Authors: Gloria Harchar
She pushed away, a bundle of energy pacing before him. He could almost see the ideas forming in her mind.
"
We will be good together, you and I. I knew the first moment I saw you that we would make great changes on this earth.
"
"
What are you blathering about?
"
Confused, he stared at the way her breasts moved beneath her bodice, the manner in which her hips swa
ye
d as she paced, the way her skirts clung to her long
thighs, the sexy curves of her slim calves and ankles
.
Blood zinged through his veins. Already h
e was lengthening, growing hard for her.
"
Now that I
'
m no longer running a millinery, what do you think we should do with my wonderful salon?
"
"
You want to open a d
ye
house of your own?
"
he asked almost desperately, trying to keep his mind on business and not her body.
"
On the contrary. I would like to augment your business by opening a showcase for the new
dyes
I create. And move you from the
dye
house
'
s run-down office. We could see each other more frequently that way. I would host teas and soirees every time I come up with a new color. You will have to attend these functions, of course, if you agree to my proposal.
"
"
What exactly
are
you proposing,
Nicola
?
"
"
I want to be your business partner.
"
All he could think was that she would be constantly by his side, torturing him with desire—a desire he couldn
'
t bring himself to indulge. Of course, eventually he would have to consummate their marriage, but not
ye
t—not when he seemed to have such a slippery hold on his emotions regarding her.
"
Thunder and turf
, no.
"
"
Then reconcile yourself, my lord.
"
"
To what?
"
"
To being shackled with a wife who demands conjugal rights at least twice daily.
"
Malcolm
'
s stare caused
Nicola
to gulp in sudden apprehension. Heat waves rolled off him like a white-hot briquette in a fireplace, and deep emotion flashed in his
eyes
. She wasn
'
t certain what generated that penetrating intensity, but she was about to find out. He stalked forward, but she stood her ground, as fascinated as by a pending storm.
"
Are you taunting me with your womanly charms?
"
"
Me?
"
He stared at her, his brow knitted.
"
Yes
, you make me mutton-headed, and I
'
ll not have it.
"
"
Malcolm
, do not jest. Before you came into my life, I was
a twenty-three-
ye
ar-old tomboy
who had never been asked to dance.
"
"
Don
'
t feed me that rubbish. I don
'
t believe it for a moment.
"
"
It
'
s true,
"
she insisted.
"
You could charm
pixie
dust from a wizard, you little minx,
"
he muttered and ran his thumb along her lower lip. His skin was rough, salty against her mouth. Then
he dipped his thumb along the inside of her lower lip
.
"
And
damn
if I can
'
t seem to resist you.
"
His touch ignited coals deep in her abdomen.
He lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her. Hard. Her senses sizzled. The taste and scent of him overwhelmed her. Before she knew it, she was on the ground, the earthy smell of grass and dirt mingling with his exotic
male
scent.
Malcolm
seemed entran
ced, too. He rolled her over …
and they sank into one of her grub holes.
"
What
... ?"
he asked. His expression changed, became bewildered.
"
I don
'
t know anything about
pixies
, but I know you
'
re bewitching me,
Nicola
.
"
He lifted her away, though his hands caressed the curve of her hip and the delicate roundness of her backside. Bewildered hurt filled her. Her husband brushed dirt from his riding breeches, then busied himself with retrieving Mohammed
'
s reins, not looking at her.
"
You can use your salon for whatever social gatherings you like,
"
he said.
"
Display whatever
dyes
you desire. You be the judge of what colors are most favored. Then tell me what to manufacture at the mill. That will be our partnership.
"
He swung into his saddle.
"
Ah, and I
'
ll be leaving for London in four days
'
time. Don
'
t expect me to return for a fortnight.
"
He looked into her
eyes
, then, and she thought she saw pain there. Growling, he whi
rled his mount away
.
Nicola
watched
as he rode off.
He had rejected her
ye
t again. Her throat wrenched as a sob tried to break loose.
Was she so unappealing?
She swallowed and blinked away the hotness pricking her e
ye
lids. Would she ever get through to him? Would she ever experience the love that her parents had found? What good
were the Callers or magic for that matter?
Her horse, Brownie, nickered, and
Nicola
knew the mare felt the same desire to follow
Malcolm
and his stallion. Instead, she returned to her task of finding worms. One thing made h
er not lose hope: She was sure
his e
ye
s had echoed the torture of
ye
arning she felt in her own soul.
"
A missive for you, my
lord.
"
Gaspar held out the parchment.
Malcolm
took it and recognized the seal immediately as belonging to the Duke of Clarence, who could help him very much in the tight textile market of England where
Malcolm
would see the
Clockwork
Blue
in all its glory.
"
You may continue to pack, Gaspar. We
'
ll still be leaving as I said
ye
sterday.
"
"
Ye
s, my lord.
"
The big man slipped out quietly.
Malcolm
broke the seal, his curiosity high.
The Earl and Countess of Falconwood are cordially invited to attend the ball on the evening of April
I
2 at Granger Estates.
Malcolm
gritted his teeth. He
'
d planned to run away to London to escape
Nicola
. But now, if he hoped to win the contract to supply new uniforms for the army, his hand was forced. He would have to take her with him.
As if on cue,
Nicola
'
s light steps sounded in the hallway beyond the study.
"
Gaspar? You
'
re still here. Before you leave, look at this. What do you think?
"
Her tone practically vibrated with excitement.
Despite himself,
Malcolm
was drawn. Before he knew what he was doing, he had left his study and was watching
Nicola
give a swatch of cloth to the Indian.
"
The color is exquisite. I have not seen a shade like it, my lady,
"
Gaspar said, the marvel in his tone clear.
Nicola
turned and seemed to notice
Malcolm
.
"
Oh, good afternoon, my lord. Are you leaving for London today?
"
His mind willed him to return to his study, but his feet disobe
ye
d. Within moments, he stood next to
Nicola
. Dimly aware of Gaspar slipping away,
Malcolm
feasted on the sight of her. Her hair was in charming disarray, the thick locks begging for his hands to burrow deep within.
"
Not for another two days,
"
he muttered.