Tempting Taffy (House of Devon #8) - Meara Platt Page 0,20

along with his son. While making a game of it, she had been acquainting him with the entire house, primarily the first floor, but he was now also familiar with the lower level where the kitchens were located and the second level where the guest bedchambers were located.

She’d played hide and seek with him in the library, so that Rafe now knew the best hiding places in the room. Everything she did was turned into a thing of fun for the boy, and because she was still giving him prizes and awarding points, he was soaking it all in like a little sponge.

It was now about three o’clock in the afternoon but felt later since the clouds were still thick and gray while a cold, wet snow continued to fall. The ugly weather had not abated and a thin sheet of ice was piling atop the layers of snow already on the ground from the week’s prior snowstorm.

Now having returned to the library, Gavin ordered cakes and hot cocoa to be served to them in there. He made certain to let the butler know he was to bring cups and plates enough to serve three. Taffy did not look pleased. “Three, my lord?”

“Aye, three. Ye heard me, lass.” He was the marquis here, the highest ranking person in the entire house. What good was the weight of his fancy title if he could not toss it around?

The butler attending them gave a moue of disapproval, but dared not contradict him. He merely bowed in all his liveried splendor and quietly left to do Gavin’s bidding. It did not escape his notice that the man shot Taffy an unpleasant look on his way out.

“It was not well done of you, my lord,” she said, her look of disapproval so much softer and more appealing than the officious servant who had just left them. “I am trying to blend in and now you are making me stick out like a sore thumb.”

“You? Blend in? Och, lass, ye must be jesting. Even with that revolting mobcap, ye still look like a princess. I’ll have no more discussion on the matter. Come join us, lass.”

When she ignored his request, he did not make a fuss. He’d won and no matter how reluctant she was to obey, it did not change the fact that his wish would control. He’d won the moment he’d given the order for three settings to be brought.

She turned away and strolled to the window, seemingly fascinated by whatever was going on outdoors. He came to her side and followed her gaze as she peered out. He said nothing, just made his presence felt. The lass refused to look at him, no doubt still peeved he was expecting her to join them in their repast of hot cocoa and tea cakes.

Was his request so shocking that she would still be cringing over his exchange with the butler?

Of course, she would not be cringing from fear, for the lass was fearless. More from shame that he would elevate her to his equal when everyone knew she was not.

Yet, to his mind, she was not only his equal but his better. “Ye’re nibbling yer lip. What’s wrong? Other than ye wish to toss me out the window into that snow pile.”

She laughed softly at his remark. “No, my lord. Never. You are a good man, although thickheaded at times. This snow concerns me. I wish it would stop. It’s falling so hard and fast, it covers up any tracks the villain might make.”

“Ah.” He understood what she meant. When moving about the house last night, he’d looked for signs of footsteps in the snow, especially those close to the house and its many windows and doors. “Let’s hope the villain succumbs to the cold and we find his frozen, rotted body with the spring thaw.”

She nodded.

He stood close enough to breathe in the lavender scent of her skin, close enough to study the heart shape of her face, the delicate cream of her cheeks, and dusky rose of her lips. She was leaning against the window frame, her body so slight and slender compared to his. He was big and broad shouldered. Perhaps more muscled than most men of his rank simply because Scotland was a rugged land and a man could not survive there if he were soft.

But softness in a woman was quite another matter.

He ached to take Taffy in his arms.

Her body was a thing of splendor. If he were