Swallowing, she did her best to hide the effect beneath what she hoped was a blank expression. But when he grinned, she wasn’t so sure she’d succeeded.
“You really do look incredible in that dress,” he said, his voice a husky breath of air that seemed to caress her skin.
She shivered slightly and forced her feet into motion. “Thank you. I—” She cleared her throat and tried to recall her reason for coming. Oh right. The duel. Her jaw tightened and the heated effect he was having on her diminished enough to allow for coherent thought.
“I found a letter from Mr. Haines waiting for me when I got home. Your name was mentioned along with an early morning event at Hackney Meadows.” She sat down in the nearest chair and gripped the armrest. “Please tell me you aren’t planning a duel against Robert.”
He held her gaze for what seemed an eternity before finally looking away. Moving slowly, he rounded the desk like a cat on the prowl. Viola’s heart jumped a few times in her chest and a new sort of heat hugged her body. This time it was fueled by the knowledge that he was coming toward her, closing the distance and...
He moved the chair adjacent to hers, turning it slightly so it faced her. And then he was lowering himself down into it, his knee sliding briefly against her thigh as he did so.Dear God!It felt like the air had been sucked from the room. More so when he reached for her hand, peeled off her glove and pressed a kiss to her knuckles.
Heaven help her, she was literally pulsing with awareness and the scoundrel probably knew it, for he grinned like a boy causing mischief—as she imagined he’d done when his brother had found the jam in his pockets decades ago.
Pulling her hand out of his grasp, she deliberately frowned. “Well?”
He sighed and leaned back against his chair, bringing his knee more firmly against her leg. Surely he had to be aware of the contact, which could only mean that he’d chosen not to care. Viola glanced at the open door to his office and scooted back in her seat.
“You did not hear what he said about you, Viola.”
“Whatever it was, it cannot be so grave.”
“Letting it pass is not an option,” he said by way of explanation. His eyes were now completely serious. “He needs a lesson. One that I am more than happy to provide.”
“You do realize that Robert will most likely shoot to kill.” She could picture Henry now, sprawled out on the dewy ground and spattered by crimson. A chill went through her, chasing away the heat he’d stirred.
“I expect him to since he told me he plans on aiming for my head.”
Viola’s stomach dropped. “Good heavens.” The chance of possibly losing him was one she refused to face even as betrayal snuck its way into her heart. “I cannot believe you intended to hide this from me, that you pretended everything was fine earlier when we parted ways, even though it was far from it.”
Straightening in his seat, he reached for her hand once more. He held it loosely between his own and proceeded to stroke his thumb across her palm, back and forth, so gently she almost begged for added pressure. “I’m sorry, Viola, but I knew you would not approve.”
“And yet you chose to forge ahead anyway, heedless of my opinion on a matter that affects me directly.”
“You’re right.” His voice was smooth and his touch so wonderful it made her want to forget their argument so they could simply enjoy each other’s company. “But I’m a man, Viola. Knowing what he once did to you, how he mistreated you, hurt you, and seeing him try to do it again...” His hand stilled and his brow knit. “It enrages me in a way that demands satisfaction.”
She scarcely knew what to say except “Be that as it may, I cannot stand the idea of you risking your life over this. I want you to call it off.”
“I cannot do that. It’s a matter of honor now.”
“That is ridiculous.” When he drew back a little, she said, “I do not want to be treated like a weak-minded woman who needs to rely on a man when it comes to fighting my battles. I want to be able to handle my own problems and I certainly don’t want you going behind my back and possibly getting killed!”
“What if I promise not to die?”
She stared at him. “No!”
His fingers tightened around her hand and then he smiled. “I like how agitated you are about all of this.”
“What?” That made less sense than the duel. “Why?”
“Because it shows that you care.”
“Of course I care!”
“About me,” he clarified.
Viola caught her breath, then slowly exhaled it. He was right, of course, but because she still feared commitment and the surrender this would require, she tried to deny it by saying, “Mostly because of your irritating determination to take control of a situation that has absolutely nothing to do with you.”
“You’re wrong about that, Viola. It has everything to do with me.” When she shook her head weakly, he smiled at her warmly. “I meant what I said when I told you I care for you, Viola, so turning my back on this... on you... is out of the question.”
