Page 17 of Once Tempted

She nodded, wishing that might be the case. But she would never visit London again, if Humphrey had his way. And Frederick would be dancing with other pretty ladies, while she watched the storms rolling in from the sea at the Cornwall estate, alone.

She could not tell him that she was being sent away.

“Where’s your clawed little friend,” he asked, looking around.

“He ran away, back into the garden as soon as his belly was filled at luncheon,” Minerva confessed.

“Cats can be like that. Fickle creatures at first, but once they know where the food is best and plentiful, you can hardly be rid of them. Leave food by an open window.”

“I would, if it wouldn’t let in the cold, too,” she said, still wondering why Frederick had come looking for her. He had explained himself, and she was inclined to believe him now. There was nothing left for them to say to each other.

But instead of going, he made himself at home on the settee and rested his arm along the back of it. She easily remembered when his arms were wrapped tight about her body.

She cleared her throat and moved to her stack of books and the paper. The advertisement was intriguing, and perhaps a better solution for her unwed state than exile to Cornwall.

“Will you still be skulking around the edges of the party, avoiding me and the other guests tomorrow?” Frederick queried.

She turned around and smiled. “I am not avoiding the guests.”

“Then what keeps you away from us?”

She sighed. She would have to tell him something to appease his curiosity. “My brother and I have had a difference of opinion.”

“About what?”

“It is a personal matter.”

He considered her words for a long moment, and then sat forward. “Is there anything I can do to help? Can I speak to your brother on your behalf? I am absolutely certain you can do no wrong.”

She laughed at his claim. He meant well. “I won’t have him become suspicious of your interest in me. I think the matter is best forgotten by you.”

He nodded slowly, but then frowned. “Were you hurt today? By the kitten?”

“Just a few scratches. Nothing serious.”

He glanced down at her legs. “The wounds might become infected.”

“I’m sure they won’t. I applied enough ointment.”

He winked and stood. “Perhaps I had better take a look, just to be sure you got them all properly lathered up.”

She met his gaze and saw he was teasing her again. Acting the way he had when they were alone for the first time. When she’d been intoxicated and out of her depth.

When they had kissed.

Frederick Stonebeck had not acted as if she was plain or undesirable or dull company then, the way her brother claimed others did. The way Frederick behaved made her feel seen and appreciated.

But he had no honorable intentions, or any intentions at all where she was concerned. He was just amusing himself while waiting for her brother to win the wager.

Though, he was amusing her, now. Cheering her up a little. She appreciated the effort he’d taken to clear the air between them today, and his continued flirting made her heart happy rather than sad. “I think you should return to the music room before you are missed.”

“I claimed a headache and wished everyone a good night before I came up here,” he admitted. “I’ve had enough of the noise.”

A smile tugged on her lips, and she reached out to rub his brow. “Poor Mr. Stonebeck. It must have been torture to listen to a beautiful woman play so well.”

“And I had no one to share the pain with,” he said, capturing her fingers. He brought them to his mouth and kissed them. “I haven’t heard you play yet, but I understand you are very good, too.”

“And you never will hear me play,” she promised, extracting her fingers from his grip quickly. “I play to amuse myself, but my meager talents were best inflicted only upon members of my family, who loved me no matter how imperfect I am.”