My Fair Lily(35)
She placed her hands on his chest. Och, her hands felt good. Warm and gentle against his heart. “Did you ever think of that?”
He shook out of his thoughts. “What?”
“Haven’t you been listening to me?”
Apparently not. “Sorry, I was distracted.”
She nodded knowingly. “The upcoming sale at Tattersalls. I know how you must feel. Laurel can’t contain herself either. All she’s been talking about these past few weeks is the horse auction. Oh, Uncle George said to tell you that he’ll come around Saturday at half past ten to pick you up. He’ll stop at Laurel’s first. I can’t wait for you to meet her. I wish I could go with you. It’s going to be such fun.”
“Why can’t you?” Not that he wanted to spend more time in her company than was necessary.
Her eyes rounded in surprise. “May I? I’d love to, but I don’t wish to be in the way. I’m almost finished with the lemur research, and the Royal Society is threatening to burn my monograph on African swamp baboons, so there’s no point in my continuing that line of research. Too bad Sir William Maitland isn’t in London. He’d set those old fossils straight. Did you know that baboons are a monarchical society, their king constantly keeping vigil against usurpers to his crown? Much like the turmoil in England’s early years when William the Conqueror defeated the Saxons and the Danes. The battle of Hastings was—”
“Fascinating, lass. About Tattersalls, it isn’t up to me to decide. I have no objection to bringing you along, assuming Laurel and your uncle don’t mind.”
“I’ll ask their permission.” She was about to say something more, but they were both distracted by a crash, then the patter of heavy dog paws running along the upstairs hall.
Ewan heard Jergens’ frantic cries. Another crash as Jasper knocked into one of the delicate hall tables, no doubt breaking a valuable vase.
“Miss Lily, look out!” Jergens cried as he followed Jasper into the library.
Wrooolf! Wroooolf!
“Jasper! My sweetheart, I’ve missed you.” Lily stuffed the lemur papers in Ewan’s hands and turned to invite Jasper into her open arms. A mistake, Ewan realized at once, for the impact of the lumpy beast against Lily’s slight—but delightfully curved—body would not resolve pleasantly. Ewan set himself behind her to prevent her from falling when the dog leaped on her. Which is how Eloise happened to come upon them, Jasper in Lily’s arms and Lily laughing in Ewan’s arms, her back unmistakably plastered to his chest. That his arms were solidly around her body was of no moment. He was simply trying to shield her from Jasper’s dangling tongue and enormous paws, but he doubted Eloise or her companion would see it that way.
Bollix.
Who was the lady with Eloise? What were they doing here at Lotheil Court? Oh, right, they were here to plan his grandfather’s blasted birthday party. Lily had been helping with those arrangements, even though the old man had yet to show her any courtesy. Lily, the sweet-natured girl, hadn’t uttered a word of complaint.
“Oh, crumpets. It’s Lady Withnall,” Lily whispered, still laughing and making matters worse by turning in his arms to face him. Which meant that Jasper would knock Lily’s perfect breasts into his chest with that hairy beast’s next leap. Which is precisely what happened.
“Jasper!” Lily cried, making absolutely no attempt to draw back. Not that Jasper would have let her, but the lass could have at least tried to feign shock, horror. Indignation. She looked and felt too comfortable in his arms. Achingly perfect in his arms.
Wroooolf! Jasper’s ungainly paws were now atop Lily’s head, knocking the pins out of her magnificent, dark curls so that they spilled over Ewan’s arms and continued in a glorious cascade down Lily’s back.
Wrooolf, wrooooolf!
Yes, he was going to murder that great, loping beast and turn him into a hairy rug to set before the fireplace. Especially after he found out who Lady Withnall was and why everyone in London feared her, even though she was a tiny woman who stood about eye level to his waist and had a disconcerting way of staring at his groin.
She was London’s most prolific gossip.
His grandfather strode in just then and found Eloise and Lady Withnall gawking at him and Lily. “Ladies, I think we had better move the planning of my birthday festivities from the library to the conservatory. I think we’ll be more comfortable settled there.”
“An excellent idea,” said Lady Withnall, shooting her long, pointed nose in the air and letting out an indignant sniff. “Seems we have quite the fireworks going on in here.”