Oh, she was a clever one, quoting Shakespeare like some innocent…governess.
“I have many, Miss Jones. In fact… I can be very bad.”
He placed hands to hips, saw her eyes wander over his bared throat.
Of course, if she was simply a prying governess, then he was acting in a despicably scandalous manner.
And about to be more so.
“Do you study Greek sculpture, Miss Jones? You’ve just watched me practising Pankration, an ancient sport of wrestling, and this chap here was supposedly a winner of three Panhellenic Games.” He strolled to the statue and heard her footsteps follow. “What is your opinion?”
The marble statue was as naked as a shorn sheep, not even a fig leaf adorning his nether regions, and any genteel-raised governess would shriek and run for the door.
Miss Jones’ eyes travelled from the statue’s hair, down his torso, over his thighs and landed at his feet.
Then she twisted and did the same to him.
Gads.
He felt her perusal to his every extremity and it required all his strength to quash the arousal beneath it. The need to take her hand and let her feel…
A scandalous thought indeed.
“My opinion, Sir?” She blinked and clasped fingers demurely in her skirts. “I fear that like most males, he is rather over-exaggerated.” Eyes widened in innocence. “Doubtless embellished and hence an unrealistic aspiration.” She bobbed a curtsey. “If you will give me leave, I must begin lessons.”
Hugh nodded. Doubted he could talk.
Miss Jones sauntered from the room, head held high, and as her footsteps faded, Hugh allowed his laughter to burst forth.
“Well, well,” he said to the statue. “What do you think, my fellow combatant? Just a prying governess or a liar to her toes?”
The Greek made no reply, obviously, and so Hugh spun and re-took a stance of battle.
Miss Jones was even more of an enigma than he’d first supposed, and it appeared he’d not caused the slightest disturbance to those still waters.
She was akin to a marble statue, yet of Aphrodite – desirable and coy, composed and incombustible.
But not for long because he would discover exactly what had sculpted her.
Bring her to burn with the right words and touch.
He kicked out a foot.
And his lip rippled.
