To Dare a Rogue - Lana Williams (novels for beginners TXT) 📗

door and tried the knob, pleased to find it turned easily under her hand.

A peek inside showed a large collection of a variety of statues stored in a haphazard manner. Some were draped with cloths, but others were bare. From what she could see, they were gorgeous.

“What are you doing?” James’ deep voice startled her.

She pressed a hand over her pounding heart before turning to frown at him. “You gave me a fright. Surely you were also curious as to what this room held.”

“The reaction of our guide did make me wonder. No doubt he'll be back any minute.”

“Then we should hurry.” Charlotte stepped through the door and gestured for James to follow.

He hesitated and glanced over his shoulder. “You can't be serious.”

“Why not? Hurry.” She motioned for him to join her, and he reluctantly stepped inside. She closed the door behind them, deciding this was a perfect adventure. “Just look at these.”

“Impressive.” He walked slowly forward as if as drawn to the statues as she was.

“Why wouldn’t they display them?” she asked in a hushed tone, the silence of the chamber demanding it.

“At a guess, I would suggest not all of them are genuine. Perhaps they’re attempting to sort the real items from the fraudulent ones.”

Charlotte followed his gaze to a statue that displayed a voluptuous woman in the arms of a man, both nude, surprised by the pose. “Wasn’t Athena the goddess of warriors?”

“Yes, which makes a few of these all the more suspicious, don’t you think?”

Yet the passionate embrace drew her forward. Whoever the artist had been, he had talent. The utter longing on both faces was also visible in the way they held each other—as if nothing else mattered except their love. The man’s hand on the woman’s breast and bottom had Charlotte swallowing hard. What might it be like to be so loved and adored and...desired in that way? Her entire body tingled at the thought as her mouth went dry.

The realization that she might never know had her quickly turning away. Lord Samuelson and she would never view each other in that light.

“What is it?” James asked, a gentle hand on her arm.

She swallowed against the lump in her throat as she glanced toward the lovers again. “Can you imagine loving another so much?”

His silence grew so long she wasn’t certain he was going to answer. “No, I can’t. That would be a privilege.”

The warmth of his body seeped into hers, soothing her. She appreciated that he hadn’t dismissed her question or made light of it. She looked into his eyes, wondering if he truly understood, and was lost.

He lifted his hand to draw a finger along the line of her jaw. His touch caused a ripple of sensation to wash through her. Suddenly, she could indeed imagine such a thing.

With James.

His gaze dropped to her lips and her breath caught. She wanted him to kiss her more than she wanted air at that moment. Those incredible brown eyes with their shadows still evident captured hers once more. Was that a question in their depths?

Before she could decide, he leaned close. Then closer still until their breath was one. Longing threatened to pull her under. She didn’t think she’d ever wanted anything as much as she wanted his kiss.

His lips pressed against hers as if an answer to her wish.

But the kiss was over before it truly began, much to her disappointment.

He studied her, his expression unfathomable. “I hope you find it someday, Charlotte. You deserve love in its truest form.”

Then he turned away as if to say it wouldn’t be with him. Her heart ached, whether from the poignancy of the moment or his rejection, she couldn’t say. She only knew it hurt.

Chapter Five

James clenched his jaw, uncertain what had come over him. Why he’d given in to the urge to kiss Charlotte was beyond him. Yet how could he resist when she looked at him with such yearning in her eyes?

The statue was to blame. No wonder it hadn’t been displayed in public with its suggestive nude pose. It obviously brought people to rash action.

He moved toward the door, careful to keep his gaze away from Charlotte. If she so much as lifted a finger in his direction, he would draw her into his arms, hold her tight, and kiss her once again.

James held the door for her, relieved when she returned to the Gallery without saying a word, her expression carefully blank. The stark longing on her face as she stared at the statues was something he wouldn't soon forget. She’d looked at the intertwined couple as if she couldn't breathe, as if she had no hope of ever experiencing something like that.

Of course, that was ridiculous. She was a beautiful woman, one who was kind, intelligent, and a delight in every sense of the word. She would marry well. Of that, he had no doubt.

However, he was not that man. Not for her. Not for anyone. He didn't plan to marry. He hadn't yet told his mother and father the news but in the coming years, they would understand his choice. He wasn't capable of being a husband, let alone a father.

His cousin could inherit and take on the responsibilities of the title, but he wouldn't be able to—wasn’t fit to do so. His family and those around him would all see that soon. A knot of dread tightened in the pit of his stomach at the realization. He’d hidden his crumbling soul thus far, but that couldn’t last much longer.

When Charlotte moved toward another exhibit without so much as a glance at him, he nodded. He deserved that. He had acted rashly and yielded to an urge he hadn't realized he had. It was a good thing this was their final outing together. He obviously couldn't be trusted to be a proper escort. If Edward discovered any of this, he would call James out, something James couldn’t risk. He had few true friends and