One Week As Lovers (Somerhart 3)

“I’d heard that,” her uncle said.

Her aunt perked up. “Is there any chance the duke might come for a visit?”

Nick’s eyes watched Cynthia with rare seriousness as she hovered at the edge of the crowd. He’d invested with Somerhart? Where had he found that kind of money? It made no sense.

She had so many questions, and he was so very carefully keeping his distance. She stalked him, drawing closer.

Her aunt had invited three other families, of course. No point in having a viscount to dinner if you could not show him off. The others crowded around Nick, and she could not edge closer. When she caught his gaze again, she narrowed her eyes at him.

In England, she’d been so confident in her position. She’d nobly refused to marry him and ruin his family. But something was different inside her now. She was in America. A new land that let her see things in a new way. People made their own destinies here. Why shouldn’t she?

Here, they believed in the pursuit of happiness. They believed in a greater destiny. And both her happiness and destiny were with Nick. She was sure of it.

He’d called her strong and brave when they were in England. She hadn’t believed it then. But standing on the deck of that ship, sailing across the ocean, she’d felt brave. With the salt wind whipping her skirts and the sun glinting off thousands of miles of water, she’d felt strong.

And now she felt like a vengeful goddess, resolved to have her way. Perhaps that had something to do with the dowry her aunt had gifted her with. “It’s only what your father would have wanted,” she’d said.

A thousand pounds.

Not a fortune, but here in America, they could turn it into something. Or perhaps she would invest in Huntington Shipping.

Cynthia threw a suspicious glare in Nick’s direction. A part-owner?

Whatever her suspicions, her glare lasted only a moment. Then she was caught up in the movement of Nick’s hands as he said something to amuse the people gathered around him. He laughed, throwing his head back to reveal his throat. She couldn’t see the scar, but she thought of it.

It would be better for him to marry a rich woman. His life would be better. But who would understand him the way Cynthia did?

Dread

rolled through her gut when she thought of how careful he was with his body. How protective. Another woman wouldn’t understand that. She might touch his hair and hurt him. She might not want her hands held down, might degrade him for doing so.

How could Cynthia willingly give him over to someone else?

She couldn’t. She set her jaw in determination.

“Shall we proceed to the dining room?” her aunt announced with a clap. “Lord Lancaster, I’ve put you with Miss Merrithorpe so you won’t feel quite so beset by strangers.”

Triumph roared to life in Cynthia’s chest. Finally, she’d have him in her clutches. Armed with her excuse, she approached. “Lord Lancaster. A pleasure to see you again. It’s been an honor to watch you from across the room.”

“Miss Merrithorpe,” he said warily. But then his eyes focused on her mouth. “Your beauty amazes. As always.” He held out his arm.

She’d planned to torment him this evening if she could, but when Cynthia curled her hand slowly around his forearm and spread her fingers wide, pleasure wound through her gut so quickly that it hurt. She was the one tormented. Still, Nick closed his eyes and inhaled.

When she’d caught her breath again, she whispered, “I need to speak with you privately.”

He shook his head. “That wouldn’t be proper.”

“I am not proper and well you know it.”

Alarm showed on his face as he glanced around, but no one was paying any mind. She took deliberately small steps to draw out this private moment.

“I have questions,” she insisted. “If you won’t come to my room, meet me in the library after dinner. I’ll excuse myself from the drawing room. No one will miss us.”

“I won’t risk your reputation. We’ll have plenty of time to talk when I come for tea tomorrow.”

“I don’t wish to speak of bonnets and books!”

Nick leaned slightly toward her. “I am a new man, Cynthia. I am determined to no longer take the easy way. And if there is anything in my life I mean to do correctly, it is this. I will be in New York for a full month. Please allow me to do this properly.”