He donned his trousers and slid on his shirt as he crossed the room, working the lower buttons until he reached the door and swung it open.
Lucy stood with her hand raised as if midknock and immediately lowered her arm to her side.
Shock was instantly overtaken by pleasure. A kind of furnace lit in his chest, a warmth that made him smile even while she stood staring at him, stunned and wide-eyed.
“Oh,” she said, as if surprised thatheshould answer the door of his room.
“Mmm,” he replied.
“You’re awake,” she whispered. Then darted a worried look down the hall.
“As are you.” James bent closer to check the hall for anyone else. “Is anything amiss?”
“May we...” She pressed her lips together, closed her eyes, shook her head, and then tried again. “May I come in?”
The lowered timbre of her voice and glint of determination in her gaze sent a shiver down his spine.
He stepped back to allow her in, closed the door behind her, and forced himself to wait and let her tell him why she’d come rather than reach for her as he longed to.
“This must seem strange.” She still whispered and took his room in as she spoke.
“Unexpected, for certain.” Though that wasn’t entirely true, was it? Should he admit that he’d almost been at her door an hour ago?
If this was a seduction, she looked undecided about it. Or at least a bundle of nerves. That worried him, and he mentally kicked himself for assuming this had anything to do with him and not to do with the business on the train.
Perhaps nightmares plagued her. God knew they’d tormented him for a decade after losing his parents. Still did at times.
“Is something troubling you, Lucy?”
Even if she’d only come to him for comfort, he’d happily offer that.
“Um...” She took a seat at one of the chairs near the fire, perching on the edge and then setting the candle she’d brought with her down. “It’s a cozy room. And I do love the unicorn.” She gestured vaguely at the painting above his bed, which she darted glances at now and then.
Whatever it was, she was hesitant. James had always been devilishly bad at patience, but for her, he would try his best.
James lit the candle by his bedside and brought it with him to join her, taking the chair opposite hers. He sat gingerly, leaning forward, his hands clasped between his knees.
“Whatever it is, I’ll listen.”
She’d been staring at the flickering embers in thegrate, but at his words, she turned and gave him a beaming smile that made his breath stagger in his chest.
“You’re making this easier than I imagined it would be.”
“Good.” James returned her smile, but he was still confused. “Making what easier?”
After a long gaze, so long it felt as if she could see his very thoughts, Lucy stood. She untied the ribbon on the robe she’d worn over her nightdress and let the garment tumble and pool in the chair behind her as she took two steps to stand before him.
They’d traded places. Usually, she tipped her head to look up at him, but now he was the one arching back.
“I’ve come to ask if you’d consider... Or perhaps I should say, I would very much appreciate it if you would kiss me.”
James blinked, considered pinching himself, felt a flash of dizziness as all the blood in his body rushed to his groin.
“Kiss you?” The words felt thick and odd in his mouth, as if he’d never spoken the words, wasn’t even sure what it was. Some scoundrel seducer he was.
Lucy held out her hands as if to ask for patience. “I know. It’s unexpected. Maybe even unwanted—”
“Lucy—”
