"Distaste? Never. I am merely unaccustomed to such honest discussions by ladies, especially regarding matters of a political nature." He slid closer, just a threat of invasion of her space, and her skin heated and her breath quickened. "And as for the kisses … you, my dear, were made for kissing. I simply couldn't resist the temptation."
Made for kissing? She wasn't sure if she was furious with him or delighted by the idea. He was made for sin too; that was certain. Just the gleam of more secret meetings when their lips and hands might explore each other again had her heart racing. But she couldn't let him do that to her again. She had to stay on course and not let Leo distract her from her goals. Letting him seduce her was not something a strong, intelligent young woman would do. Her friends in the Women's Social and Political union would be mortified to know she'd let her body succumb to a man's sensual influence.
"Ahem," Mr. Hadley interrupted from the seat on the other side of her. They both looked over at him. "You're drawing attention," he hummed in a low murmur before smiling at another guest and taking a bite of chocolate truffle. "Best to talk to someone else or Miss Pepperwirth will have your guts for garters." Mr. Hadley gave the barest hint of a nod in Mildred's direction. Her scowl was fierce enough to drop a wolf dead in its tracks.
Ivy quickly turned her attentions to Mr. Hadley and allowed him to distract her from thoughts of Leo, until she felt Leo touch her beneath the table. A single fingertip tracing the length of her hand, the whisper of his skin upon her black gloves. The heat of his palm burned deliciously through the silk, and her eyes fell shut for a moment as he lulled her deeper into his subtle enchantment.
"Miss Leighton?" Mr. Hadley's deep voice broke through and her eyes snapped open. The others at the table were getting up and leaving.
"Excuse me, what were you saying?" she asked. The touch of Leo's hand vanished and she sensed rather than heard his laugh.
"Would you care to dance?"
Ivy blinked in shock. Footmen were clearing the table. The other guests' voices echoed down the hall as they headed toward the ballroom. Only she, Leo, and Mr. Hadley remained in their seats.
"She's dancing with me," Leo announced. His sharp tone made her look over her shoulder at him.
I am, am I? She huffed and turned back to Mr. Hadley. "Actually, I am not dancing with you, my lord, at least not for the first dance, since you have not officially asked me." She angled her body away from Leo and toward Owen. "I would be delighted to dance with you, Mr. Hadley."
She placed her hand in his as they rose and started toward the ballroom. She didn't have to look back to know that Leo was furious. One kiss didn't give him any right to her, however she might have wished differently.
Chapter 7
Cursing under his breath, Leo stared at Ivy's retreating back. What the devil was wrong with him? He was losing himself to the pursuit of this mysterious lady, and his best-laid plans were fast unraveling. Mildred had spent the entire evening staring at him. If she only knew the half of it. Whatever had possessed him to stroke Ivy's hand? It was ungentlemanly, unseemly, yet … he'd felt compelled to reach out and grasp her. Like a ghost drifting through the mists, she was just out of reach, and he was desperate for a way to connect himself to her.
A newspaperman's daughter with flashing eyes, raven-black hair, and lips made for a man's pleasure. She was going to be the death of him.
Maybe … if he slept with her, got her out of his head, his blood would cool, and he could resume his plans with Mildred. He shook his head. What a stupid notion. Ivy was an innocent and did not deserve such mercenary thoughts of him using and discarding her. She was not a woman to be treated thus, and he hated himself for having entertained the thought even for a moment. The worst of it was that it made him just like his father. Chasing the skirts of a foreign beauty and unable to control his lusts. Bloody hell, if he took her to bed and society found out? It would hurt Hampton and everyone who lived here, and they'd lose all hope of keeping the estate together.
I am not my father. It was fast becoming a mantra he was saying daily in hopes that it would be true. He couldn't let his body dictate his desires or he'd end up in a scandal that would destroy him and his family. Before his father's disastrous affair and death, Leo had never been overly concerned with the consequences of enticing a woman into his bed. Yet now worries and concerns were all he could think about. The most frightening part was that he didn't want to simply seduce Ivy; he wanted her to like him as a man and a companion.
I'm getting damned soft …
"Is everything all right, my lord?" Gordon asked, emerging from the shadows. He saw too much, but then again, all butlers did. His mother called a good butler "one's shadow with a second soul." Leo was never more thankful that he trusted Gordon with his life, especially his social one, which was arguably more important.