Page 121 of Pride, Prejudice & Wicked Pleasure

“If I did not wish it,” she rephrased, “would you…would you be disappointed?”

“Do you not wish for the lesson?” he asked, puzzled. He knew Abby to favour their unification, but she would not have set up a lesson without the consent of the student.

“I hesitate because my circumstances have changed.”

He was glad to hear their engagement had provoked some qualms to lying with another man. They remained with the room between them, both hesitant, more aloof than strangers at their first lesson.

“I understand,” he said, for he wished her no discomfort. “Your pending nuptials must make an education of this nature awkward.”

She looked at him sharply. “Yes, indeed.”

He detected a rise in tension.

“And you would yet provide an engaged woman her final lesson?”

“I would not,” he responded unequivocally.

“But you follow the dictates of the student.”

“An engagement is a different matter. I do not mentor married or engaged women.”

“Then why are you here?”

“As I could not send word to Abby in timely fashion, it would have been impolite to leave you to sit alone and in ignorance.”

“You could have sent a note to the inn.”

“Yes, but that would have been impersonal.”

“Why did you not mention earlier that you would not continue with an engaged pupil?”

“Why did you not reveal your engagement?” he returned.

Something was amiss. He had inadvertently revealed his knowledge of her engagement, but she had hardly seemed surprised. Before he could ponder it more, however, she had risen to her feet and approached him.

“Are you certain you do not wish to have our final lesson?” she asked, her tone rich with suggestion.

His cock perked instantly.

“I am,” he said.

She stood before him, peering up into his face. “Because it be your policy or your penchant?”

He observed her parted lips and silently groaned. Was she attempting to seduce him?

“What does it matter?” he responded as evenly as he could.

Mere inches separated them. She reached for and straightened one of the lapels of his garrick. He stared at her hand upon his chest. Desire swelled through his body. He wanted to take her. His body, clamoring to have her, would have a will of its own. But the disharmony of his emotions managed to stay him—for the moment. She was attempting to seduce her mentor. The realization shocked and vexed him. He took a step back.

She raised her brows. “Do I offend you now? You were never adverse to our contact before.”

“For a woman newly engaged, you are keen to have this final lesson?”

Disheartened that he may have misjudged her devotion to him, he nearly choked on the words.

She stepped toward him. “Would your reservations cease if I were not engaged?”

He could not fathom the purpose of her hypothetical but suspected she intended to persuade him from his stance. While he wrestled with the proper course of action, she untied her cloak and let it fall to the ground. She wore a light summer muslin that conformed to her body most agreeably. The gown’s wide neckline allowed her feminine assets to be presented with great advantage. Despite his dismay, he might yet succumb to her charms. He remembered how, all too easily, that had occurred before.