Chapter Seventeen #2
The lady hugged her, and Nora returned the embrace. And that’s when she noticed Ralston standing in the doorway.
Ralston wanted a reckoning with his wife, and he refused to wait until their guests had departed.
He pulled her aside and tugged her down the hallway until they were alone. Her full breasts brushed against his chest, and his heart hammered from holding her close. It was getting harder each day to resist her. ‘You gave the lady books because her husband took them from her?’
She looked up at him, her lovely face half lit in the dim corridor. ‘Yes. I should have told you. I shall pay for the books.’
‘I don’t care about the cost.’ His voice sounded gruff. She assumed he was angry. He was. Just not at her.
She bit her bottom lip. ‘And what about my subterfuge for inviting them?’
He stared at her mouth as her teeth worried her full lip. He began to sweat. He wanted to suck that lip into his mouth, kiss her hard. ‘You should have told me you saw Umbridge at the bookshop. But either way, your gift of books to the Baroness was kind.’
She let out a sigh of relief and touched his sleeve. ‘I’m relieved and thankful.’
His body grew hot and heavy. Reaching out he touched a loose curl that had escaped her bun and tucked it behind her ear. ‘Some believe no good deed goes unpunished. I believe the opposite is true and that goodness will come back to you.’
‘I thought you were angry with me at dinner.’
‘That was because of the way the Baron stared at you. Did you think I didn’t notice? I don’t want him to return. His wife, on the other hand, can come as often as she wishes. To read or otherwise.’
He brushed a hand down her cheek to her swanlike neck.
Her pulse beat rapidly. He lowered his head and placed his lips there.
Her soft sigh of pleasure aroused him further.
And when her arms wound around his neck and pulled him close, he kissed her deeper.
She was sweet and responsive, just like he wanted.
‘Nora!’ a voice called.
He pulled back. ‘It’s your sister. Go.’
With her departure, he rested a hand on the wall where her head at been. Breathing heavily, he wondered how much longer he could wait to bed his wife.
The next day, Nora returned from her last cooking lesson with Ani.
Finally! It had taken hard work, but Nora was ready and eager to make her own meal.
Excitement bubbled in her chest when she thought of surprising Ralston.
Meanwhile, she had been making more progress with her own research by utilizing her microscope.
She’d risen early, before her cooking lessons, to add to her notes each day.
Her visit to the museum and the Cummings exhibit had inspired her.
Her days were full, with her work, her cooking lessons and her social obligations as countess.
But she didn’t mind. Somewhere in the deep recesses of her mind, she believed that the busier she was, the less time she’d focus on her vexingly attractive husband.
Nora had just stepped into the vestibule when the butler, Jenkins, approached. ‘There’s a gentleman waiting for you in the drawing room, my lady. He is presently with his lordship.’
Nora paused, unpinning her bonnet. ‘A gentleman?’
‘I’m not certain of his name. His lordship said only that the guest desired an introduction.’ He took her pelisse and bonnet, but she kept her reticule.
Brows drawing together, Nora followed Jenkins down the corridor, her half-boots silent on the carpet runner. The door to the drawing room stood slightly ajar, and Jenkins pushed it open for her to enter.
Lord Ralston rose and stood tall. Opposite him stood a man of average height and weight with brown hair greying at his temples. A pair of spectacles perched on the bridge of his nose.
‘Nora,’ Ralston said with a warm smile, ‘we’ve been awaiting your return. Allow me to introduce Mr Collins.’
The man bowed. ‘It’s a pleasure to meet you, my lady. His lordship has told me much about you.’
Ralston had spoken about her? She gave Mr Collins a quick glance.
His spectacles gave him a scholarly air.
His coat was brown wool, his waistcoat made to match, and his shoes well shined but sensible rather than fashionable.
His brown eyes were bright behind the thick lenses.
He could easily blend into a crowd unnoticed.
Nora offered a slight curtsy. ‘I apologize for any delay. I was visiting a family friend.’ If Ralston thought it unusual, he made no show of it.
‘No apology necessary, Lady Ralston,’ said Mr Collins.
Ralston gestured for them to sit. He chose to sit beside her on the sofa rather than in an adjacent armchair.
The attraction she’d tried to ignore seemed to spark to life at his closeness.
A glimpse at his lips caused memories of their kiss to return in a rush.
With great effort, she focused on their guest.
‘Mr Collins serves on the board of the London Scientific Society,’ Ralston said. ‘I met him at White’s when I was out with Lord Adler. When I mentioned your studies, he expressed considerable interest and wanted to meet you.’
Nora’s breath caught. The Scientific Society? Her reticule, dangling from her wrist, nearly slipped to the floor. She looked at Mr Collins, then glanced at Ralston, then back to Collins. ‘I’m honored you took the time to visit.’
‘My interest was piqued,’ Mr Collins said.
He gestured towards her shells on display on shelves and in the curiosity cabinet in the corner of the room.
She hadn’t yet had them removed since holding her salon and the housekeeper, Mrs Hanning, had seemed fine with them remaining, as well.
Now she was glad for it. Her mind was still reeling from having this man in her home.
‘Ralston mentioned you have been studying shells that have regenerative properties and can mend themselves.’
Ralston had recalled that and had conveyed it to Collins?
The last time she’d mentioned this was on a Cornwall beach.
Since then, she’d been studying the repaired shells using her microscope for a future presentation.
The magnification power of her microscope had revealed the many layers of each shell.
She set her reticule to the side and was aware of Ralston sitting beside her on the sofa, his presence comforting.
‘Yes. I’ve been studying certain mollusks. Some can repair damage to their shells from a fisherman’s net for example. They are much more complex than we know. I had hoped to present my findings when my studies are complete.’ Her voice rose with a sense of excitement to share this with a colleague.
Mr Collins nodded, his eyes shining with intelligence. ‘Fascinating and quite novel. I’d like to hear more about your research. Have you documented your observations?’
‘I have,’ she said. ‘Though my notes are still somewhat disordered.’ It was the way she worked, but at that moment, she regretted not organizing them before.
Ralston touched her arm. His presence, warm and solid, quieted her fluttering nerves.
‘She is too modest by half,’ Ralston said. ‘I’ve seen her journal entries myself and can say she is methodical and far more articulate than she admits.’
A glow cheered her at his unwavering support. For the next twenty minutes, Nora spoke about her work. Ralston added his thoughts without interrupting her and Mr Collins asked questions and seemed truly interested in her methods and findings. He also admired her father’s seashells on display.
Mr Collins glanced at the mantel clock as it chimed five. ‘I must leave, but I thank you, Lady Ralston. Your research has genuine promise. I shall mention it to my colleagues at our next meeting.’
Together, they escorted Mr Collins to the vestibule. When the door closed behind the man, Nora turned to her husband. ‘How did you convince him to pay a visit?’
Ralston shrugged, though his eyes gleamed with pride. ‘I did meet him at White’s. When I told him about you, he asked to meet you.’
She gave a disbelieving laugh. ‘That’s all?’
‘That’s all.’ He leaned against the banister, his lips curving in a smile.
She bit her lower lip. ‘How did I do?’
‘Very well, just as I knew you would. You were eloquent, knowledgeable and passionate about your work. I have no doubt he’ll speak highly of you to his Society colleagues. You may even get an invitation to present your findings sooner than expected.’
Her cheeks flushed. She pressed cool fingers to her overheated skin. Every time he mentioned that he valued her intelligence a bit more of her heart was lost to him. ‘Do you really think so?’
‘I do,’ he said, his voice low. ‘You did more than impress him—you charmed the fellow. What man you could resist you?’
Her heart gave a little lurch at the admiration in his gaze.
Was he talking about Mr Collins or himself?
For an insane moment, she desperately wanted it to be him.
She cleared her throat. ‘I must organize my notes. There’s little time and much to do.
’ She spun on her heel, ready to race upstairs, then froze and looked back at him. ‘Oh! I nearly forgot. Thank you.’
He smiled. ‘I’m glad you are pleased.’
Nora’s thoughts were a whirlwind as she climbed the stairs.
Marriage was nothing like she’d first expected.
She’d initially thought it a cage of sorts, a means to have a man control her and stifle her dreams of science.
But marriage to Ralston was far from a prison.
He had opened doors instead of closing them.
Her emotions warred in what she feared was a losing battle, and her heart had a mind of its own.
And suddenly, cooking for him seemed woefully inadequate. She wanted her husband, all of him. If he would not open their adjoining bedchamber door, then she would do so herself.
After all, it wouldn’t be the first time she’d slipped into his bed.