A Dash of Scandal(75)
He wanted to encircle her small waist with his hands and lift her down but restrained himself and merely took her hand to steady her on the step. He couldn’t remember the last time, if ever, he’d enjoyed being with a woman as much as he looked forward to being with Millicent.
She was seductive, playful, intelligent, and loyal to a fault. There was an alluring grace in every move she made, a promise in every smile she gave him.
When she placed her hand in the crook of his arm, he held her a bit too close, but he couldn’t stop himself. He wanted to do so much more. He settled for a leisurely ramble, moving away from where most of the crowds had gathered to make sure they were noticed.
Who was she? Why did she spy for the gossips? That plagued him. No one could ever make him believe she was not a highborn, gentle-bred young woman. Yet, for some reason, she was at Lord Truefitt’s mercy.
Could he let that go on any longer?
“You’re very quiet,” Millicent said.
“I was just thinking about what you are doing for Truefitt.”
“That could be ominous.”
“Does it always work the way it has for you?”
An easy, natural smile curved her lips. “I’m not sure what you mean.”
“You told me you were not spying for Truefitt for the money, nor because he was forcing you, so the way I see it, there can only be one other reason you would consent.”
“And what would that be?”
“Your family can’t afford a Season for you, so Lord Truefitt found someone to sponsor you, someone who had actually met your mother so that you will be properly chaperoned. He takes care of all the expenses for your Season in exchange for the gossip you provide him to write his column.”
“It seems you have it well thought out.”
“I can see where it would be profitable for both of you. He obtains the gossip he needs and you are afforded the opportunity for a chance at a good match.”
“I have no idea how other columnists work. I can only verify that what you just explained is somewhat close to my arrangement with Lord Truefitt.”
“Somewhat close you say?”
“Yes.”
“So there’s more?”
The threat of another smile fluttered her delectable mouth. “Or, maybe things are just different from the way you have imagined them to be.”
Chandler chuckled lightly under his breath. How could he gain her favor, her trust? Why did he want to? They could have no future together.
“For a young lady who listens to everything that is said around her, you know how to reveal nothing.”
She smiled faintly, looking into the distance before glancing back at him and saying, “It’s a gift of the trade.”
There was that seductive grace again. Chandler felt his chest expand with wanting. When she looked at him like that and made a simple statement so innocently, he was knocked off his feet.
“Sometimes you look as innocent as a church mouse, and it drives me to madness, and I think you enjoy every moment of it.”
She smiled. “I enjoy you.”
Chandler’s heart tripped. He saw honesty in her eyes and heard it in her voice. She wasn’t just trying to flatter him. And he could have sworn her eyes flashed a “come hither” look that made him light-headed with joy.
He reached over and took hold of her hand that rested in the crook of his arm and gently squeezed. Damn the gloves. Damn convention. Damn Society. He wanted to feel her silky skin without the layers of cotton between them. He wanted to see her beautiful body completely unclothed. He wanted to touch her silken thighs and suckle her firm breasts. He wanted to—no, he had to stop that kind of thinking. It was getting difficult to walk.
He lightly shook his head and cleared his throat. If he was going to get through the afternoon without ravishing her, a change of topic was in order.
“You know, you really should have told me my friend Andrew Terwillger was the earl you thought had spent his inheritance and was looking to make a wealthy match.”
“I thought about it, but I couldn’t take the chance that you would have warned him.”
“What would have been the harm if I had?” He remembered choking on the tart. “It was quite a shock for both of us.”
“But true. I have it on good authority.”
“I spoke to Andrew about it just this morning, but I didn’t mention to him that you hinted he might be the thief among us. I don’t think the poor fellow could have stood the blow. You need to keep him out of your column.”