“I realize that it is a complication.”
His eyes were caressing her face, making her feel as hot as if he was really touching her. The sudden silence between them hung like a thick curtain. She finally pushed it aside.
“I fear we allow our bodies to sometimes lead the way, rather than our minds.”
She regretted using that analogy as soon as she said it, because all she could see beneath her hands was his naked body, oiled and shining. She closed her eyes for a second to try to block out the image, but it came back stronger. When she opened them, he was staring right into hers, and she knew he was thinking about something very similar.
“Is that such a bad thing?” He asked softly.
“It is certainly not practical,” she said sadly.
“No.” He dropped his eyes to his plate.
A commotion erupted outside the dining room door. Rose overheard Jennings arguing with someone. It sounded like a woman. Will and she both turned to face the door as the butlerentered the room.
“I am sorry to bother you, Your Grace, but there is someone here to see Mr. Browning.”
“To see me? But who would know I was here?” Will asked, confused.
“She insists she must talk to you immediately and has forced her way into the entry hall.”
“Show her into the drawing room, and we shall come through,” Rose bade. Then turning to Will, she said, “Maybe it is one of your sisters. Maybe something has happened.”
They both made haste to the drawing room, but as they entered, they both realized it was not a member of Will’s family sitting on one of the sofas but an older and a younger woman who Rose certainly didn’t know.
“Can I help you?” Rose asked before Will could speak.
“Lady Marjory Canterbury and her daughter, Lady Camilla Canterbury, Your Grace,” Jennings said from the doorway.
“Our business is not with you, Your Grace,” the older woman said in a haughty tone. “We are here to address Mr. Browning.”
Will was staring at the pair of them, seemingly as confused as Rose.
“Can I ask the meaning of you barging into the Duke and Duchess’ home and how you knew I would be here?”
“We called on your London home,” the older lady stood to address him. “We were informed you had left London for Arundel Castle and it was not known when you would return.”
“That is correct,” Will said slowly.
“But it appears you had not taken care of important business before your departure, so we have come here so you can.”
“I am sorry, Lady Canterbury, but I have absolutely no idea to what you are referring.”
“I want to know when you intend to marry my daughter.”
CHAPTERTWENTY-ONE
Rose let out an audible gasp without meaning to. Will swung his head to look at her as Lady Canterbury was going on. “You can’t just ask a lady to marry you and then not even pay a call the next day or set arrangements in motion.”
Will put out his hand towards Rose as if to hold her in place but without touching her as he said, “I am sorry again, Lady Canterbury, but I fear there has been a grave error. I have not asked your daughter to marry me.”
The younger woman was staring at Will, her big blue eyes dancing with amusement. Rose was struck by how similar she looked to her when she had been that age.
“My daughter is not a liar,” the middle-aged woman hissed. “When you danced with her, she told me you said you were so taken with her that you wished to marry her.”
Rose watched as comprehension seemed to dawn in Will’s eyes.So he did know these women, Rose thought, as a kernel of panic began to form in her solar plexus.Had he romanced the girl while he was in London?
“With all due respect, Lady Canterbury,” Will was saying. “Is that likely after just one dance?”So he had danced with her. Rose felt as if her legs might give way, and she sat down on an occasional chair. Was Will now promised to this girl?