“How so?” she asked whimsically, coming closer to him.
“Sit down, Jane.” He stepped away from her, turning toward the fireplace.
“Why?” she asked, coming up behind him. He jumped when she laid a hand on his shoulder.
Angrily he spun around, grasping her by the shoulders. He propelled her backward into the chair he’d vacated, then he stepped away quickly. He ran a hand through his thick, marsh-brown hair as he stood looking down on her.
“You are a desirable—nay, more than that. You are a passionate woman,” he said harshly, his breathing ragged.
“I am?” Jane asked blandly, a slight smile playing at the corners of her lips. "No,” she said with a sigh, “I fear you must be wrong. I have never roused strong feelings in any man, nor felt any myself. I doubt that I could,” she said with a touch of wistfulness.
“What? Never—” A grim expression hardened his features. He strode toward her, jerking her out of the chair. She came willingly, leaning toward him.
He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her against his hard body as his lips claimed hers. She opened up to him eagerly, lifting her hands and threading her fingers through his hair, keeping him close. The prickly tingles swept her body. She gave herself up to the feeling, riding it as a ship rides the waves, glorying in it.
He groaned as he took his lips from hers and kissed her neck. Abruptly he bent to pick her up, raising her high in his arms. She laughed delightedly, her arms around his shoulders, her green eyes shining. He sat down in a chair with her on his lap. She nestled close to him.
“Baggage,” he said.
She smiled. "That’s what Sir Helmsdon called me yesterday,” she murmured.
“Well, he was right. You tricked me.”
“Did I?” she asked blandly. "You mean you did not want to kiss me?”
“Yes, I did, and you know it. But I was determined not to."
"Why?” she asked, running her fingers through his hair, delighting in the feel of it.
He grabbed her wrists and pulled her hands down. "Because, damn it, I love you! But I would not have you marry a fortune hunter with a disreputable reputation. You deserve more than that.”
“Are you saying you’ve been toying with my affections?”
He groaned. "No, but I’m damned certain you’re toying with mine!”
“Oh, no! For you see, I am quite ready to do the honorable thing by marrying you, so that can’t be toying, can it?”
“You don’t know what you are saying.”
“Yes, I do. But I did not expect you to ruin a woman’s reputation quite so callously.”
“What are you talking about?” he asked suspiciously.
“The rumors and the gossip surrounding this encounter shall be all over the neighborhood within hours. And from the neighborhood, I’m quite certain it will spread to London. Highly embroidered, of course. Scandal broth. How society loves a good tale, as you well know."
“It won’t wash, Jane. There is no one about but us to know of this interlude.”
She thrilled at his use of her first name, for it told her, despite his words, how he felt about her. But she did not bring it to his attention. Instead, she turned her head toward the door.
“Jeremy knows, don’t you, Jeremy?” she said in an even, conversational tone.
“What?” demanded Royce, leaping to his feet as the door opened.
Jane slid to the floor. "Well, really, Vernon!”
He blushed red, looking from her to Jeremy. He put out a hand to help her to her feet, then turned an angry stare on both of them. Jeremy trembled slightly until he noted Jane’s calm acceptance of Royce’s anger. She even nestled closer to him.
“Now Jeremy,” she said, “from what you have heard, do you think Lord Royce has remained scrupulously honorable?”
