An Affair to Remember (19 page)

“About what?” she asked, desperately bidding for time.

“This attraction we have for one another.”

“Nothing, of course,” she said, smoothing her hair and trying to appear sane and sensible. “We have responsibilities. And treading down this path would be very dangerous for both of us.”

“I like danger.”

Good Lord, so did she. But not here. And not now. She knew the ending of this story, and it was nothing but heart-break and the loss of her self-respect. “Not possible. We, Lord Greyley, are going to forget this ever happened.” Anna turned on her heel and walked down the trail where Desford and Selena had just disappeared. “I’m going to see to the children.”

He made as if to follow her, but she held up a hand. “Stay here and watch the horses.”

His face darkened. “Anna, I—”

She left, almost running in her determination to get away. Once she was out of sight, she stepped off the path and leaned against a tree, pressing trembling hands to her heated cheeks. Ahead she could hear the children laughing, the sound calming her somewhat.

Damn Greyley for kissing her and making her forget herself and her responsibilities. She might be a Thraxton, but she was also the governess, and if anything were to develop between her and Greyley, it would be heartache of the first order. And for what? A few moments of passing pleasure? He couldn’t possibly want more than that. And neither, Anna decided with a loud sniff, did she.

That decided, she gathered the children for the ride home.

A
nthony awoke to the sounds of rain. It thrummed on the overhang of his window and slapped the glass panes. He sighed and rolled onto his back, staring up at the red curtains that hung around his bed. The rain put an end to his hopes of another ride with Anna, even if he did have to take those blasted children along.

Actually, though, he hadn’t really minded the children. As they’d ridden back, they’d stopped along the way to enjoy the sight of a cow rubbing its back against a tree and then again later, to enjoy a lively discussion over which thicket hid a particularly large rabbit that had frightened Desford’s horse by running across the road in front of him.

To his surprise, Anthony had enjoyed himself immensely. He’d also discovered things he’d never known. For example, he’d never realized what a talent Marian had for riding, but she was amazingly adept, far too much to be riding such a slug. He would look for a new horse for her today.

Then there was Richard. Though the boy’d remained silent, once or twice Anthony thought he’d seen just the hint of a smile, which was indeed something new. Perhaps it would just take some time and the warmth of the sun to bring the child back to life.

Anthony had enjoyed the antics of Selena and Elizabeth, too, as they shamelessly vied for Miss Thraxton’s attention. He didn’t blame them for their efforts—the governess showed to advantage in her sapphire blue habit, that ridiculous hat pinned to her red tresses, the long white feather caressing her cheek every time she turned her head.

It was enough to drive a man to drink. Worse, she had been noticeably cool toward him after their kiss, keeping her attention focused on the children.

Anthony tossed the sheets aside, then stood, the cool morning air brushing over his naked body. The wind moaned against the outside of the house, rattling the windows. Anthony dressed and had just begun to knot his cravat when a brisk knock heralded the entrance of Jenkins, who carried a crisply folded note. Anthony recognized the elegant script immediately.

Anthony wadded up the note and sent it sailing toward the fireplace. Damn the woman. He returned to knotting his
cravat, meeting his own gaze in the mirror. Anna Thraxton was not making his quest easy and it didn’t surprise him the least bit.

What was it about her, he wondered, absently noting the St. John talisman ring where it sat neglected among the fobs on his dresser. He pushed the ring aside and selected a ruby cravat pin. Perhaps it was the challenge of the chase—he hadn’t been so amused in some time.

Just being with her made him feel…He shrugged. It was the excitement of something new, something different from the ordinary. Something to be savored, for it would not last long.

Ignoring Ledbetter’s plea to wear a more significant pin on his cravat, Anthony left his room and made his way to the library. Mr. Dalmapple awaited him there, a list of pressing decisions carefully scripted on a neat sheet of vellum.

Anthony listened to his man of business with half an ear, his gaze fixed on the streams of rain that cut across the library windows. He rubbed his mouth thoughtfully, smiling a little to himself. All he had to do was find a way to get her alone again.

Going to the nursery was cut of the question. Somehow, some way, he had to get the lovely Miss Thraxton to come to him.

Excitement stirred in his stomach and quickened his blood. What would tempt a woman bent on remaining within the strict boundaries of propriety? What would lure her from the safety of the nursery?

Perhaps…perhaps a simple game of billiards. What could be more innocent? For an instant, he imagined the sight of Thraxton’s pale skin against the green felt of the table, her auburn hair splayed like a fan about her face. Hell, nothing was innocent with a woman like her around. Still…the word “billiards” would conjure no such indecent thoughts in a woman with such strenuous notions of propriety.

Grinning, Anthony reached for a sheet of vellum. He ignored Dalmapple’s running commentary on the state of the west fields and dipped his pen in ink.

Anthony paused. Yesterday’s what? Sensual kisses? Forbidden touches? He chuckled and then wrote:

He silently reread the letter. Dalmapple had by this time noticed his inattendance and was now morosely scribbling in his account books, casting dark glances his way.

Anthony sanded the missive. It was abrupt and very commanding. He was certain she’d hate it. She didn’t have the nose of a Roman emperor for nothing.

He rang for the footman, pleased with himself. He was baiting her, teasing her for amusement’s sake alone. It was childish in a way, he supposed. But it was also the most fun he’d had in a long, long time.

A discreet knock on the door heralded the footman. Anthony gave the man the missive and sent him off to the nursery. Then, satisfied, he settled back in his chair and waited. Dalmapple decided to take the opportunity to redirect his at
tention to the affairs of the estate, but Anthony waved him out, telling him that he’d meet with him on the morrow.

As Dalmapple left, sniffing as if in a huff, Anthony imagined Anna’s hair curling over her bared shoulders, caressing the line of her naked breasts and the flat plane of her stomach. The image heated him instantly and he had to shift in his chair to accommodate his reaction. He did indeed want Thraxton in his bed. Unclothed and ready for some sport. An hour or two should do it, he decided charitably. Maybe three.

Anthony glanced at the window where the rain lashed against the pane. It would have been pleasant to have awakened with Thraxton in his bed this morning, where their passion would have brightened an otherwise dreary day. Did she wear a gown to bed? He would bet his last penny she did—a long, overly frilled and heavily ribboned monstrosity of a gown, no doubt. One that hid her figure thoroughly.

Perhaps he would buy her something scandalously filmy. The thought took root and he sat musing over the merits of pale pink silk and gossamer white lace until a polite knock on the door interrupted his musings. The footman returned, a crisply folded missive on his tray. Anthony tried to still his disappointment that the intemperate Miss Thraxton had not stormed into his library, her passions in an uproar.

He took the note from the footman and gestured for the man to wait.

Anthony leaned back in his chair and propped his feet on his desk. Perhaps he’d been wrong—maybe he should use softer, gentler language, like Brand would use. Anthony snorted. Anna would scoff at such nonsense. No, a woman like Thraxton responded to direct handling and nothing else, like a wild horse that needed taming.

After a moment, he removed his feet from the desk, took pen in hand, and began to write.

Anthony sanded the missive, then handed it to the waiting footman. Arms crossed behind his head, Anthony sat back in his chair and waited, whistling a refrain from a colorful song he suddenly remembered from his youth.

Within moments he heard the snap of a determined pair of slippers approaching the library. He barely had time to loosen his cravat and prop his feet on his desk before the door was thrown open and Anna sailed in, her chin high, her air that of an offended goddess.

She slammed the door closed so hard that a book fell off a nearby shelf. Anna stepped over the book and then marched to his desk. Once there, she placed her hands palm down on the wide surface and leaned forward, her face flushed a becoming pink. “I cannot believe you would be so rude as to demand my presence based on the fact that I am in your employ!”

“You have no idea how rude I can be,” he said affably, admiring the proud line of her nose. She really was a magnificent woman, all fire and spice.

“I am not a scullery maid, Greyley, and you’d do well to remember that fact.”

The way her eyes sparkled silver when she was angry was also something to be admired. “I would never invite a scullery maid to play billiards. In fact, I wouldn’t invite a scullery maid anywhere.”

“But you would invite a governess.”

He removed his feet from the desk and stood, leaning forward until his face was even with hers across the wide desk. “I can invite you, Anna Thraxton, to play billiards, ride, even dance with me. I am, after all, master of this house.”

“You are an arrogant bastard, Greyley.”

“True,” he agreed with a faint smile. “But I’m also an excellent host.” Outside, thunder rumbled across the sky and the rain increased to a torrential pour. Anthony gestured toward the window. “I would rather ride, as I’m sure you would, but the rain has prevented it. I simply thought to exchange the one pleasure for another.”

She had to bite her lip to keep from returning his smile. Greyley outraged, anger sparkling in his dark brown eyes, was incredibly handsome. Greyley amused, his firm mouth curved in a smile, was simply devastating. Anna’s resistance was melting by the second.

As if he could read her mind, his smile widened to something slow, easy, and intimate. “Perhaps after lunch you will find the time for
two
games of billiards?”

Despite her irritation, Anna was no match for his warm brown eyes. She sighed. He looked just like one of the children begging for someone to play Jack Pole or Rough ’n
Tumble. “It would be highly inappropriate for me to do any such thing and you know it.”

“You are at my house, Miss Thraxton. Within these walls, I decide what is appropriate and what is inappropriate.”

Anna almost laughed. He was so determined to bend everything to his will. “Nothing will make me agree to
that
.”

“Then what would be acceptable to you? I cannot allow you to languish in the nursery. My sister would consider me a poor host indeed, and she’s not shy in berating me.”

“I’m not a guest and I’m not languishing. I like being with the children. Unlike you, I actually enjoyed the ride yesterday.”

His hot brown gaze rested on her, stroking her face, lingering on her lips. “So did I,” he murmured. “Far more than you realize.”

His tone was so intimate that Anna moved away from the desk, her heart thudding in the most uncomfortable way. “Lord Greyley, I cannot be alone with you again. Last time…last time was a mistake.” One that left her lying awake long after she’d gone to bed, her thoughts far, far from those of a respectable governess.

His gaze heated from brown to black in the space of an instant. “Last time was magnificent and you know it.”

“It was pleasant,” she said, wiping her damp palms on her dress, hoping that lightning did not strike her where she stood. Calling Greyley’s kisses pleasant was tantamount to calling Hampton Court Palace “nice.” “But we cannot allow ourselves to be so lost to propriety again, or—” She blushed, thinking of what that “or” portended.

“Oh, but we can,” he said in a reasonable voice, coming out from behind the desk, his movements as smooth and sure as a lion on the hunt.

“I should leave,” Anna said, suddenly breathless as she watched him approach. She took a step back.

He followed her. “You’d abandon the field of battle, just like that?” He shook his head sadly, though a gleam of humor lit his eyes to gold. “Thraxton, you disappoint me.”

She eyed him narrowly. There was something different about the earl today. Something…lighter. And infinitely more dangerous. “You wrote that horrible note just to infuriate me, didn’t you?”

He grinned, his teeth white.

Damn the man! “Just what do you hope to accomplish with such mischief?”

“I just want to talk.”

“Talk?” she scoffed. “I don’t think talking was what you had in mind.”

“Hm.” He lifted a finger and traced the line of her cheek, the touch exquisitely gentle.

Anna’s heart beat such an erratic rhythm that she was surprised he didn’t comment on it. “Greyley, we shouldn’t do this.” But oh, how she
wanted
him to do this. She
wanted
Greyley to kiss her. Kiss her, and more.

It seemed to Anna as if her entire life was to be bound forever by the strict rules of being a governess while some wild, lonely part of her hungered for something more. Something passionate. And Greyley represented that passion.

It would mean nothing, of that she was sure. But still…She looked up at the line of his mouth, her body softening at the sight. He was magnificent. Anna couldn’t imagine allowing herself to experience the forbidden with anyone else.

“Anna,” he whispered, his fingertips brushing her lips. “What do you want?”

“I don’t know, but I think…I think I want you.” Anna closed her eyes as she heard herself whisper the words. He
would think her such a fool. A woman of no principles. She opened her eyes and saw the answering blaze in his.

“I want you, too.”

Anna swallowed hard, her feelings tied into knots so tight that she couldn’t imagine how to begin untangling them. She glanced up at him through her lashes, wishing he wouldn’t stand quite so close. At the same time, she wished he’d just reach out and sweep her into his arms and end her agony.