A Taste of Desire(26)

“After sitting nearly two days straight I would rather stand.” Oftentimes sitting left one at a disadvantage, and with every passing minute, Amelia grew ever more certain that in dealing with Thomas Armstrong she’d require more than just her wits about her.


Thomas suppressed a smile. He’d expected nothing less than a refusal, but it was always good to test the boundaries.

“Then I hope you won’t mind if I do. Unlike you, I’m on my feet much of the day.” He took a seat behind his desk.

She watched him, her blue eyes the cold of the Russian tundra.

Far too many women tended to prattle on ad nauseum. But this one was an altogether different matter. Thomas continued. “I hope you’ll find your accommodations adequate.”

“Your concern for my comfort is—is touching, however, I assure you it is most unwarranted.”

Well, she certainly hadn’t lost her talent for biting sarcasm, Thomas mused. Perhaps she would prove to be as amusing as she was infuriating.

“I thought this would be a fine time to work out the details of your duties, which I might add have met with your father’s stamp of approval.”

“I don’t doubt that whatsoever,” she muttered under her breath. Thomas caught every word.

“Tell me, my lord, you say ‘work out the details.’ I assumed my punishment had already been set in stone. Am I to have a say in the matter?”

He let out a mild chuckle. Such a refreshing blend of churlish gentility. “Touché. I guess I should have said we need to discuss my expectations of you. But before we get into that, I would like for us to put our past differences aside. To that end, I hope you will address me as Thomas, or Armstrong if you prefer. Under the circumstances, I think it would be silly for us to stand on ceremony. By the same token, I’m sure you’ll permit me to address you as Amelia.”

“I can hardly prevent you from addressing me however you please, but under the circumstances, I prefer to keep my contact with you very much on ceremony,” she said coolly.

Thomas hoped she strained her neck from having her chin tipped so high. “I may address you as I please? Then I should choose something fitting, wouldn’t you agree?”

He relished the flash of anger that sparked in her eyes, darkened to a blue so deep he could barely make out the pupils.

“Several names do come to mind. However, I had best forgo those and settle with one equally suitable … Princess.”

She went ominously still and branded him with a look so feral, he was surprised his jugular remained intact. Then she drew in a breath, drawing his attention to the rise and fall of her breasts.

A shock of arousal hit with sudden force, causing his member to test the seams on the front closure of his trousers. Her breasts weren’t too big or inadequately small, but the size of a nice handful. He flexed his fingers. Yes, and they would be firm.

Good Lord, what was wrong with him? He didn’t even like the girl. When had his sexual appetite become so indiscriminating? Certainly he’d been in the presence of more agreeable women with breasts equal to hers without being accosted by a full-on cockstand.

Annoyed at his reaction, his voice took on a crisper tone. “I shall expect you to be in this study promptly at eight o’clock every morning. You will be assigned various duties, and each I shall expect you to complete without a demur.”

Her jaw clenched.

“As for your meals, I expect you to take them with my family.”

Her eyes grew wide, he imagined with both surprise and displeasure. “I am to work for you and take my meals with you? Is that done?”

Propping his elbows on the desk, Thomas angled his head to the side, a small smile playing over his lips. “No, but then I don’t have another member of the peerage in my, er, service.”

“Well, I prefer to take my meals in my chamber,” she said, as though she had a choice.

“Then perhaps you’d prefer to take your meals in the servants’ hall or in the steward’s room with your maid? And while we’re to ensure proper protocol is followed, I can also ask that a different chamber be readied for your occupation.” If she truly wanted to be treated like a servant, he had no qualms in obliging her.

Her eyes flared briefly, and for a moment Thomas thought she intended to respond. She said nothing and moved not an inch.

“I thought as much,” he said, satisfied. “Let us get one thing very clear before we begin on this course. I am not your father. I will not condone your antics with even a quarter of his tolerance. You will conduct yourself in a manner above reproach while you are under my care. Do we understand each other?”