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A weak knock on the door. “Come in.” He ordered.
Sarah opened the door silently and stepped in the library. “My lord called me.” As usual, she had her eyes downcast, her hands clasped in front of her and her shoulders bent.
To look at her constituted his perdition. Something in her pulled a cord inside him, but he did not understand how or why. He kept a proud stance, a haughty stare in his piercing dark eyes and hoped it disguised his turmoil at the sight of her. “I gather you borrowed Schelling.”
She kept her eyes on the floor. She could not risk eyeing him; it’d certainly do unnerving things to her insides. “That’s right, my lord.”
He stood up from his chair behind the desk and came to lean on the table in front of her. “Look at me when you address me!” He crossed his arms.
Then slowly she lifted her eyes. He felt as if that her stare caressed his body. He cursed his stupidity, because strange things happened to him when she looked in his eyes. “Would you care to explain to me how is it that you are capable to read German philosophy.”
Sarah felt like giving a cross answer for his arrogance in assuming that a woman and a servant were below such a high subject. Arrogance being what noblemen did, was it not. He would take it not as an accusation, but as praise.
“The vicar’s wife worked as our village teacher. She saw that I liked to study and tutored me a couple of years more than the parish offered.”
Hugh stood surprised that a village girl could reach so high. She must have a bright intelligence. “How long did that take?”
She shrugged slightly, as if this had no importance. “Almost four years.” Not enough to work as a governess, though, as she did not complete her studies.
Now he felt really amazed. “Four years?” He asked mildly. Four years, the time he prepared for university at Eton. “And what did she taught you?”
“Latin, Greek, Philosophy, geography and mathematics.” She paused, blinked her wide stare. “It constituted a very informal process.” She had difficulty in bearing his stare. Her eyes moved about.
“I see.” It amazed him, but this did not have to do with why he summoned her here, did it? He summoned her here because…because… “You’ve been,” he paused pretending to select the right word, “busy these days, haven’t you?”
At this, her eyes opened wide, her lips parted, all he could do not to go to her and enfold her in his arms.
“Yes, my lord, I try to perform my duties as perfectly as I can.” A flicker of rebellion shone in her eyes, before she lowered them. That rebellious look made him hot.
He just wanted to see her, to look at her after all these days she managed to stay away from him. He fast tumbled out of control. And when he saw it, he had paced towards her, standing two steps from her.
She bent her head back to look at him, startled. She flushed but motioned to pace back. Changed her mind. She kept her ground.
He grinned inwardly. So this was meek Sarah Barrow. “You’re avoiding me.” He murmured in a silk lordish tone.
“I am sorry if this is the impression I give, my lord. But I can assure you I’ve been busy.” She stared the floor so she gasped in surprise when two large hands circled her waist, lifted her and sat her on the desk.
“You lie so meekly, Miss Barrow.” He stood close. Too close.
When she lifted her eyes to him, she saw fire coming from his piercing dark eyes. She would go. She had to find a way of leaving the library. She would not allow herself to succumb again. Her heart thundered.
Now his hand had reached her face and his thumb caressed her lips in tempting slow movements. She sucked in the air as pleasure spread over her skin. Her eyelids felt heavy, her body begun to melt. The manly scent of him assailed her nostrils; his short breath feathered her cheeks. He would kiss her and she would combust again.
Under his thumb, her lips felt soft and sweet. His fantasy envisioned their bodies entwined and the utter craving that made his nights hell, turn into pleasure and fulfilment. His thumb insisted on her inviting lips, until she arrested it between her teeth, tasting it as if it taste like a heavenly delicacy. He went hot, mad, hard. All the promises her lips uttered contributed to his desperation.
Voices sounded in the corridor not far from the library. Lord Hawkmore stared back at the door. Lady Adelaide. This gave her the perfect excuse to drag herself away from him. She quickly jumped from the desk; half curtsied and left in haste.
In the corridor, Lady Hawkmore had her back to the library door. Sarah slipped through the other side and hid in the servants’ stairs, breathless.
An idiot! Hugh had his both hands on the desk and bent on the right spot she had been. He acted like a bloody bully. Just because his body spun out of control. Not only his body. He went out of his mind!
Adelaide knocked politely. He told her to come in. He turned to look at her. Her sapphire eyes looked at him attentive. “Is there a problem?” She asked coolly.
He raked his hand over his black shinning hair. “No. No, just some tenants’ issue.” He lied. He had to justify his state of complete disarray.
“Alright.” She rolled her diamond bracelet distractedly. “I hope you haven’t forgotten that we’re receiving guests for dinner.” Perfectly coiffured, her wheat hair came in curls from the top of her head. She dressed an expensive silk lavender day gown, made to flatter her lush figure and bring out her sapphire large eyes. She would probably go shopping with some lady or other.
He turned to surround his desk and hide the vexed expression that crossed his aristocratic face. He did not know if he had conditions to put on a social mask tonight. “Yes, of course I remember.” He sank on his chair and eyed her as he managed to put on a nonchalant posture, leaning back on the seat and spreading his arms on the desk. “I’ll be ready.” He could only hope she did not notices his…altered body state.
