kisses and caresses would stay with her until the day she died, it was these little moments that she treasured most.
Will returned her smile. “Perhaps you should.”
A fierce bolt of longing tore through her and she had to turn away from him to regain her composure.
“I actually haven’t even seen my father since he returned from New York,” she began. “He’s been busy squiring his new American friends around London. I think Alex is upset about it, though of course it’s hard to tell.”
Will snorted a laugh. “Sheishuman, you know. Despite her efforts to appear otherwise.”
Phoebe hesitated. “I suspect I hurt her quite badly as well, actually.”
“Is this about your quarrel?”
Phoebe nodded. “I made some accusations about her and Father that weren’t very fair,” she said with a sigh. “I suppose I was being a little self-righteous.”
“We all have our faults. It’s what we do once they’re pointed out to us that matters.”
“Well put, Your Grace,” Phoebe teased. Will rolled his eyes but there was no hiding the mirth in them. “What are you going to do about Lord Fairbanks?” she asked after a moment.
Will frowned in thought. “I’m not sure. Drafting a competing bill feels far too little now. He should be exposed as the hypocrite he is.”
“As much as I agree with you,” Phoebe began, “will it matter if he is surrounded by men who share the same secrets? ‘Do as I say, not as I do,’ etcetera.”
“Perhaps not.” Will rubbed his bearded chin thoughtfully. “But people like that can be quick to turn on each other at the first hint of blood in the water.”
Phoebe leaned forward and placed her hand on his. “Then we must make sure you have an awfully big knife.”
Fifteen
For a brief moment Will wondered if he should be concerned by how wildly attractive he found Phoebe’s bloodlust, but instead he turned his hand over so their palms could touch. He held her gaze, waiting for the slightest sign of reticence on her part, but as he slowly curled each finger, Phoebe’s lips parted and she began to breathe faster. He leaned in toward her and closed his eyes but just as he was about to kiss her, she pulled back.
“You didn’t want to touch me.”
Will’s eyes fluttered open at the abrupt statement. “Pardon?”
“In the closet,” she continued. “You kept trying to move away. You nearly took off your own head.”
He huffed a laugh. “That’s not—that wasn’t why.” In truth, he had been far more concerned that she would feel his erection and think him a fiend, as it was hardly the timeorthe place, but the idea of actually explaining that was rather embarrassing. “Surely you must know that I’m attracted to you, Phoebe,” he said, grateful the dark carriage would hide his blush.
“I wasn’t always… sure.”
She then dipped her head shyly and his heart twisted a little at this admission. “Well, then let me make it absolutely clear,”Will said as he tugged her onto his lap. His fingertips dug into the swaths of silk around her hips. “There. Does that help?”
They stared at one another in the shadowy light as the carriage swayed back and forth. Then, slowly, the corner of her mouth curved in an impish smile. “Very much so.” Phoebe then slid a hand around his neck while her other grazed his jaw. “I do like the beard,” she murmured.
Will shivered under her exploratory touch. “Perhaps I’ll keep it, then.”
Phoebe leaned closer, but just as their noses rubbed together, Will pulled back.
“Wait. There’s something I need to say before we…”
Phoebe tilted her head in question. “All right.”
“I haven’t proposed to Lady Gwen, and I’m not going to.”
“I know.”
Will paused. “You—you do?”
