“Perhaps.” Philip grinned at him. “But who knows what the future might hold, old friend?”
He certainly had not expected what had befallen him earlier that day.
He had been well prepared to end his father’s entire bloodline by refusing to provide the wretch with an heir. And then Lady Selina Sinclair barged in through his gate and wrecked his carefully laid out plans. Or rather, her father did, but she certainly gave him more than enough incentive to agree with the temperamental old man’s demands.
“I suppose that is enough spirits for this afternoon.” Zachary smiled as he rose from his chair. “But give it some thought, old friend, before you end up doing something you will never be able to undo.”
“Having a daughter has truly changed you.” Philip shook his head.
Zachary smiled again but said nothing more.
Just then, a knock sounded at the door.
“You were expecting someone else?”
Philip shook his head. “It’s probably just Perkins. Or my grandmother.”
It was neither, however.
The door slowly swung open to reveal the very object of their conversation, standing before them with wide eyes.
“Oh, I apologize for the intrusion,” she said, her voice warm and pleasant. “I did not think you had company, Your Grace.”
“No need for that, My Lady. I was just leaving your betrothed.” Zachary bowed politely to Selina, the very picture of a perfect gentleman. “I shall leave you two now.”
Philip noted the slight blush that stained her cheeks as she moved aside for his friend.
“I am sorry for interrupting your conversation,” she apologized once more.
“As Zachary said, there is no need for that,” Philip told her. He tilted his head and regarded her with a curious gaze. “How did you find my study?”
He noted a hint of smugness in her smile.
“I asked a footman on the way. I am not a complete idiot, Your Grace.”
Oh, she certainly was not. One might even hazard to say that she knew far more than she should.
“My grandmother told me you were resting in your rooms,” he said.
She shot him a mutinous look. Resting was definitely the farthest thing from her mind. Philip deduced that mischief—and driving him mad—were foremost on that list, however.
“I intended to as well,” she replied with a slight shrug. “But I needed to occupy myself with something, or my thoughts would have driven me mad.”
So, she had seen fit to test the limits of his restraint by seeking him out. Alone.
Misery loves company,he mused.
In this case, so did madness, apparently.
“And so you thought to seek my company?” He raised an eyebrow. “What made you think I was the solution to such a dilemma?”
She tilted her head up. “So you do not wish to aid me in relieving my anxiety?”
Oh, he could think of a great number of ways to relieve her anxiety, but many of them were hardly appropriate.
He stepped closer to her. And then closer still until he could see her pupils dilate slowly. So close that he could feel her warmth seeping into his clothes.
“Tell me, My Lady,” he murmured as her delicious scent wrapped around him. “How do you intend for me to assist you in this matter?”
He had not meant for his voice to drop as it did. Had not meant to step so close as he did. Had never meant for her to affect him as she did.
Andthatwas becoming a problem.
