“Goodness. I’m so—”
“Don’t you dare say you’re sorry,” he told her sternly. “I won’t have it.”
“Very well then, but I cannot pretend to be glad. I hope Charlotte Walker will regret the choice she made for the rest of her life.”
His lips quirked. “I believe she might. As for me, I imagine I was saved from a loveless marriage. Twice, thanks to you.”
“If love was what you wanted, then why insist on marrying Bethany?”
“Because I decided to make a practical decision for a change – to choose my wife sensibly instead of using my heart. After all, the heart thing proved a complete disaster so...” He puffed out a breath. “During the last few years I’ve been busy, working to get my finances in order. Bethany’s dowry was supposed to help improve the running of my estate. Without it, I faced a greater challenge, and when my father passed last year, I inherited an unexpected amount of debt.”
“Have you managed to pay it off yet?”
“Mostly. I sold the properties that weren’t entailed and auctioned off the art he’d collected over the years. With my own investments beginning to show returns, things are finally starting to look up.”
Athena nodded. “I’m pleased. You deserve a bit of good fortune after all you’ve been through.”
“Thank you. I appreciate your saying so.”
“And if there is anything I can do to help you in some way...” She bit her lip. “Please reconsider the offer I made to you earlier. With my family’s help your reputation can be restored.”
“I’ll consider it, although the very idea of returning to the marriage mart makes me shudder.”
She grinned. “I know how you feel.”
He watched her pensively for a moment. “Perhaps you’ve a point, though. If we can show the ton we’ve made amends by stepping out together, there might be hope for us both.”
“You think being seen in your company could help my reputation as well?”
“I don’t see why not.” A thoughtful gleam lit his eyes. “I mean, if I show the world I’ve forgiven you for what happened, no one else should have cause to blame you. And by dancing with you—”
“Dancing?” she squeaked, her insides shivering at the idea of him holding her close.
“Mm...hmm...” Something dark and dangerous swirled in the depth of his gaze. “I am a marquess, after all. My showing you favor would surely be to your advantage.”
“I, um...” Her words caught in her throat. She could not speak or think or even move. All she could do was sit there while he held her captive with the intensity of his stare. Heat washed her skin while tiny sparks danced their way through her. The air grew strained – thick with an odd new awareness she’d never experienced before. She was alone, not with the boy she’d once known, but with the man he’d become, and for the first time in her life, she was scared – scared of the way he made her feel, scared of the power he seemed to wield, scared of what might happen if she gave into the fierce temptation assailing her at this very moment – the reckless desire to climb into his lap and kiss him senseless.
She stood – bolted out of her seat, more like – and crossed to the bookcase furthest away from where he sat. Good heavens. She stared at the shelves and at the vast variety of leather bound volumes they housed. Her hand reached out for support. He’d muddled her head and rendered her breathless. How was that possible?
“Athena?” His voice was too close. She spun around and there he stood, too tall and imposing for her to think straight. He frowned. “Is something the matter?”
She shook her head. “No. Not at all.”
“It was just a suggestion,” he said. “If you do not wish to dance with me, you obviously shan’t have to.”
Swallowing, she skirted along the bookcase, removing herself from his vicinity. “All right.”
“All right?” He watched her with a puzzled expression, clearly unsure of what she might be agreeing to.
Athena couldn’t blame him since she’d no idea herself. She just knew she felt like her world was tilting, and she was falling and somehow he’d made that happen, though she’d no idea how. “I need some more tea.”
“Of course.”
She gave a curt nod to cement the notion, to cement herself, and went to collect her cup.
ROBERT WATCHED ATHENA walk away. Flee, more like, to the safety of her chair. His chest tightened. The suggestion they dance together had clearly alarmed her. He clenched his fists and tried not to feel too affronted. Instead, he forced himself to think clearly – rationally – without emotion fogging his brain. Athena was brave. She never ran from anything. Why, then, would she run from him?
He pondered his own response to her – the inappropriate attraction he could not deny. Lord help him, he’d not thought she could look more tempting than when she’d put her entire leg on display while mounting her horse, but he’d been wrong. The dress she presently wore, while modest and drab in cut and color, fit her so snuggly he could not ignore her luscious curves. Christ, how he longed to slide his palm over her, to cup and squeeze her until she begged for more.
He was a cad. A disgusting bastard who needed to get his head out of the gutter.
But what if...
What if the attraction was not one sided? What if she experienced it too?
He knit his brow.
Could it be possible?
It was the only thing he could think of that might distress her. Especially if she did not understand what was happening. Equally thrilled and appalled by the prospect of him appealing to her on a more elemental level, he forced himself to remain where he was, to turn his back and quietly study his bookshelf while giving himself time to think and her a chance to regain her composure.
His heart knocked hard against his ribs. They’d only just been reunited. She was a Townsbridge. He could not allow himself to act rashly. Removing himself to a nearby window, he gave his attention to the outdoors, only to find himself gazing at her reflection in the glass. He had to marry one day. His last two attempts had led to disaster. Finding a woman who’d want him after the ordeal he’d been through would be a chore. And Athena owed him.
No. That wouldn’t do.
He could not permit himself to pursue her unless he did so for the right reasons.
His muscles responded, tightening at the idea of having her all to himself. There was certainly one reason he could think of. Their marriage would not lack passion. And she needed someone firm to guide her – to reel her in and keep her safe.
A smirk caught his lips. He glanced at where she sat. Firelight played upon her skin and with her mass of curly brown hair flowing over her shoulders, she looked divine. Lowering his gaze to the swell of her bosom, he dug his fingertips into his palms and clenched his jaw. Yes. He wanted her. More than he’d wanted Charlotte, more than he’d wanted Bethany, more than he’d ever wanted anything else in the world. He wanted to possess Athena’s fiery spirit, to bask in the pleasure he knew he’d find in her arms, to savor the joy she would bring to his life, the vitality of her nature. She was what he required – the path to true happiness. Perhaps even to love. And how the hell he’d not seen that years before was beyond him.