that was getting increasingly difficult every time they kissed.
“But as I was saying,” she continued, oblivious to his imagination, “the magenta—that’s the dark purplish red fabric there—has a certain richness I thought would suit Miss Ivy’s, and the dark blue adds a certain stateliness, so the two combined are reflections of Miss Ivy’s clientele.”
“Rich and stately?” he said.
She beamed at him as though he were her prize pupil. “Precisely. Or that they wish to be perceived that way, and they want their surroundings to reflect that.”
“Huh.” He poured more whiskey into his empty glass.
Two more customers sat at the bar, and while Nash was usually determined to ignore everyone around him, it seemed she did not feel the same way.
“Mrs. Lee!” she exclaimed, then leaned over to see the other person next to the lady she’d addressed. “And Mr. Lee!”
“Good evening, my lady,” the woman Ana Maria had called Mrs. Lee replied. She was a middle-aged woman with brown hair and a modest demeanor, wearing a gown in a very similar hue to the dark blue on the wall.
The man beside her was Chinese, also of middle age, wearing a dark suit and a much more intricately tied hellcloth than the one Nash had allowed Finan to put on him.
“We came to see the fabric ourselves,” Mrs. Lee said, glancing nervously toward Nash.
“And isn’t it lovely? Oh, allow me to introduce you. This is the Duke of Malvern,” Ana Maria said, placing her hand on Nash’s shoulder, “and these are the Lees. I’ve found their fabric shop to have the widest selection in London.”
“Oh, thank you, my lady,” Mrs. Lee replied. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Your Grace,” she added.
Nash nodded toward both of them.
“We have a new shipment coming in next week,” Mr. Lee said, his tone much less hesitant. “I would be glad to give you the first look at it, if you think there is something you might want.”
Ana Maria looked at Nash with an excited expression. “Isn’t that wonderful?” She turned back to the Lees. “Of course I would like to. Just send a note and I’ll pop over immediately.”
“Not without me,” Nash growled.
The Lees jumped at his words, while Ana Maria frowned. “It’s not necessary,” she said, but then immediately held her hand up in defeat. “But I know not to argue with you, so I will allow you to come.”
Nash was more than relieved he didn’t have to argue with her about it, because he’d be damned if he’d let her traipse around London again, what with being so attractive. And insistent that she could protect herself with random items like fireplace pokers and bolts of fabric.
Not to mention he hadn’t actually given her much self-defense training.
Because he’d given her training in kissing.
It seemed he was incapable of thinking straight when he was near her. And yet he couldn’t stay away.
“Today I’ll show you how to throw a punch.”
He’d woken up resolved to give her some of the training he’d promised—and not that type of training.
So, to that end, he’d told Finan he would have to stay in the room with them, and had asked her to come by at noon, but only until he had to go meet with Robert at one o’clock. Not enough time for boxing room shenanigans. Similar to terrace shenanigans, only with more punching.
He’d wrapped her wrists for her, and she stood in the middle of the floor, her hair pulled back, wearing that same old gown she’d had on earlier.
“Finally,” she replied, giving him a sly look. As though he had been the only one to delay the proceedings.
He ignored the provocation.
“First, curl the tips of your fingers into your palm. Like this,” he said, demonstrating.
She imitated his action.
“Then place your thumb on top of those fingers. It’s very important not to go the other way around. Your thumb could get injured that way.”
She nodded.
“Now,” he continued, “plant your feet so you have a steady base.”
She squinted at him in confusion. “A steady base? What does that mean?”
“Uh—” he began.
“Show her,” Finan urged, an amused tone in his voice.
Of course the blackguard had to try to cause trouble.
“Right, well, some of the force of the blow comes from your legs. You’ll be punching with your whole body, not just your fist.” He set himself in position, widening his stance as he dropped his right leg back. “Like this.”
“Ah,” she replied, her eyes narrowed in concentration.
He watched as she set herself as he had, feeling a tug