As the Devil Dares (Capturing the Carlisles #3)(59)

Worse, that he wouldn’t let himself get burned by her.

Oh, how it had hurt! His arrogant self had returned in full force, and spurred on by anger, she’d dumped the mop water over his head.

A twinge of guilt pricked her. Perhaps she shouldn’t have done that. But blast him! He’d made her so furious. And furious most of all at herself for falling for his charms. Because when she was in his arms, she’d wanted so much more from him than just a few kisses.

Thinking like that was dangerous, but she couldn’t help it. Just thinking about him stirred the same tingling ache between her legs that she suspected he’d wanted to touch when his hand had slipped beneath her skirt. If she hadn’t stopped him, would he have touched her there?

She wickedly let herself contemplate what it would feel like to have his hand between her thighs, and with her eyes closed, in the darkness of her mind, she imagined just that…his hand caressing at the tingling ache until it turned into a hot throbbing, long fingers teasing wickedly at her most intimate place. More…his mouth kissing her there, doing to her there what he’d done with her breasts—

The soft click of the turning door handle shot through her. Her eyes flew open, and she gasped, as if actually caught doing what she had only imagined.

Thank God that the heat of the bath hid whatever scarlet blush darkened her face, although it couldn’t hide the self-recrimination. Fantasizing about Robert Carlisle like that—had she gone mad?

“There you are.” Evelyn entered with an affectionate smile. She sank gracefully to the floor beside the tub to talk to Mariah, just as they’d always done during baths since they were children. In the past, such uninvited visits were done more to aggravate whoever was in the tub and couldn’t escape, but since they’d returned from Miss Pettigrew’s, these chats had become opportunities for sisterly heart-to-heart conversations.

Mariah’s chest tightened ruefully. As with quiet moments with Papa, these talks with Evie had also grown fewer and farther between.

“Bentley said you were home.” Evie dipped her fingers into the water to test the temperature. “How was Gatewell?”

“It was fine,” she dismissed.

Evie’s lips curled knowingly. “Why don’t I believe you?”

For a moment, Mariah considered dissembling, but Evelyn knew her well enough to spot a lie from a mile away. “Robert Carlisle stopped by.”

Her sister’s eyes shined with a romantic gleam. “To see you?”

“To tell me that there was an oversight,” she corrected firmly. The last thing she needed was for Evie to play at matchmaker. “You’ve been invited to the ball after all.”

Evie shrugged a slender shoulder. “I told you that I didn’t mind.”

“But I did,” she said quietly. Then forced a lightness into her voice. “So now you can be the evening’s Incomparable, and no one will pay me a second glance. Perfect for both of us.”

Her sister sighed dreamily. “Or we could both meet wonderful gentlemen who sweep us off our feet.”

“Glass slippers will cut you, Cinderella,” Mariah warned wryly.

“Not if we’re swept off our feet.”

“Especially then.”

Ignoring that, Evelyn idly swirled her fingers in the water. A dreamy expression lit her face. “And speaking of handsome gentlemen—”

Mariah frowned. “I didn’t realize we were.”

“Robert Carlisle.”

She heaved out a breath and closed her eyes, doing her best to ignore her sister as she sank deeper into the water. Evie was a hopeless romantic, but she’d have to look elsewhere if she wanted to play fairy godmother.

“I don’t think he’s nearly as unpleasant as you make him out to be, Mariah.” She lowered her voice secretively. “In fact, I think he’s quite wonderful.”

She cracked open one eye and gazed at Evie suspiciously. “How would you know?”

“I’ve had several conversations with him and the duchess since the season began, and he was very charming. He seems to know a great deal about shipping and trade—”

If it were possible to roll only one eye, Mariah did so, then closed it again.

“And he’s quite captivated by you.”

That brought both eyes open wide. “Rubbish,” she denied, ignoring the sudden pounding of her foolish heart. “The man cannot stand me.”

“Oh, so much more than you think,” Evie practically purred, so caught up in the idea of romance that she didn’t realize the impossibility of what she was suggesting. Her and Carlisle—ludicrous. “He doesn’t take his eyes off you whenever you’re together.”

Ha! “Only because he thinks I’m plotting against him.”

A hint of surprise laced her sister’s voice. “Are you?”

Of course, but…“That doesn’t signify.” She frowned, ignoring the stab of hurt to her chest as she acknowledged, “I’m nothing to him but a problem to be dealt with.”

“Hmm.” Evie rested her cheek on her arm as it stretched across the edge of the tub, and gazed doubtfully at her sister. “Then for your sake, Mariah, I certainly hope the man knows how to deal with you successfully.”

Mariah scowled at her. Evelyn could be annoying, especially so when she was right. But Mariah was done talking about Robert Carlisle. “And how do you plan on dealing with Burton Williams?”