Page 39 of Real Earls Break the Rules

She smiled up at him. “Likewise, my lord.” It was the truth. His humor had helped the evening go by much faster than if she had sat beside anyone else at Rosehill…anyone other than Brandon.

She inwardly admonished herself. Why was she still comparing everyone to him?

She needed to think of Lord Vale as a means to an end. She wanted the art lessons from a master. He’d hired her for her particular talents. She must stop thinking of him in any other way and was determined not to allow any more kisses. She’d finish the portrait and the landscape, the house party would end, and all would return to normal.

Nothing else could come of it.

…

As Amelia left the music room, her arm was grasped from behind and she was pulled into an empty corridor. Strong arms held her firmly, and her back was pressed into a hard chest.

“I’ve been waiting all evening to get you alone.”

Brandon’s scent, his voice, his touch, was now intimately familiar. The brush of his breath against her ear sent a warming shiver through her. His closeness was so male, so bracing. Her emotions whirled and skidded.

She turned in his arms and stepped back. The glow from the fireplace illuminated his handsome features. “Did you enjoy the singing?” she asked.

His mouth curved into a grin. “As much as a physician’s leech.”

She stifled a laugh. “I wondered how you didn’t yawn.”

“It took great effort on my part.” His gaze traveled her face. “You look tired.”

It was late and she was exhausted. But his observation wasn’t the most flattering. “So do you,” she pointed out.

“Will you come tonight?” he asked.

The scent of him, sandalwood and cloves, made her heart pound in uncomfortably heavy beats. What was it about this man that made her feel this way? Why had she not experienced the same surge of excitement with Lord Weston? She admired Weston and had enjoyed his company, but the slightest touch on her hand didn’t send her heartbeat skyrocketing.

At her long hesitation, Brandon nodded. “It’s been a long evening. I understand if you want to forego tonight.”

Something in his tone made her gaze lift to his again. Faint lines appeared at the corner of his eyes. Once again she had the feeling he was troubled—not just about Lady Minerva, the duchess, or his grandmother—but something else.

She wanted to ask, but stopped herself. She could not allow herself to get too close, too attached. The extent of her feelings for this man already frightened her. The sooner she completed her hired work, the better.

“No,” she said. “I’ll come tonight. The session may not be as long as usual, but I will be there.”

Chapter Thirteen

That night, Amelia waited until the guests were in their bedchambers before lighting a candle and walking to the panel in the wall. Crouching low, her fingers felt for the hidden latch when her bedchamber door flew open.

“Amelia?”

Amelia shot to her feet to see Eliza standing in the doorway. Light from a candelabrum she held high illuminated her face.

Amelia’s heartbeat thundered in her chest. A second later and Eliza would have discovered her gone. Or worse, her sister could have seen the open panel leading to the secret passage to Brandon’s study.

How on earth would Amelia explain that?

“Eliza? Is anything amiss?” she asked. It didn’t make sense for her sister to be here so late. She should be in bed with Huntingdon. Did Chloe have a nightmare and seek out Eliza instead of Amelia. Or had something else happened?

Eliza walked into the room and shut the door. “No…no everything is fine. I’m sorry to startle you. I couldn’t sleep and saw the light from under your door. I thought to talk.”

Talk? Amelia took a deep breath. Is that all Eliza wanted?

Her sister held up the candelabrum and frowned in confusion. “You’re still in your gown. Didn’t you summon a maid to help you with your stays?”

Nervousness slipped back to grip Amelia. “I’ve been reading. I didn’t see the need to bother a maid. I can manage on my own.” It was a bad excuse and she knew it. But it was the best she could think of on short notice.