Part 7 (1/2)
”I was wondering if you would accompany me for a stroll in the garden?”
He wanted her alone, wanted to know exactly what she'd been about toying with him tonight and what she was planning on doing next. He, on the other hand, wanted to kiss her-long and hard and deeply enough to find out if she still tasted like chocolate mousse.
”A stroll?” she said. ”Now? Thank you, my lord, but no. I'm afraid it's far too cold.”
”Then I shall have one of the footmen fetch your cloak.” He refused to be daunted.
”It is October. I do not walk out in October.”
”You didn't seem to mind the other day when we attended the Christie's auction together.”
Her sofa companions' ears seemed to perk up at that bit of news.
Her dark brows furrowed. ”We did not attend together and the event was held indoors.”
”Still, we had a most entertaining conversation,” he said affably. ”Very well, if you won't come out to the gardens, then let us take a tour of the house. The Hollands have an excellent picture gallery.”
Her luminous eyes glittered. ”So I have heard. Another time perhaps. I am quite comfortable where I am.”
Stubborn minx. Thought she could tease him, then brush him aside, did she? She needed to learn that he was every inch as stubborn as she and then some.
”All right, since you insist, I shall join you here,” he said.
Unfortunately, the only unoccupied chair was several feet distant. With his hands tucked behind his back, he stood as she inclined her head to continue her conversation with the other two men.
Leo fixed his gaze on Wilc.o.x, a redhead with badly freckled skin and pale blue eyes. Wilc.o.x glanced up at him, then away, looking distinctly uncomfortable that he was being watched. He responded to something Thalia said, but his words lacked the proper focus and enthusiasm as if his thoughts were elsewhere.
He reminded Leo of a cornered hare, while Leo, in this instance, was the fox.
”Wilc.o.x,” Leo said, breaking into the conversation a minute later, ”Lady Thalia could do with another refreshment. Why don't you go get her one.”
Wilc.o.x met his eyes, an entire row of the freckles disappearing into the sudden creases on his forehead. ”I beg your pardon?”
”No need to beg my pardon, it is Lady Thalia who is parched.” Leo stared, using his height and muscled physique to add power to his intimidating expression.
”There is no need-,” Thalia began.
Leo didn't look away from Wilc.o.x. ”She's waiting. You don't want to disappoint her, do you?”
Wilc.o.x swallowed, a mixture of outrage and alarm on his face. For despite being older than Leo by several years, he was no match when it came to a battle of dominance.
Wilc.o.x rarely took on a fight and, as everyone knew, still did the bidding of his domineering mother. Perhaps that's why he had yet to marry, because she had yet to approve of a bride. She certainly wouldn't like it if she knew he was flirting with the notorious Thalia Lennox.
Wilc.o.x's weak chin trembled as he decided whether to tell Leo to go straight to h.e.l.l. Suddenly, Wilc.o.x looked away-the staring duel apparently done. Huffing out a breath, Wilc.o.x stood, executed a stiff bow and stalked away.
Casually, Leo turned his sights on Lady Thalia's other companion, Lord Stanley. He'd seen him a few times over the years at White's Club, but they were no more than pa.s.sing acquaintances. Stanley was stocky with a head of thick black hair and had far more confidence than Wilc.o.x could ever hope to muster. At the moment he looked amused, leaning back against the sofa while he waited to see what Leo's next move would be.
Leo considered trying to intimidate the other man, but decided a more direct approach might be in order.
”Take yourself off too, Stanley. I'd like a word with Lady Thalia and you're rather a gooseberry at present.”
Stanley raised a brow, his lips twitching as if he was deciding whether to be annoyed or further entertained. He angled his head toward Thalia.
”Lady Thalia, what do you think? Shall I go or would you prefer that I remain and send this wayward ruffian off instead? I'd advise you not to be alone with him. He has a dreadful reputation, you know.”
As did Stanley. Everyone knew the man was an unapologetic womanizer. Then again, maybe that's why Thalia was sitting here with him on the sofa.
Leo scowled at the idea.
”She'll hardly be alone, seeing that we're in the middle of a crowded drawing room,” Leo said. ”Now, trot on after Wilc.o.x and find some other lady to importune.”
Stanley laughed. ”Shall I do as he demands, Lady Thalia? It's completely up to you, although I readily admit that Byron and I have put you in a bit of a fix. Which one of us shall it be? I await your pleasure.”
Lady Thalia's lips thinned, her eyes moving between them as if she wished she could send both of them packing.
”Thank you for your concern, Lord Stanley,” she said after a moment, ”but I fear there will be no peace if I do not give in to Lord Leopold's demands. We shall have plenty of time to talk again before the party ends.”
”I look forward to the occasion.” Stanley stood and made her a bow. ”Byron.”
Leo nodded but said nothing else. As soon as the other man was gone, Leo dropped down into the vacated spot next to her.
Rather than scoot away, Lady Thalia held her place. ”I knew you had an overabundance of gall, but I had no notion you could behave like such a barbarian.”
He smiled. ”Of course. How else do you think my ancestors have managed to hold on to a dukedom for the past three hundred years? Knowing how to vanquish one's enemies is a trait that runs strong in the Byron bloodline.”
”I don't believe Mr. Wilc.o.x and Lord Stanley count as enemies.”
”They do if they stand in my way where you are concerned. I won't brook another man coming between us.”
She turned her cordial gla.s.s slowly in her hand. ”And what makes you imagine there is going to be an us?”
He leaned closer, his voice low. ”The way you enjoyed your dessert this evening perhaps? It has put all sorts of imaginings into my head and left me thinking just how I would like to enjoy you.”
Her lashes swept low for a moment before she looked up again and met his gaze. Her eyes were dark and mysterious, full of secrets. Quite suddenly he found himself wanting to learn them all.
”I think you read rather more into my actions than was actually there,” she said lightly. ”I have a pa.s.sion for chocolate, that is all.”
”What about the grapes?”
”Those as well.”
He stared for another moment, then laughed. ”Well, if you put that much enthusiasm into a dish of sweets, sweetheart, then I cannot wait to see where else your pa.s.sions lie.”
”I am not your sweetheart, Lord Leopold, and you are not to say such things. Someone might overhear.”