To Seduce a Sinner (Legend of the Four Soldiers #2)(96)

—from LAUGHING JACK

One month later . . .

Sally Suchlike hesitated outside her mistress’s bedroom. It was late morning, but still one never knew, and she’d hate to go in if her mistress was not alone. She twisted her hands and stared at the little statue of the nasty goat man and the naked lady while she tried to decide, but of course the statue made her mind drift. The goat man did look so like Mr. Pynch and she wondered, as always, if his rather gigantic—

A man cleared his throat directly behind her.

Sally shrieked and whirled around. Mr. Pynch was standing so close she could feel the heat of his chest.

The valet raised one eyebrow slowly, which made him look more like the goat man than ever. “What are you doing, loitering in the hallway, Miss Suchlike?”

She tossed her head. “I was thinking on whether I should go into the mistress’s room or not.”

“And why wouldn’t you?”

She pretended shock. “She might not be alone, that’s why not.”

Mr. Pynch lifted his upper lip in a faint sneer. “I find that hard to believe. Lord Vale always sleeps alone.”

“Is that so?” Sally put her hands on her hips, feeling excitement heat her lower belly. “Well, why don’t you just go and see if your master is in his bed alone, because I wager he’s not in his room at all.”

The valet didn’t deign to reply. He just gave her a glance that swept her from head to toe and entered Lord Vale’s bedroom.

Sally blew out a breath and fanned her cheeks, trying to cool down as she waited.

She didn’t have long. Mr. Pynch reemerged from the master’s bedroom and closed the door quietly behind him. He stalked to where she stood and loomed over her until Sally backed against the wall.

Then Mr. Pynch lowered his head to breathe into her ear, “The room is empty. Do you accept the usual forfeit?”

Sally gulped, because her stays seemed a mite too tight. “Y-yes.”

Mr. Pynch swooped down and captured her lips with his own.

The silence in the hallway was broken only by Mr. Pynch’s deepened breathing and Sally’s sigh.

Then Mr. Pynch lifted his head. “Why do you find that statue so fascinating? Every time I catch you in the hall, you’re staring at it.”

Sally blushed because Mr. Pynch was nibbling along her neck. “I think it looks like you. The little goat man.”

Mr. Pynch raised his head and glanced over his shoulder. Then he looked back at Sally, one brow raised regally. “Indeed.”

“Mmm,” Sally said. “And I’ve been wondering . . .”

“Yes?”

He nibbled at her shoulder, which made it rather hard to concentrate.

Sally tried valiantly anyway. “I’ve been wondering if you’re like the little goat man all over.”

Mr. Pynch stilled against her shoulder, and for a moment, Sally thought that perhaps she’d been too impertinent.

Then he raised his head, and she saw the gleam in his eye. “Why, Miss Suchlike, I’d be happy to help answer your questions, but I think there is one thing we must do first.”

“And what’s that?” she asked breathlessly.

His face lost all trace of teasing. He suddenly became quite serious, his blue eyes gazing down at her almost hesitantly.

He cleared his throat. “I believe you must marry me, Miss Suchlike, in order for us to continue this discussion.”

She pulled back a little and stared up at him, completely at a loss for words.

He scowled. “What?”

“I thought you said you were too old for me,” she said.

“I did—”

“And that I was too young to know my own mind.”

“I did.”

“And that I ought to be looking at other men. Men more my own age, like that footman Sprat.”

His scowl became thunderous. “I don’t remember telling you to look at young Sprat. Have you?”

“Well, no,” she admitted.

It had nearly broken her heart when he’d said those words, for she didn’t want to look at any other man but him. The only thing that had saved her, in fact, was that he’d kept creeping up behind her in the mornings and losing his silly wager. Mr. Pynch didn’t seem able to stop himself from their flirtation, and she certainly couldn’t.

Not that she’d wanted to.

“Good,” he growled now.

She beamed up at him.

He stared at her a moment and then shook his head as if to clear it. “Well?”

“Well what?”

He sighed. “Will you marry me, Sally Suchlike?”

“Oh.” Sally carefully smoothed her skirt, because of course she wanted to marry Mr. Pynch. But she was a levelheaded girl, and she needed to make absolutely sure. Marriage, after all, was a very big step. “Why do you want to marry me?”

His expression was enough to send most girls into flight, but Sally had been studying Mr. Pynch and his expressions for some time now, and she knew she was quite safe with him. “In case you haven’t noticed, I’ve kissed you every day in this hallway for the past fortnight or more. And even though you are too young and much too pretty for me, and you’ll no doubt regret sooner or later being tied to an ugly bastard like me, I still want to marry you.”