Earl of Sussex (Wicked Lords of London 0.50)

The dolt wasn’t going to take the bait. Well, two could play at that game. “Charmed, I’m sure.” Without waiting for his response, she set down the book and got up, moving to the window, her back to him.

Drat it all, but she was keenly aware of his presence as he walked up behind her. “So,” his voice floated over her skin, causing her to shiver. “We’re to be married.”

“So it would seem.” She kept her eyes trained on the garden but his hand came to rest on the glass just next to her, obstructing her view and his body leaned in so close she could feel his heat. If she hadn’t been certain he was a rake before, she knew it now. No gentleman would take such liberties.

“Seem? You don’t think we’ll marry?” There was a laugh in his voice. “Well, this is an interesting twist.”

“Do you want to marry me?” They were getting to the heart of things rather quickly. Tabbie took a deep breath. It was important to make herself clear.

“Please don’t take it personally. I don’t want to marry anyone.” His breath tickled her ear. It would truly help if he backed up.

“I understand entirely,” she replied, and she did. A rake was as unappealing to her as a wallflower likely was to him. Though she appreciated him not coming out and saying it.

“But an earl would make a good catch for you, so I am puzzling out your resistance.” His hand brushed the small of her back in a gesture that was entirely inappropriate and ruining her concentration.

Picking her next words carefully, she took a deep breath. “I make no assumption that I shall find love, but I would prefer a husband that wanted my company.”

“Lady Tabitha, turn around,” he commanded. She hesitated for a second and then it was as though her feet had a mind of their own as she turned to finally look at him. Catching her breath, her eyes devoured his face. He was even more handsome this close with strong cheekbones and full lips that tilted in the slightest smile. They looked soft and enticing and she reached her gloved hand up as though to touch her fingers to them.

She was a woman who always had her wits about her. But in this moment, she couldn’t put a single thought together as he too assessed her.

“Now we are having an actual conversation.” One of his eyebrows arched up.

“Really? I preferred when I faced the window,” she mumbled, lowering her hand. She blinked and looked away, trying to call her wayward body back to heel.

“And why is that?” His voice was so close. His lips enticing as they twitched with amusement.

“Must every woman in England tell you?” She turned away again.

Surprise rippled through Luke for at least the third time since he had entered the room. Lady Tabitha was a known wallflower, that was a fact, but how could she be that blasted pretty and not be noticed? Granted her features erred on the side of sweet rather than seductive, luminous blue eyes, thick wavy auburn hair that looked barely contained by pins. He wondered what it might look like spread across a crisp white pillow.

Her nose was tiny and adorable with a little sprinkling of freckles. He had the distinct urge to kiss each one as he counted them. As she stood facing the window, he assessed the curve of her backside, which he declared delightfully perfect.

While she wasn’t tall, as was currently in fashion with the ton, she looked just the right size to fit against him, her curves softening his hard edges in all the best ways.

He tried to decide what he might ask her first. What should every woman in England tell him? He already knew Lady Tabitha was referring to his looks. But what had she

meant before about him not liking her? “Why would you think I wouldn’t want your company?”

She turned back to him then, surprise written on her adorable features. “I would have thought it obvious.”

“To you perhaps, but I would enjoy being enlightened.” His hand drifted to her hip. It was less than appropriate but he couldn’t seem to stop himself. Despite being a known rake and a member of the Wicked Earls’ Club, he had boundaries. He kept his attention to women who understood what it meant for a man to be a rake. Widows, light skirts, and the like. Generally, he stayed far away from young ladies of marriageable age. And when forced into their company, he kept his hands firmly to himself. The last thing he needed was to encourage a marriage-minded mama.

He asked himself why Lady Tabitha was different. Perhaps because he thought they would marry after all? But no, that wasn’t it. It seemed to be that he wanted to touch her. He couldn’t remember the last time he desired to touch a woman this much.

“Well, I am a wallflower to begin. Everyone knows it.”

“You chose to be so. Leaving balls as early as possible, declining dances until men stopped asking. Flaying the few men who persist with your tongue.”

“That was only Lord Carrington. He was rather rude.” Her chin tilted up to a jaunty angle and he had to grin.

She had real spirit. Luke couldn’t help but admire it. He wondered if she would be this feisty in bed. Delicious heat curled in his loins at the thought.

“Good for you. Now continue, why wouldn’t I want your company?”

“Well, I spend my time feeding the homeless and helping at orphanages.” She raised her eyebrows, as though that meant something. Her hand came to her other hip. Even with his large hand encircling her waist, she had spirit. He found that he liked it immensely.

“Yes?” His voice rumbled and he saw color rise in her cheeks. What was she thinking?