His ferret chittered softly for several seconds.
“You are right. This begs for some practice.” Folding his hands behind his back, he slowed his pace and thought of what he could possibly say for her to agree to what he was thinking. “Miss Harrington…no, Felicity, I believe we have a connection that is different than…what the hell am I saying?” He raked his hands through his hair. “Just be real and honest.”
Phineas took a deep breath. “Felicity, I want you. You want me. Be my lover for the duration of your stay.”
He went over to the sideboard and poured himself some brandy. “Do you think that too forward, Oskar? Should I be more seductive? Not inform her of my desires but show her?”
His creature merely stared at him.
“You are right. We should charm and seduce her instead. A slow ravishment if you please. Very rakish, I know, but I have never wanted a lady this badly in my life. I think she wants me too. What do you say you and I go and ask her to be my lover?”
His ferret chittered.
“Fine,” Phineas muttered. “Iwill charm her. There is no need to be so grouchy about it.”
A teasing whiff of lavender filled his nostrils, then a light whisper said, “I am already charmed.”
CHAPTERELEVEN
Felicity clasped her hands before her and forced herself to remain still when Phineas turned to face her. Instead of gathering in the drawing room with the rest of his family after supper, she had taken a walk alone and watched the lowering of the sun. Once it had grown chilled, only then did she return inside. A nameless restlessness had been upon her heart, and it had urged her to seek him out.
“You are already charmed,” he murmured, his gaze shadowed and enigmatic.
“Yes.”
“I gather you heard my ramblings.”
“Most of it. I prefer honest desire to practiced seduction.”
She swallowed as his gaze skipped over her with burning intensity.
“You were outside,” he said, taking in her tumbled hair and bare feet stained with grass. “You like walking barefoot?”
“Yes, it is a thing I’ve learned to enjoy from 48 Berkeley Square.”
He gently removed his sleepy ferret, walked over to a rounded cushion that seemed to be specially fashioned for Oskar and laid him down. “I suppose you walk barefoot there as well.”
“I do.” She thrust her hands through her wild, unbound hair. “And I also learned to let my hair down without worrying about any sort of judgment; all pretentious airs of perfect ladylike decorum are left on the doorstep before we enter.”
They stared at each other, and the look on his face caused her pulse to flutter wildly. She sensed he wanted to reach for her but held himself back. Felicity stepped further into the library, closing the door behind her, and leaned against it. “I’ve never had an affair before,” she whispered. “Nor have I ever been any other gentleman’s lover.”
Felicity thought she detected a devilish amusement in his blue eyes.
“I know.”
“I want to experience pleasure…and with you.”
He had faltered into remarkable stillness as if he were afraid to move lest he startled her.
“I am honored that you would choose me.”
Sincerity rang in his voice and his small smile of carnal anticipation made nerves and excitement flutter low in her belly. “I believe we must establish ground rules, Phineas.”
Phineas gazed at her, clearly fascinated. “Rules?”
“Yes, rules,” she replied pertly.
“You have my full attention.”