The Perfect Temptation (11 page)

Aiden pushed himself out of the
chair and went to the door

to let
him
in.

''Welcome to hell, Sawyer,"
he said as the Reeveses' butler

stepped inside.

"You seemed quite at home in
it, sir," Sawyer observed as

Aiden locked the door behind him.
"Wouldn't
Lady Lansdown

adore spending a day
in
this
establishment."

Aiden, standing shoulder to
shoulder with the man, looked

over the displays again and shook
his head. ''It doesn't look at

all the way Sera decorates:'
.

"It is the breadth and
arrangement of color of which she

would most heartily approve, sir.
She would most definitely

appreciate the artistic spirit of
your present employer."

''Alexandra Radford with an
artistic spirit?" Aiden scoffed.

"Sawyer, you have no idea
how far off the mark you are on

that. She's nothing at all like
Seraphina. Miss Radford is very

rigid and committed to propriety
and maintaining distance."

"If
I
might point out, sir," Sawyer countered, "those qualities

do not preclude her from
possessing an artistic nature."

''Then it's buried deep,"
Aiden grumbled.

''As still waters usually run,
sir." He lifted the valise he

clutched in his right hand.
"I have brought your belongings

as Mr. Stanbridge instructed.
Where are they to
be
placed?"

He could have offered to take care
of it himself, but he really

wanted Sawyer to see the
outrageously decorated quarters.

Shocking Sawyer was always the
best entertainment.

"Follow me," he said,
leading the way to the stairs and up.

Throwing the door wide, Aiden
stepped back to let

Sawyer have a full view. One gray
brow twitched slightly.

''Well? What do you
think
of
it?" Aiden prodded.

"It
would
appear, sir, that when not formally engaged in

your duties, you are expected to
spend the hours ... "

Ah, the man was struck
speechless. Aiden grinned and

pressed, "Doing what?"

"Lolling about, I
believe," Sawyer replied easily.
''
In
what

seems to be, at first glance,
considerable comfort and luxury."

Aiden's smile withered in
disappointment. He gestured

toward the silk-covered pallet.
"I haven't lain on the floor

since ... Since ... Well, it's
been at least twenty years."

''That would have made you six at
the time, sir," he said,

advancing into the room with the
valise.

God. Ever unflappable. ''Thank
you, Sawyer."

"If I may ask a question,
sir?" the man inquired, bending

down to open the lid of an
ornately carved trunk that sat beneath

the windows on the far waIl.

"Go ahead," Aiden
replied, sighing and propping his

shoulder against the doorjamb.

"Have you any general
knowledge of the Indian culture?"

''Absolutely none. If you do, I'd
appreciate the sharing

of it."

"Personally," Sawyer
said, moving items from the valise

to the trunk, "I've never
been to the subcontinent, but in the

course of my service
in
Her
Majesty's Army, I e~countered

several men who had been
garrisoned there for a time. While

they e
x
pressed
some reservations concerning the overspicing

of food, they appeared to
be
qu
i
te
taken with other aspects of

Indian life. In particular, they
described in most favorable

terms the natives' appreciation
for earthly pleasures."

"What kind of earthly
pleasures?" Aiden asked, intrigued.

"An abiding appreciation for
food, drink, and ... ah ...

comfort, sir."

That was the thing with Sawyer.
You had to listen carefully.

The hesitations often had more
meaning than the

words. "Could you define
'comfort,' Sawyer?"

"
It
would be sufficient, I think." he said, closing the lid

and turning to face him. "to
say that physical satisfaction on

all levels is considered an
appropriate quest and the regular

attainment of it a most desirable
state of being."

Well, Sawyer
might
have
considered it sufficient, but he

didn
'
t.
Physical satisfactions covered a very broad range of

human activity. "That last
part sounded a great deal like

something
the
duchess
would say
,
"
Aiden
groused
,
knowing

that when Sawyer declared a
pronouncement sufficient it

was pointless to ask for an
expansion. As habits went, it was

one of his more frustrating ones.
.

''The duchess, sir?"

"Miss Radford," Aiden
supplied. "Trust me, it fits. And

just in case you're wondering,
her ward shows every sign of

being the Spawn
of
Satan."

Sawyer cleared his throat softly.
"
Be that as it may ... I

gather that she's spent some
considerable
time
in India.

Those who have tend
to
develop
a unique way of expressing

themselves that clearly
identifies their experience."

"She's lived there
all
of
her life:' Aiden supplied, coming

off the jamb and moving into his
room. "Except for the last

three years here in London,"
he
added,
prodding the pallet

with the toe of his booL

"Then I would say, sir, that
the general appointment of

your room is a clear testament to
the fullness of Miss Radford's

understanding of the Indian
approach to life. Were I

so fortunate as to be in your
shoes, Mr. Terrell, I do believe

that I'd be tempted to fully
wallow about in the rare and exceptional

opportunities I've been
afforded."

"Rare and exceptional?"
he repeated,looking up to meet

Sawyer's gaze.

Sawyer started to respond but his
gaze suddenly shifted

to a point over Aiden's shoulder.
A fraction of a second later

he snapped his mouth closed and
drew himself up to his full

height.

"Pardon the intrusion, Mr.
Terrell," she said from the

doorway. "I wasn't aware
that your man had arrived."

Thanks to his man, he'd known she
had. Bless Sawyer.

He turned and, indicating the
butler with a genteel sweep of

his hand, began the formalities.
"Miss Radford, may I present

Sawyer. Sawyer, Miss Alexandra
Radford."
The duchess,

he silently added.

"Emmaline speaks most highly
of you, sir," she replied,

seemingly frozen to the spot in
the hall. "It's indeed a pleasure

to meet you."

''And I you, Miss Radford."
Sawyer gave her a respectful

bow and then a genuine smile.
"May I say that your store is

a delightful feast for the
senses."

She beamed back at him. ''Why,
thank you, Sawyer.

That's most kind of you. I work
constantly to keep it vibrant

and interesting. Would you care
to join us for luncheon?

Preeya always cooks more than
enough."

"My sincerest thanks, Miss
Radford, but unfortunately I

cannot today. I paused briefly
-
at
Emmaline's on my way

here and promised that I would
share the noon meal with

her."

"Perhaps some other time
then." At his slight bow and

nod, she added, "I'll look
forward to it." Her smile wasn't

nearly as radiant when she turned
it on him and said, ''When

you are free, please join us, Mr.
Terrell."

She'd barely walked out of sight
when Sawyer said softly,

"She seems to be quite down
to
earth
and amiable, sir."

Yes, she could be delightfully
pleasant when she wanted.

Which, so far, seemed to be when
in the presence of anyone

except him. "I'll walk you
down and let you out," Aiden offered,

scowling.

They were standing on opposite
sides of the front door

when Sawyer cleared his throat
and spoke again.
''I
stand by

my earlier observations and
recommendations, sir."

Something in his expression must
have adequately conveyed

his confusion.

''Do make a point, sir," the
butler said, a touch of exasperation

edging his tone, "of
exploring the wonder of deeper

waters while you have the chance.
You'll never forget or regret

the immersion. If you need
anything I've neglected to

bring, send a runner and I'll see
that the matter is rectified

immediately."

"Thank you for toting it all
over here, Sawyer:' Aiden

replied, knowing that Sawyer
meant well with his advice.

"I'll be dropping by the
house from time to time, I'm sure."

He gestured toward the display
table at his side, and with a

weak smile added, "One can
only take so much of all this for

so long."

''Very good, sir. If you'd let me
know when you'll be visiting,

I'll have Cook prepare you a beef
dish." He bowed and

then turned crisply on his heel
and strode off in the direction

of his sister's store.

Aiden closed the door and locked
it, his mind racing.