Had she been frightened, in all honesty? ‘I…’
He shook his head. ‘You must be aware that you owe me no explanation.’
‘I know I do not. In all honesty… I do not know if I was frightened. Shocked, I suppose. But no, not really frightened. It’s not as though I truly thought anyone was going to hurt me.’
‘Not unless you wanted them to.’
She choked, aware that she was blushing furiously and grateful for the mask to conceal it, and then said, ‘Yes, I could not help but see…’
‘Nobody could help but see.’
‘It seemed to me that that was the point.’
‘I am sure you are quite correct. And I expect it has been an education of sorts for you, but I think it is time for you to leave now. My carriage is at your disposal, madam.’
The formal phrase in such an incongruous setting made her smile involuntarily, her dimples creasing below the mask, and she saw the echo of her reaction in his silver eyes. He was very quick in understanding, she thought. Dangerously so.
‘Yes,’ she said, ‘I should thank you and go.’ But still she did not move.
There was a charged silence, which he broke by saying very softly, ‘But you don’t want to. Do you?’
‘No.’
‘What do you want, then?’ His liquid voice, his intent gaze caressed her, and she shivered a little as the fine short hairs onthe back of her neck rose. She wasn’t smiling now, and nor was he.
‘I don’t know what I want.’
‘I presume,’ he said, his voice liquid honey, ‘that, unless I have misjudged you greatly, you do not, unlike the lady with the deplorable taste in jewellery, desire that I, or anyone else for that matter, should lay you naked across the sofa and take a whip to you? If you do, of course, just say the word; I am sure it can be arranged. Most things can, I understand, here.’
‘No!’ she said, the contrast between his beautiful voice and his scandalous words doing curious things to her breathing. ‘No, I don’t want that. But…’ She was not having this conversation. It was not real. Or if it was, someone else had taken possession of her.
‘But…?’ The blunt word was a caress. How did he do that?
‘You said I must be lonely, and you were right.’ As she uttered the lie, she knew that it was true. Hal had Cassandra, Louisa had Miss Spry, her brother Bastian had his Matthew, however complicated their life must always be; whereas she, she had thought Captain Hart loved her, but he only cared for her money. She was a foolish, reckless, lonely girl. That was the truth of it.
‘I told you, you will find no companionship here.’
‘Not even from you?’
She thought she had shocked him into silence for a moment, and she was fiercely glad of it. It pushed her to be more daring. ‘What did you come here looking for, sir? I cannot believeyouwere brought here by deception.’
His laugh was a little reluctant, she thought. Another point scored. ‘Hardly. I came here seeking… Well, there is no use in telling you, for I fear very much that you would not believe me. But whatever or whoever I was looking for, I did not find it. I found you instead, fair Rosalind.’
His eyes had darkened as he spoke, and she felt dizzy suddenly. He went on, ‘And you foundme. And so you are either going to walk out of that door now, while you still can, or you are going to tell me what it is you want from me.’
A whisper, barely audible. ‘I said I do not know.’
‘Then I suppose I must help you. A kiss, perhaps?’
‘Perhaps…’ she sighed.
‘Then kiss me.’ He smiled maliciously as she looked up at him in surprise. ‘I will not have you say later that you did not choose this. Kiss me, if you want to, or do not.’
‘You don’t want to kiss me?’
‘Oh, you are spoilt! Do not make me regret the whip. My desires are not at issue here, but yours. Own them.’
He would not make it easy for her, it was plain. She stood on her tiptoes and took his face in her hands. ‘It is true that I am spoilt,’ she said. ‘I know it, and I have been trying to overcome it.’ And then she kissed him.
