Gabriel grinned. “I wouldn’t mindbefriendinga country girl with a little fire in her.”
I did not dignify that with a response. Instead, I opened and closed the carriage door firmly behind me, and I took the few steps up to Mr. Wood’s Mayfair apartment. Clean gray stone with a mahogany wooden door and planters of green bushes on either side. Respectable, to be sure. I almost felt sorry for the man, having such an intolerable sister. His life otherwise seemed quite perfect. Wealth, good standing, and a lovely, pregnant wife at home. No title to force him into Parliament.
I knocked thrice upon the door and heard a distinctive shuffling inside. Voices. Then, the door opened wide.
“Good evening, Your Grace,” a servant said, and I stepped inside.
Marble floors met the same mahogany in tables, purple velvet-backed chairs, and the staircase. Oil paintings framed in gold hung on every wall. Flowers in Asian-style vases. Very respectable, indeed.
Mr. Wood walked out of a room to the right, straightening his coat. He did not look happy to see me, despite the fact that I was about to change his sister’s trajectory for the better, whether I liked it or not.
“Good evening, Your Grace.” He bowed. “Thank you for coming.”
My lips twitched. His tone was not at all thankful. “I trust you received my letter.”
“We did, indeed.” He looked over his shoulder to theroom he’d just abandoned. “And I trust my sister will be in good hands tonight.”
I narrowed my gaze at the question in his voice—Would I hurt her? Would I abandon her?He couldn’t say with certainty; he hardly knew me. He could only hope I was an honorable man, bound by duty and contract to keep his sister from harm. In truth, she was perhaps the safest woman in London tonight simply by standing in my shadow. I did not dignify his words with a response beyond a look of impatient confidence.
He nodded once and cleared his throat. “She’s putting her music away.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed movement over the man’s shoulder.
And there she was.
Dressed in a rich blue, she walked toward me.
Thiswas the same girl from the country? She looked different. Clean, for one thing. Golden ringlets were arranged atop her head with little white flowers pinned among them. And that dress ... I didn’t know much about dressmaking, but I didn’t think I’d ever seen a dress worn quite like ... that. The way it moved with her in waves as she walked. I swallowed hard.
Then her light, clear eyes met mine, and I felt a jolt in my stomach, as though she were some sort of rare treasure I’d just unearthed.
Ridiculous. I tugged at my jacket.
She wasattractive. I could admit that much. A natural reaction to someone so confident and ... handsome.
She stopped beside her brother and raised her confidentlittle chin as though to say she was here to collect what she was owed.
Another beautiful woman here only to gain what they all wanted from me—influence, money, luxury.
I blinked away. “Miss Wood,” I managed without meeting her eyes. Firm and sharp. “Shall we?”
She curtseyed, the air between us fragrant with sweet flowers. Apple blossoms? I allowed myself a single glance.
Shouldn’t have.
She said, softly, “Good evening, Your Grace.”
Gads, even her voice sounded ethereal. My neck grew hot. I was suddenly overwarm in my coat. Time to go. “Do you have everything you need?”
She lifted a small, beaded reticule I’d missed entirely. With a forced smile, she tilted her head. “Not feeling particularly complimentary for your friend this evening, Your Grace?”
I flicked my gaze to her brother. The awkward thing about interacting with females was that there was almost always someone in between you. Someone listening and watching and making it impossible to say what you really wanted to say. In this case,That dress fits you like a glove. Your figure is perfect. Despite my better judgment, I would very much like to touch you.
Mr. Wood’s brow furrowed as he looked between us.
“The carriage is waiting,” I muttered instead. Now was not the time to indulge in my weaker side. Especially not withthiswoman who would certainly leech onto me and bleed me dry.
She’d proved herself intelligent with her little bargaining stunt. And, now, she would play the part to perfection. That dress proved it.
