and removed the necklace, turning back to extend it to her—and realizing his mistake too late.
She stared at the locket nestled in his palm, two spots of color high on her cheekbones. Alexander swallowed a rising tide of shame.
“I’m sorry, I—”
“I require no payment for services rendered,” Lydia said coldly.
“I didn’t mean—”
“You’ve made it quite clear what you mean. And I believe I’ve made my intentions equally clear. I will not accept your charity.”
His fingers tightened around the locket. “Your pride will be your downfall, Miss Kellaway.”
“Do you think so? Tell me, if you were in my position, would you take the locket back simply because I felt sorry for you?”
Alexander didn’t respond. He gave a curt nod and tossed the necklace onto the table beside the paper she’d given him. His shoulders felt stiff enough to break, his blood still flaring with desire unfulfilled.
“And should I solve your damned problem?” he asked through a clenched jaw.
“If you manage to do so by the end of two weeks, you may once again determine my debt.”
“And you will abide by it?”
For an instant, a glimmer of apprehension appeared in her eyes. “As long as it remains within reason.”
“Meaning?”
“No requests for a kiss or… anything else of that nature.”
“Very well.”
She blinked. “You agree?”
“Yes.” His mouth twisted. “You’re surprised?”
“Considering your—our—behavior of late, I suppose I am.”
“And disappointed?” He smiled without humor.
“Certainly not.”
“Good. There’s no need to be, you know.” He approached her again, his booted steps silent against the thick Aubusson carpet.
Lydia didn’t back away from him, but her wariness visibly deepened. “Why… why not?”
Alexander reached out to slide his thumb across her full lips, a renewed surge of arousal filling him at the sensation of her warm breath. “Because the next time we engage in something of that nature, debt will not be an issue.”
Lydia swallowed, her finger twisting around a lock of hair that clung to her damp neck. “There will not be a next time, my lord.”
“Oh, yes. There will. Not because you owe me, but because you want it.”
She swiveled on her heel and strode to the foyer. Alexander followed, ensuring she was safely in the cab before turning back to the drawing room.
He stopped. His father stood at the door of his study, his expression unreadable.
“Miss Kellaway, wasn’t it?” he asked.
Alexander nodded, not knowing what to say and not liking the feeling of having been caught doing something wrong.
Rushton’s gaze flicked to the drawing room and back to the front door before he turned and disappeared into his study.
Chapter Nine
The sun hung like a golden ball in the sky, burning away the last of the late-morning fog. A gentle breeze rustled through the trees. Beside Lydia on the carriage seat, Jane peered out the window as the festival came into view.
“There it is!” Jane almost bounced up and down.
Lydia smiled. Her sister had spent the past week and a half chattering about the festival, and her excitement solidified Lydia’s belief that she had done the right thing in accepting Northwood’s invitation.
She took her sister’s hand as they descended the carriage and walked toward the field amid a crowd of well-dressed men and women, all accompanied by eager children.
Flowers, streamers, and balloons decorated the field, and several booths sat around the perimeter. A wooden platform demarcated an area for dancing, and musicians were tuning up their instruments. Sebastian sat at a cottage piano, in consultation with another musician over a sheet of music.
Before Lydia and Jane reached the entrance, Lord Northwood approached with a young woman at his side.
Lydia’s heart gave a little leap. Dear heaven, he looked magnificent. The points of his collar emphasized the hard angles of his face, and he walked with an easy, masculine grace that made Lydia want to gaze upon him for hours.
“Good morning.” He stopped in front of them and removed his hat, his dark eyes slipping over Lydia. Her skin prickled with awareness. “A pleasure to see you again.”
He made the introductions, and Lady Talia Hall greeted them with warmth.
“I’m glad to meet you properly, Miss Kellaway.” Though the young woman had more delicate, refined features, she and her brothers shared a resemblance in their dark eyes and high cheekbones that lent them a foreign air. “I apologize for the… chaos of our initial encounter.”
She threw Alexander a pointed look. He had the grace to look somewhat abashed.
“There is no need to apologize, Lady Talia,” Lydia assured her as they handed their tickets over at the entrance and went into the