Her mien reflected that of a woman challenging a man—damned if he didn’t want to give in to her, to allow her to have the victory, but that way lay madness. “I may be a man of leisure but that does not mean I haven’t responsibilities and duties that take up a good measure of my time.”

“Excuse us, Miss Trewlove.”

Without hesitation, she moved nearer to him, out of the path of the women and children exiting her parlor, bringing with her the tantalizing scent of oranges.

“Goodbye, Mrs. Byng. See you next Friday.” She patted the heads of the children, bid farewell to the mothers, giving attention to each person, large and small, young and old, who walked by. Or were carried. Even the babes in arms received a touch on the cheek or tip of the nose.

When everyone had departed, she looked up at him, and he realized he’d not taken a step back, not one iota, that he’d remained inappropriately near, so close he could feel the warmth radiating from her. His hand flexed, twitched, as though it desperately wanted to reach up and cradle her cheek, determine if it was as silky soft as it appeared.

“My apologies, Mr. Sommersby.” Her low voice was the rasp of whispered secrets. “Of course, you have important matters that require your attention. I do hope you’ll forgive my impertinence.”

At that moment, he had the absurd thought that he’d forgive her anything, and understood with absolute surety that she was a danger. She wouldn’t use the letter as a means to her end. She would use her brown eyes, her luscious mouth, her pert breasts, her narrow waist, her kindness. In the end, some gentleman would fall without ever realizing he’d been felled. Such was her power.

He stepped back. “Good day to you, Miss Trewlove.” Then he strode down the hallway to the stairs and descended them as though hellhounds were nipping at his heels.

Chapter 6

That evening, Fancy slipped out of her shop, closed the door, inserted the key—

“Miss Trewlove.”

With a tiny screech, pressing her hand to her chest in order to keep her heart behind her ribs, she swung around. “Mr. Sommersby.”