A Penny's Worth of Affection novel Chapter 32

"I am truly sorry," she whispered into the heavy silence that had fallen over them. He made no response, but his movements stilled for a moment before he seemed to cast away her apology with a shrug of his shoulders. She sighed, moving to perch on the other seat facing his own. "Do you need help with those? I used to help Papa remove his boots, so it should be easy to do yours."

He raised his eyes to cast a quick glance at her and chuckled. "I believe I can remove my own boots."

"There is no need to laugh at the offer," she snapped, shooting him a baleful glare. "A simple no would suffice."

He sighed and tugged off one boot, letting it fall heedlessly to the floor. "I was not laughing at you. Can you please cease nagging for a while?"

Penny's mouth dropped open in astonishment. "I beg your pardon!" She huffed. "I never nag. How rude of you to say such."

The other boot slid off, and he sighed in satisfaction, barely paying any attention to her words. He studied her for a few minutes, then rose abruptly and removed his sodden coat, tossing it to join the discarded boots. Penny's eyes widened in alarm when his hands moved to the buttons of his shirt.

"W–what do you think you are doing?" she cried in alarm, clamping a hand over her mouth in mortification. He simply raised an eyebrow at her apparent discomfort.

"I am removing my shirt, Miss Inglewood. Does that offend you? I believe you have seen me without a shirt only this morning?"

"But you cannot...Not here...oh Lord..." The last part was said as the top buttons parted to reveal a firm muscular chest, lightly covered with dark strands of hair. Her face heated, and though she tried to avert her eyes modestly, she found they had developed a will of their own and remained fixed on his bare flesh. Her breathing quickened to short quick breaths that came out as tiny gasps for air. Her fingers strangely itched to touch that expanse of male skin, and her mouth went dry in desire.

He turned away, presenting her with his back as he faced the fire and removed the shirt completely, revealing surprisingly well-toned bronzed skin as though he spent a lot of time in the sun. Penny had seen a fair amount of bare chested men-her papa and Edward, sometimes removed their shirts when doing heavy work on the farm-but nothing compared to this...this sight before her. She gave herself a little shake, bringing herself back to firm reality. This was not the time to go into raptures over a man's nakedness, not while Edward and Jane could very well be in danger. Besides, if he wished to undress, he could find himself another room.

"Do you not think this is inappropriate?" she questioned him, hating how breathless she sounded at that particular moment. "You should go to your room if you wish to divest yourself of your wet clothes. You can return for supper. I will order it to be heated again."

"The blasted rain is not helping at all," he replied. "They will have to wait till the rain subsides before any clearing can be done. Your coachman chose to stay with the carriage. He will be all right as long as he stays inside."

"Oh dear...do you suppose Edward will have sought shelter?" "He will be a fool not to. Unless he wishes to put Jane's health in jeopardy, he will seek an inn and wait till the storm passes."

She studied him covertly from beneath her lashes, a question tugging at her lips, but she was not certain he would appreciate her poking her nose into his affairs. "May I ask a question?"

He studied her for a moment then nodded. "You may, but I do not guarantee I will supply an answer."

She bit her lip and thought for a while. "Why are you so insistent on marrying Miss Rosebury? I mean it is obvious the two of you do not care for each other. I understand there was an agreement between your father and hers, but surely, you're the Duke now and-"