“I promise I won’t do anything dangerous. Other than that, I can’t promise to be at your beck and call.”
“No? But you offered to be my mistress.” He bent his elbows to brace his forearms against the wall, bringing his head closer. The heat of his body was like a torch, warming her front. “That is what mistresses do, my dear.”
She wanted to kick him. Erase that smug satisfaction from his face. She could, too. From this position, she knew several ways to strike. His mocking eyes told her he knew she could.And dared her to do it. To fight back. Oh, he would enjoy that, wouldn’t he? No, she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of a tussle. They would probably end up in bed, or wherever their entangled bodies landed.
“I did not offer to be your mistress.” She tried to sound authoritative, but the breathlessness in her voice betrayed her. “The mere idea is ridiculous. I offered a way to be together, but I am re-thinking even that offer.”
His lips hovered over hers for a few moments. Then he gave in and captured her lips in a hard, hot kiss. It wasn’t gentle. It didn’t ask permission. Didn’t seduce. Instead, it demanded submission. And she gave in. For a few glorious moments, she enjoyed it without thinking. Her hands crawled up the sides of his torso, under his jacket, fisting on the folds of his shirt. As soon as he tasted her surrender, he drew back.
“We’ll discuss our relationship when I come back.”
And then, with the same suddenness he had pinned her against the wall, he let her go and turned to go. She took a step, stumbled a little, caught her balance against the table.
“But you haven’t eaten!”
“Don’t worry about it,” he shouted back, not breaking his stride. “I’ll eat at home.”
Well, that answered the question she had posed before. For him, this was not his home anymore.
CHAPTER 30
Nathaniellookedupfromhis conversation with his steward at the opening of his study door. Both of them stood as his mother walked in with her usual imperious manner.
“You wished to see me, Nathaniel?” she asked, completely oblivious, or uncaring, of interrupting his meeting with Mr. Fletcher.
True, he had requested she meet him here at five, but it was still five minutes until that time, and he had not concluded his business with the steward.
He sighed. There was no putting his mother off, nor did he want to. The estate matters he was discussing with Mr. Fletcher would have to wait. The subject he wanted to broach with his mother and sister-in-law was much more important, and the main reason for this inopportune trip to the countryside. He still debated the wisdom of leaving Alice right after that nonsensical fight last night.
He had planned to stay the night with her. Seduce her slowly and wake up with her in his arms. Spend a leisurely day together to remind her of how good they could be together. Advance another step in his winning-his-wife-back campaign.
That had all gone to hell the moment she started throwing accusations at him. If anything, it had made one thing crystal clear: He could fuck his wife to the end of time. Could show her unimaginable pleasure and give her every reassurance. And it wouldn’t make a difference in her decision. Because the problem was not their desire for each other. That had never stood between them. They had always felt this magnetic pull that made every encounter explosive.
And it wasn’t enough.
That was not the key to breaking the cipher that was Alice. Action of another kind was required. If he wanted Alice in his life, he needed to make space for her. He had planned to do it anyway, but that fight had given him a clue. Hopefully set him on the right track.
“Hello, Mother. I was just finishing up my meeting with Mr. Fletcher.” Turning to the steward, he said. “I would like to continue our discussion tomorrow morning.”
“Of course, my lord.” The steward inclined his head, gathered his papers, and left the room with alacrity.
“Well?” his mother demanded, sitting on the chair the man had just vacated.
“We shall wait for Louisa. This matter I want to discuss concerns you both, and I wish to broach it when both of you are present.”
At that moment, a faint knock on the door announced his sister-in-law’s arrival. He called permission to enter, and Louisa slid in, inclined her head in salutation and sat in the other chair facing his desk.
“I have invited you here today to discuss your future living accommodations,” he said baldly, studying them as he said the words to gauge their reactions. Louisa merely looked intrigued, but his mother looked suspicious. And displeased.
“What do you mean, ‘future living accommodations? This is our home. We live here and shall continue to be so.”
“I’m afraid not, Mother. Greystone Manor has changed hands twice since my father’s time. You have been the dowager for over ten years now. Yet you continue to preside over the house.”
“Are you saying you will evict me from Greystone Manor?” His mother gasped, bringing a hand to her chest. “That you will remove me from the only home I’ve known for the past forty years?”
“Don’t be so dramatic. I’m hardly tossing you out onto the streets. You are a wealthy widow. You both are,” he added, his gaze encompassing both of them. “There’s a dower house on the estate. I have to admit, I have not set foot in it in years, but Mr. Fletcher tells me it’s been properly maintained and is in good, solid condition.”
His mother rose and planted her hands on his desk.
