Tempted by Pamela Britton

smile.
    Mary almost laughed. Almost. “You old buzzard.” “Hah,” he barked. “Did you hear that, Alex? An old buzzard she called me.” The words turned into a laugh. “Has a mouth on her,” he said to his son. “I like that.”
    “Leave her alone, father.”
    “She fancies you, you know.”
    Mary gasped. “Why I— Whatever gives you that idea?”
    “You do,” he said. “What’s more, dear boy, I’d take her up on the unspoken offer.”
    “That’s enough,” Alex said, crossing to his side and turning him toward the door. “I wish to speak to Mrs. Callahan alone.”
    “What if
I
want to see her alone?”
    “You shan’t be given that chance.”
    The duke frowned. “Spoil my fun, what, what. Very well, if you insist.” He turned to her. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Mary Callahan. I’m only sorry I won’t get to further the acquaintance.”
    “I’d have acquainted you with my fists,” Mary said. The beard splitter gave her a slow smile before turning away, but not before he gave her a swat on the rear that made Mary yelp. She turned, prepared to go after him.
    A hand on her shoulder stilled her. “Don’t,” he said. “You will only provoke him.”
    She turned, her eyes narrowing as she said, “Is it a family thing, this habit of accosting me?”
    “When did I accost you?”
    “In my room. With your eyes.” “That was not accosting.”
    Mary decided not to argue the point. Abu was getting restless as evidenced by the way he shifted about. She covered the motion by shifting the bag to another hand. “You knew the old bloke was going to do this, didn’t you?”
    “I was a bit concerned, which is why I hid here. I knew he would move in quickly, before the other servants had time to warn you of his tendency to pounce on visiting staff.”
    “You should have bleedin’ warned me.”
    “And I beg your pardon for that, Mrs. Callahan. You are correct. I should have warned you.”
    It always amazed her the way he could take the wind out of her sails. But her pique was forgotten as a new realization dawned. It made Mary stiffen, made her study him more intently. But it all made sense: The stodgy behavior. The holier-than-thou attitude. The princely airs.
    “Why, you poor sod.”
    He stiffened like he’d been poked in the behind. “I beg your pardon?”
    “
Now
I understand why you’re such an indignant bag of wind. You grew up with The Scarlet Pimpernel as a father.”
    “Scarlet Pimpernel?”
    But sure as sin it were true, Mary thought. Why, look at him right now. All moral affront. She placed a hand on her hips. “You’re the most arrogant man I’ve ever seen,” she said. “Controlled, you are. And yet a part of you fights that control. You hate the fact that you find me attractive. No, no,” she said, holding up a hand. “Do not deny it, for I know it’s true.”
    “You go too far.” “Do I?”
    “Yes, damn it, you do.”
    “And yet you don’t leave.”
    “No.”
    “Why not?”
    “Because I need to apologize, curse you.” “Apologize? For what?”
    “My father’s behavior. It was unconscionable and out of line. I should have taken steps to protect your virtue. I did not. And for that I am sorry.”
    She drummed her fingers, a bit insulted that he would think her so silly as to be bothered by his father. “My lord. If you think that’s the first cakey old man to accost me, you’ve got another think coming.”
    He stiffened, his shoulders tensing in a way that meant her words had surprised him.
    “I see,” he said. “I had not thought of that. You are, indeed, uncommonly pretty. I should have realized that that might have presented a problem in the past. But I assure you, you have no need to fear for your virtue here…or anywhere as long as you’re in my employ.”
    She didn’t move. Aye, she likely couldn’t have said a word if she’d wanted to, for she was suddenly struck by the notion that he made her feel like a lady when he looked and spoke to her