things.
Yes, he did notice that he was no longer questioning the rationality of his anger. But perhaps he was justified now. He fixed her with a censuring look. “No, I don’t understand. You aren’t lazy. I have seen and felt your hands. They are not the hands of an idle woman. You certainly don’t seem to be shy about pursuing what you want. You say you have the talent. However, you can’t pursue your heart’s desire because your brother wants you to waste yourself sewing shoes because no one else can stitch as neatly. It sounds like complete nonsense.”
“I have a duty to my family. I had advantages they never had.”
“But you could be earning good money doing something you really—” He raised his hands in mock defeat. “No, as you say, I don’t understand.”
“In any case, I don’t want to teach ungrateful children who are uninterested because they’ve been handed everything in life. I want to teach girls who have talent but no prospects to learn.”
He gaped at her, stunned. He knew society ladies who did charity work to enhance their reputations. But he couldn’t imagine them lowering themselves to personally teach impoverished little girls. He’d never met a woman who appeared to have a truly altruistic goal. Yet the sincere idealism shining in Beth’s eyes was unmistakable.
She wasn’t the same girl as a few moments ago.
The realization hit him and he had a sense of things spinning away from him. In contrast, she appeared serene, focused on her lofty vision. He couldn’t stop staring at her, trying to find the hoyden who had so boldly approached him and propositioned him in such an overt, inelegant manner.
And studying her so intently for the first time, through eyes unclouded by lust, he saw more. He saw the woman she could be. She possessed audacity, energy, and drive. She would pour her heart and soul into her work. But she needed something where she could be in control of the reins. However, for some reason, she didn’t believe she deserved to be.
He’d entered this chamber seeking to bed a woman. Now he had an increased feeling that the situation was changing fast. Precariously so. Much like when a storm blew in at sea. He was the ship being rocked to and fro, being thrown off course against his will.
Mentally, he shook himself. “Well, however illogical your logic, I admit that is a worthy goal.”
“But as far away as China right now.” She looked so sad. He felt that peculiar tweak in his chest. It made him want to fix her world. But he knew better. He didn’t champion causes or sad-eyed damsels. Not anymore. His interest in her was purely carnal.
He should be convincing her to become his mistress. And after that, he should be focused on bedding her and sating some of this intolerable craving for her.
He wasn’t responsible for her family problems nor for the little disappointments life had dealt her. Life disappointed everyone.
A knock at the door sent her running back to the bed. Grey answered the door and met his valet’s serious brown eyes. Will held a bucket covered with a towel. The champagne and strawberries. Grey took it from him. “Get yourself over to the offices and assist Daniel with his audits.”
The younger man nodded.
“I am not to be disturbed, Will.”
“Very good, sir.”
Grey went to the sidebar and removed the contents of the bucket, then poured them two glasses of champagne. He turned and nearly collided with Beth. She was gloriously naked, without a trace of modesty, false or otherwise. Damnably distracting. His cock twitched. With difficulty, he pulled his gaze from her firm, high breasts. “We need to talk, Beth.”
Chapter Four
“Talk about what?” Beth asked.
Trying to keep his eyes north of her gorgeous nakedness, Grey handed her a glass of champagne. “About us. How we shall proceed.”
“Come again?” An amused smile curved her soft pink mouth as she caressed the glass stem with suggestive motions.
Despite his
Yes, he did notice that he was no longer questioning the rationality of his anger. But perhaps he was justified now. He fixed her with a censuring look. “No, I don’t understand. You aren’t lazy. I have seen and felt your hands. They are not the hands of an idle woman. You certainly don’t seem to be shy about pursuing what you want. You say you have the talent. However, you can’t pursue your heart’s desire because your brother wants you to waste yourself sewing shoes because no one else can stitch as neatly. It sounds like complete nonsense.”
“I have a duty to my family. I had advantages they never had.”
“But you could be earning good money doing something you really—” He raised his hands in mock defeat. “No, as you say, I don’t understand.”
“In any case, I don’t want to teach ungrateful children who are uninterested because they’ve been handed everything in life. I want to teach girls who have talent but no prospects to learn.”
He gaped at her, stunned. He knew society ladies who did charity work to enhance their reputations. But he couldn’t imagine them lowering themselves to personally teach impoverished little girls. He’d never met a woman who appeared to have a truly altruistic goal. Yet the sincere idealism shining in Beth’s eyes was unmistakable.
She wasn’t the same girl as a few moments ago.
The realization hit him and he had a sense of things spinning away from him. In contrast, she appeared serene, focused on her lofty vision. He couldn’t stop staring at her, trying to find the hoyden who had so boldly approached him and propositioned him in such an overt, inelegant manner.
And studying her so intently for the first time, through eyes unclouded by lust, he saw more. He saw the woman she could be. She possessed audacity, energy, and drive. She would pour her heart and soul into her work. But she needed something where she could be in control of the reins. However, for some reason, she didn’t believe she deserved to be.
He’d entered this chamber seeking to bed a woman. Now he had an increased feeling that the situation was changing fast. Precariously so. Much like when a storm blew in at sea. He was the ship being rocked to and fro, being thrown off course against his will.
Mentally, he shook himself. “Well, however illogical your logic, I admit that is a worthy goal.”
“But as far away as China right now.” She looked so sad. He felt that peculiar tweak in his chest. It made him want to fix her world. But he knew better. He didn’t champion causes or sad-eyed damsels. Not anymore. His interest in her was purely carnal.
He should be convincing her to become his mistress. And after that, he should be focused on bedding her and sating some of this intolerable craving for her.
He wasn’t responsible for her family problems nor for the little disappointments life had dealt her. Life disappointed everyone.
A knock at the door sent her running back to the bed. Grey answered the door and met his valet’s serious brown eyes. Will held a bucket covered with a towel. The champagne and strawberries. Grey took it from him. “Get yourself over to the offices and assist Daniel with his audits.”
The younger man nodded.
“I am not to be disturbed, Will.”
“Very good, sir.”
Grey went to the sidebar and removed the contents of the bucket, then poured them two glasses of champagne. He turned and nearly collided with Beth. She was gloriously naked, without a trace of modesty, false or otherwise. Damnably distracting. His cock twitched. With difficulty, he pulled his gaze from her firm, high breasts. “We need to talk, Beth.”
Chapter Four
“Talk about what?” Beth asked.
Trying to keep his eyes north of her gorgeous nakedness, Grey handed her a glass of champagne. “About us. How we shall proceed.”
“Come again?” An amused smile curved her soft pink mouth as she caressed the glass stem with suggestive motions.
Despite his
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