Chapter Five #2
He tucked a finger under her chin and nudged her gaze upward to meet his. “Other than perhaps a more cheerful paint color for the place, you have done nothing wrong for these children.”
“I’m sure there is plenty more we could do.”
“There is always something more that can be done, but you cannot take it all upon yourself. I have some ideas. Would it be possible to meet at the orphanage tomorrow? I can give you my suggestions.”
She nodded. “I would love it, but Lord Berwick ought to accompany us. I’ll send word to him and see if he’s available. You see, my chaperone has been feeling very poorly lately and I dare not ask her to accompany me.”
“Mrs. Garland?”
“Yes, and I cannot be seen going about London without her or another suitable chaperone.”
“Especially with the likes of me,” Mr. Knight muttered.
“With the likes of any man under the age of fifty,” she countered. “Although I shall soon be of an age where no one will care. Most ladies are considered on the shelf by my age, but I am still sought after because I am an heiress in my own right. The fortune hunters salivate when they see me.”
“The men of quality would also salivate because you are beautiful.” He dropped his hand from her chin and rubbed his neck as he took a step away from her.
She liked his touch, for he had rough, workman’s hands, and yet was gentle.
Well, better that she not pursue that thought.
“I am nowhere near as beautiful as the ladies I saw you with at the theater the other night.”
He grunted. “No, Lady Berry. They cannot hold a candle to you. They are vain creatures, while you are kind and considerate. They are haughty, while you are intelligent and have a gentle sense of humor. Your smile is warm and welcoming. Theirs are calculating and mercenary.”
She arched an eyebrow, surprised by his assessment. “But they are still beautiful. Is this not what men value above all else?”
“Some do. Not I.”
She laughed in disbelief. “Are you suggesting you would choose me over those ladies?”
“In a heartbeat. Never a doubt. I knew you were someone rare and special the moment I set eyes on you.”
“Oh.”
He rubbed his hand across the back of his neck again. “I shouldn’t have said that. Perhaps I had better leave.”
“No, Mr. Knight. Please don’t go. Now that you have had a tour of my home, let us attend to yours. I want to help make it perfect for you, and it has nothing to do with my desire to do good.”
“You do not view this as a good deed?”
“No, I do this for reasons you will think quite wicked. You see, I was unsettled by your confrontation with Lord Hawthorne last night.”
He nodded. “I am truly sorry for upsetting you.”
“Oh, do not apologize. Lord Hawthorne was completely rude and boorish. This is why I wish to help you. I would love nothing better than to have you show up those pompous wastrels like the viscount. Give them a kick in the teeth to show them you are not only as good as they are, but far superior in every way.” She cast him a dimpled smile. “Is that not wicked of me?”
He laughed, a deep, rich peal that had her tingling. “Bravo, Lady Berry. I feared you were too softhearted, but I’m glad to see you are not spineless. However, you are still a lamb and they are wolves.”
“And I now have a dragon to protect me,” she said, lightly touching his upper arm where his dragon lay beneath his shirt.
He gave her cheek a light caress. “Yes, you do.”
Berry tried to suppress the tingles that coursed through her. His touch, his laughter, his nearness—everything about him had her in a flutter.
And the scent of him. Dear heaven. Sandalwood and the heat of his skin were a perfect blend.
She was utterly lost when he smiled. She had no idea what she would do if he kissed her again. Probably kiss him back with ridiculous ardor.
Well, that was dangerous.
“Let’s have a look at your home,” she said, and hurried out ahead of him.
Berry was just about to walk out the front door when she glanced out an entry hall window and spotted Lord Hawthorne’s carriage drawing up in front of her home.
She stopped suddenly. “Oh dear. Melton, please advise Lord Hawthorne that I am out for the day. The entire day, and he is not to hang about Duchess Square for my return because you have no idea when I will be back.”
“As you wish,” the butler said. “I’ll make certain he is chased away.”
She turned back to Mr. Knight. “What shall we do? I cannot march out of here or he will see me.”
He took her hand. “Come with me. How are you at climbing walls?”
He thought to have them leave the same way he arrived? “Not good at all, Mr. Knight. I have never done any such thing before.”
“No worries, I’ll help you.” He led her out onto the garden where they had been sipping lemonade not half an hour ago.
He took the sketchbook from her hands and tossed it over onto his side of the wall.
Then he lifted her as though she weighed no more than a feather and plunked her atop the wall. “Stay right there.”
He hauled himself up beside her, and then dropped onto his lawn with the grace of a cat. He turned to her and raised his hands. “Just lean toward me. I’ll lift you down.”
She tried to keep her gown from riding up her legs, but he grew impatient as she wriggled about, and simply grabbed her by the waist with strong, sure hands.
In the next moment, she was in the air as he carried her down and set her gently on the grass beside him. “There, that wasn’t so hard. Was it?”
She shook her head and took hold of his upper arms to steady herself.
It was like clinging to rock.
“You are a very bad influence on me, Mr. Knight.” But she laughed. “Of course, it wasn’t hard for me. Need I point out that you did all the work?”
“I didn’t mind.” He still had his hands around her waist, then realized that and released her to pick up her sketchbook.
Her hands slid off his arms.
It had felt nice to touch him. Every lady must think so, she mused. It was no coincidence that she and her friends had been ogling him all month long.
“Come along,” he said, his voice husky. “I’ll show you the current shambles that is my home.”
She walked alongside him, eager to get indoors on the chance Lord Hawthorne happened to peer into Mr. Knight’s home and spot her outside.
His workmen had cleaned up the debris created when putting in the doors and were nowhere to be seen. But she smiled when she saw Bonham standing in what was the new ballroom.
He smiled back, tossed Mr. Knight an odd look, and then darted away.
Berry thought it strange, but said nothing about it, since they would probably run into him while touring the house. “I’m surprised he is still so bashful around me.”
Mr. Knight appeared to smother a laugh. “He’s been busy chasing mice. Probably was eager to get back to the task.”
“Oh.”
“Do they scare you?”
“A little. I would jump onto a chair if I saw one, but you don’t seem to have a stick of furniture in here.”
“You can leap into my arms if we see one.”
Berry was suddenly never more eager to encounter a mouse.
She cleared her throat. “Um, shall I give you my thoughts on the paint colors for this room?”