Without considering what it meant, he allowed himself to wonder what it was like in the future. What was dancing like? Miss Darling stirred something in him. He was curious about her dancing.
Curiosity. Another curse that gives birth to temptation. He couldn’t be tempted by her. He wouldn’t allow it. No lady at court had ever tempted him. The years he fought for the king were spent in celibacy. He didn’t mind. He was with a woman once and it wasn’t what he’d imagined it to be. Sexual intimacy hadn’t been intimate for him. It had been quick. He didn’t have the heart for it, so he stopped doing it. But on more than one occasion while in the company of Miss Darling, the memory of the first time he’d seen her in a scandalously short skirt and her legs encased in some sort of hose, as tight as her skin, stirred his blood. The sound of her voice, her laughter, even when she reviled him, sent tremors deep into where his heart and soul slept.
She had the courage to stand up to him, and to Harry Gable, as well. She’d reached out her hand to Gray, unafraid of being bitten, and touched him. How long before she discovered the wolf she stroked had been locked away for a reason? Only…he couldn’t remember what it was.
He heard footsteps coming toward him and looked up, away from his thoughts.
It was as if she stepped out of his head and landed in front of him, just her clothes were different. Unfortunately, she looked no less beguiling in her pale blue eighteenth century robe over layers of muslin, cinched at her small waist. Her long, chestnut tresses were loose, tied back at the temples. He half-turned to hurry back the other way, then realized how pathetic he must appear and straightened.
He counted how many of her footfalls echoed within him—or was it his heartbeat?
She was smiling.
He dipped his gaze to her lips when she reached him.
“Lord Dartmouth, have you been avoiding me all day?”
Had she noticed his absence? What did it mean? Why did he care? This veil of a woman seemed to have the power to demolish the great fortress he’d built around himself, where even animals dared not go.
“I had more thieves to catch, Miss Darling,” he told her woodenly.
“Did you catch any?”
He refused to let himself fall captivated by her shining, sapphire eyes and breathless smile. “Two. Now, if you will excuse me—”
“So then, youareavoiding me.”
He stopped. “I’m merely tired and wish to rest,” he said without turning to look at her.
“Fine, enjoy your rest. I’m going out.”
His eyes opened wider, and he spun around. “Miss Darling, don’t dare leave this castle alone.”
Concern. Yet another curse this woman brought upon him.
“Am I a prisoner?” Her eyes weren’t shining, they were blazing.
“No. Didn’t you hear what I just told you? I caught two more thieves today. It might be different in your future, but here, you’re a temptation few men will ignore.”
She didn’t say anything for a moment, but her cheeks grew crimson. She patted them and stared at him. “You’re different?” she finally asked.
He nodded. “Yes, I am.” He resisted temptation every time he didn’t run his sword through certain individuals when he saw them. “Ask one of my guardsmen to accompany you.”
“Absolutely not,” she let him know. “I want to be alone.”
He laughed in disbelief and looked behind her at his bedroom door. “Weren’t you looking for me?”
“I was,” she offered him a cheeky smile, “before I found you and remembered what a dislikable person you are.”
“Did you forget so easily?” He mocked her with a lifted brow. “I’ll have to try harder to make sure you don’t forget again. Should I begin with returning you to the care of Harry Gable? He was about to throw you out in the snow because you refused to mock my dancing, hmm? Thank you for that by the way.”
He didn’t lose himself to the sweet confusion on her face, the sudden rush of warmth in her eyes.
What was he saying? He shook his head, then covered it with his arm. “Come with me.” Before he could stop his own feet from moving, his fingers from taking hold of her wrist, he went with her to fetch her coat and then led her back out of the castle.
“Where are we going?” she asked, letting him lead her to the stables.
“I was hoping you would tell me, since you’re the one who wanted to wander out.”