“Wouldn’t Lord Evan have sent word to London?”
“Not necessarily. The lines could have been down. Or perhaps he didn’t think of it. Lord Evan is a bachelor. Bachelors sometimes forget that others might like to know their whereabouts.”
“I’d say that’s true of my sister, but Lord Evan seems so…responsible.”
“I’m sure there’s nothing to worry about, my lady.”
Sophie nodded. “If you say so, Graves.”
“Of course. Luncheon will be served in about ten minutes.”
“Thank you. I’ll be there promptly.”
Graves left the room.
Sophie’s nerves jumped. Where were Ally and Evan? Mama and the earl were on their wedding trip, as were Rose and her new husband, Cameron. Lily, being in the family way, was at the Lybrook estate fairly nearby, but the duke was in Scotland on estate business.
She had no one to turn to.
Well, best get to luncheon. Though she was certain she would not be able to swallow a bite.
* * *
Evan gulped.
Yes, he’d seen her beautiful rosy mounds. He’d required all his strength and power of will not to fan his fingers over the peachy skin, the lovely rosebud nipple… He’d risen and run outside for a quick shower in the rain to cool his simmering arousal.
The woman was his stepsister, not to mention a genuine pain in his arse. She was beautiful though, with a body that would tempt even a monk. She was tall, which fit his large frame well. He’d gotten a glimpse of her shapely legs yesterday when they peeked out from her toga. Long and slender, they could wrap all the way around him as he…
No, no, no!
“Are you going to answer?”
He’d have to bluff again. She’d stopped him the last time. Perhaps she would again. “I’ll show you what’s under my toga. Or do whatever else you’d like.”
She lifted her lips into a saucy grin. Lord, she was tempting. Her light brown eyes sparkled with mischief.
“Hmm. I’ve tired of that. Clearly you don’t want to show me what lies thereunder. I shall think of something else.”
He stood. “I’m going to have a dipper of water. I’ll be waiting with bated breath for your challenge.”
The water cooled his parched throat, but unfortunately did nothing for his erection that threatened to poke through the linen. Damn it all. He shouldn’t have stood up. Fortunately, his back was to Alexandra as he dipped water from the slipper tub. Once he was reasonably certain his arousal wasn’t visible, he set the dipper down and quickly moved back to his chair.
“Still thinking, are you?”
She smiled, her cheeks rosy. “Yes, yes. I’m thinking.”
“May I ask you another question in the meantime?”
“Of course. Do go ahead.”
She fidgeted with her fingers on the table. Was she happy not to have to think of another challenge for him? It certainly seemed so. His stomach rumbled. First time he’d thought of food in a while. Her game had at least been good for that. Would this damned rain never stop? He had to get out to find some kind of sustenance for them, and then he had to get help.
“How often did you go hungry as a child?”
She bit her lip. Dear Lord, he wanted to suck that lower lip between his own and…
“Why must you drudge on and on about my childhood?”