AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“And surprising,” Henry said bluntly. “Steven’s wife never did like me much.”
“How could she not like you?” Dinah sounded genuinely affronted.
The corner of his lips turned upward. “How are you so certain you won’t feel the same after you come to know me better?” Indeed, women of his acquaintance had let him know, in no uncertain words, of their dislike for him. And that included Emily.
It even included the late Lady Stanton.
But that was more than he wished to discuss tonight, no matter how much he found he enjoyed speaking with Dinah.
Henry pushed to a stand. “I apologize if my frustration caused an already horrid day to be that much worse for you.”
Strange that he’d said that—he couldn’t remember ever apologizing for being frustrated before.
She looked up at him from her spot on the bench, her face more in shadow at this angle than it had been before. “It wasn’t horrid.” Several curls had escaped her coiffure, draping down her neck and resting atop her shoulder.
“It wasn’t pleasant, that I know for certain.” Surely she wouldn’t pretend that it was.
Dinah’s head rocked back and forth as she thought. “It was a bit hard at times.”
Henry leaned in, placing his hands atop the bench’s back and bending down until his face was level with hers. Though he wasn’t certain, he could have sworn she sucked in a breath at his sudden nearness. The thought made a shot of heat shoot down his spine.
“Don’t start mincing your words with me,” he said, his voice low.
Her gaze held his, and he could see the spark of a challenge in her eyes, the same look he’d seen there more than once during their short acquaintance. It was the light of someone unwilling to back down, of someone readying themselves for a much-wanted fight. He had only known her for a short time, and yet Henry was convinced he’d never known a woman quite like Dinah.
She drew in closer, and the heat which had shot down his spine further filled him, reaching throughout his chest and making his head spin. She smelled of rose water—sweet and a bit heady.
“Today was utterly exhausting,” she whispered, her tone daring him to disagree.
Or perhaps she was daring him to agree?
Or just daring him to close the distance between them. There wasn’t much left, and suddenly he was filled with the desire to know what her lips would feel like against his. His gaze dropped; firelight danced across her lips, and they looked far too enticing—
Henry pushed off the bench, standing abruptly and turning away from her fully.
What was he thinking? She wouldn’t welcome a kiss. What had ever put such a notion in his mind? They may be married, but hadn’t he just said that morning that nothing would ever happen between them?
He turned back around to find her watching him closely, that same glint of challenge still in her eyes.
“If you are so exhausted, then I am sure you wish to retire.” He wasn’t sure how he’d managed so many words—his insides were tumbling about as though he’d just fallen down a steep hill.
It wasn’t as though he’d never felt attraction for a woman before. He knew where this would lead. It would fizzle out about the same time she realized what kind of a man he truly was. Then would come the coldness, the scorn, the avoidance.
Nonetheless, he’d never felt attraction half so strong as this.
Henry shook his head. All the more reason tonothope for more. A greater attraction would only mean greater hurt when she finally turned away from him. Finally left him.
“I suppose that would be for the best,” she said at length.
“Then I bid you goodnight.” Henry gave Dinah a bow and made his way back into his own room, shutting the door firmly behind himself.
He’d thought he’d moved past this. Thought his heart and head had finally come to an agreement. No woman wanted him, not after they came to truly know him.
Dinah, it seemed, was forcing her way in anyway.
But he wasn’t going to let her in. Not this time. Not in this way.
Let her force her way into his family, even his home if she must. Let her force her way into his work with Mr. Harding and finding Spade.
But his heart was firmly off-limits.
