Page 19 of Once Tempted

Seven

“It’s only me,” Frederick muttered quickly as he came to a stop behind Minerva, determined she would not escape him yet again. He’d been searching all over the house for what felt like hours today, catching glimpses of her here and there as she managed her brother’s house party with quiet efficiency. But she had always been in the company of one servant or another, and they’d done nothing more than utter pleasantries that left him unsatisfied.

And after yet another boring dinner without her company, he’d had enough and admitted to himself where he’d really rather be. With her. Not hidden away, either.

Now that he’d finally found her, spying upon her brother and Mrs. Franks in the deserted music room long after the dinner hour had passed, he was determined to get her alone and keep her.

Minerva observed the pair inside the music room silently, with such a strange expression on her face that his breath caught. Frederick watched her and wondered what was going on in her head. She did not look happy, or even sad anymore. She seemed resigned…and that wasn’t like her at all.

He leaned close to whisper in her ear, “I think it’s going quite well, don’t you?”

“How can you tell?” she whispered back.

“Because she’s still there. A sure sign of a lady’s, or gentleman’s, interest is when they don’t run away.” He moved closer, fingers itching to pull her into his arms as they settled on the small of her back. “Shall we join them?”

Frederick would rather not, though. He’d discovered during the course of the day, defending himself from Mrs. Franks’ eager advances, that he and Minnie had a lot more in common than he did with the widow.

They both liked to read, eat cake, and were fond of kittens.

Mrs. Franks claimed to be allergic when the kitten had been discovered under his chair in the dining room tonight, eating food Frederick had slipped to him. He’d quickly rescued the little beast when Humphrey threatened to banish it into the cold garden again.

“Could you still win the wager?” Minnie asked, turning a smile his way. But he had grown suspicious of her smiles now. He had come to suspect that when Minnie smiled, she wasn’t always as happy as she pretended to be. She hid her moods well, which made it hard to know what she was thinking or feeling.

Especially about him.

And he’d like to know now, before another evening had passed, if she could care about him more than a little. They were officially friends now, but their kiss was always on his mind. He wasn’t sure how to procure another, and he usually knew exactly how to seduce any woman he fancied. “I don’t want to win that wager,” he reminded her.

“A pity. I would like to see my brother’s face when he doesn’t get what he wants,” she said with uncharacteristic venom.

His brows rose, but he said nothing because there was movement inside the music room. Mrs. Franks finally led Humphrey from the room with a soft, inviting laugh. Frederick sighed in relief to see them both go away together. He truly hoped to lose this bet tonight and be done with wagers once and forever.

With everyone else now gone off to bed, and unlikely to interrupt, he lured Minerva into the room by the simple method of pushing her there by force. Her cozy little hideaway was all very well and good, but Minerva should never have to hide from anyone in her own home.

She fussed with the tea tray that had been left behind on the table.

“Any chance for a cup of tea?”

“There’s only enough for one, I suspect, but it might be cold.”

“Cold or warm, we could share a cup if you’re thirsty,” he offered, thinking of her lips on his cup…and then against his own.

“Sharing will not be necessary,” she assured him. Minerva poured a cup of tea and handed it over to him.

When she sat, he dropped into the spot right beside her with more satisfaction than he’d felt all day. He was determined to devote more time to this new friendship and see where it led. And also, perhaps find out what the argument with her brother had been over.

Her gaze locked on the distant door that her brother had disappeared through, and then she smiled. “So, it’s not quite a week, and it seems my brother will win your wager. How much will you lose?”

“Twenty pounds.”

She did not look happy about that amount but turned to him with another one of her suspicious smiles. “I’ve been meaning to ask if you always bid on the outcome of your seductions.”

“Not usually. It was your brother who proposed a bet of ten pounds, and then I doubled it, just to see what he’d do to win the funds.”

“I see,” she said. “Are you disappointed with the outcome now?”

He started to chuckle. “What do you think I want? To take away the one woman your brother might actually want to marry?”

Minerva’s eyes widened. “Marry?”