Netherby Halls

~ Eleven ~

LUNCHEON AT THE Delleson home was a lively affair. However, Sophy had two younger sisters who attached themselves to Sassy and greedily kept her in conversation throughout the meal. More than once, Sassy’s gaze met that of the marquis, and she could see he was greatly amused at her predicament.

At long last Mrs. Delleson banished her youngest daughters to another part of the house and sent her husband off with his crony to play chess in the library. This done, she announced that she had to speak with cook and left the salon with one steady look at her Sophy.

Sophy and Sassy exchanged glances, and Sophy whispered, “She is leaving us unchaperoned?”

“I am one and twenty—perhaps she thinks me chaperone enough?” suggested Sassy, which caused them both to laugh.

Lord Grey put down his empty glass of port and moved to flank Sophia. Percy, not to be undone, inched his way closer and glared at his rival.

Sassy sighed and moved away only to find the marquis at her elbow. “Ah, you have been put upon this day. Are your ears still operating?”

She laughed. “They did have an awful lot to say. It was fortunate they did not require much more than, ah, as a response.”

He reached for her ungloved hand, and she thought she would swoon from the sensation that shot through her. What was this? Why such extreme reaction to him? She touched her ring, and a feminine voice in her head whispered, The one … the only … .the one …

He looked at her ring and would have touched it had she not withdrawn her fingers from his. His voice was low, his gaze intent as he said, “An unusual ring. I have only seen that stone once before.”

She nearly put her hands behind her back but controlled herself. “I think I’ll just sit for a bit.”

He saw her seated on the sofa and sat close, perhaps too close to her. She tried to bring the conversation away from her ring. “Indeed, I am not sure I was ever that talkative, even at their ages.”

“Did they make your head spin?” he asked casually.

“Yes, I must say they nearly did. All they need is a bit more reining in and a pinch of self-control, and they’ll do.” Sassy smiled ruefully.

“A bit? I wanted to box their ears.” His blue eyes glittered with amusement. “I don’t suppose you allow such behavior from your students?”

“Oh, they are a wonderful group, but I suppose they will have their days,” she mused.

“And when those days arrive, will you, I wonder know how to handle them?” returned the marquis.

“Do you not think I can?” Sassy arched a look at him, thinking his eyes were bluer than the sky, his lips so lush and desirable, his shoulders so large, his chest so broad …

“Don’t pick up the cudgels with me, little beauty. I only wonder because you were an only child I think and never trained for the life you are presently leading,” he answered softly.

A hint of admiration lined his tone, and she looked at her hands, folded in her lap. “One must find a way to do what is necessary.”

“And so you have,” he answered quietly.

“How kind. Thank you,” she said simply.

“A truth, and it won’t be the last in our relationship,” he answered. “And I hope you may soon trust me with the same.”

Shock tinged her response. “Relationship? We do not have a relationship, my lord.”

“Ah, but that hurts. Never say you are rejecting my friendship?”

She laughed and shook her head. “Oh no, my lord, I am not so hasty, I assure you. When your friendship is offered, I will carefully give it my consideration before accepting or rejecting it,” Sassy replied, giving him a saucy look.

“Then what do you think I have been offering you from the moment we met?” he asked, looking intently into her eyes.

“Curiosity,” she answered as her hands fluttered. “Flirtation.”

“And friendship, I do hope you will believe that.”

“Do you? Perhaps I shall try to, then,” she said and once again realized that any trepidation she felt when with him wasn’t his fault. It was hers—her magic was filtering through her to him. Her magic was giving him pictures of her in his head and taking the same from him. Her magic had decided he was her mate and was teaching her to accept the decree. But she wouldn’t. She wouldn’t be guided or ruled by her magic.