Who was this man and why was he having such a devastating effect on her? More importantly, why had she allowed it. "Please stop."
"What is it that you want me to stop?" Zach teased, his lips brushing the curve of her jaw, feeling the small muscles that clenched and unclenched as if she would have said something, but didn't. Unable to resist tasting her, he turned his head, until his mouth lightly touched the corner of hers.
She'd ceased breathing. Her hands curled in the folds of his shirt, determined to push him away, instead pulling him closer, as her lips parted.
Lys. The name whispered as he caressed the soft angle of her face, then slipped into the silken mass of her hair, stealing the pins, freeing the dark mass until it tumbled at her shoulders, then lowering his mouth to hers once more.
It was reckless, they might be discovered, and she wanted it to never end. It was dangerous and she'd never felt so safe. Then he slowly stepped away from her.
"No," he whispered. "I won't hurt you," he said, unable to understand where the thought came from for someone he'd just met, a beautiful woman when he'd never walked away from one before.
The cool night air moved between their heated bodies, leaving Elyse confused as much at herself as him, and angry at something she had never felt before.
She slapped him. "You're a cad and a lowlife!" The pendant was all but forgotten. "And I want you to leave, now."
Zach nodded, marshaling the feelings that churned inside him, a desire that formed with a need to protect her, escaping once more behind a different mask.
"My apologies if I offended you." He, who never apologized to anyone. "Good evening, Miss Winslow."
Five
"How long did you say you would be in London?" J. Hollings, Esquire, looked down the narrow twist of an incredibly long and disdainful nose.
"I didn't," Zach replied, causing poor Hollings to jump as he fixed him with an icy stare.
Tobias shifted uncomfortably. His head hurt, his eyes ached, and his mouth felt as if it were stuffed with wool. The collar of the damnable shirt cut into his neck, his shoes pinched miserably, and he had the feeling that Zach was taking great pleasure in drawing out this meeting unnecessarily.
"Mr. Hollings assured me there would be no problem in using the house while we're in London," he said. "I might add, I hope our stay will be brief." He irritably forced the words from between clenched lips. If he didn't sit down soon, he'd fall down.
On second thought, maybe that might teach the young upstart a lesson, set all of London abuzz aboutSir William St. James. Of all the idiotic, addlepated ideas! The longer Zach kept up this charade, the greater the chance they were going to get caught at it. But the longer it continued, the more deeply immersed his young friend had become in the deception. It was as if Lady Felicia Barrington had some sort of hold on him.
Zach left the library, continuing his inspection of the first-floor rooms. The elegant manor house bespoke position, respectability, and wealth. He only had a need of the first two. His decision made, Zach turned abruptly to return to the library.
"It will do quite nicely," he told Hollings." We only have need of the rooms on the ground floor. Our stay in London, will be... brief." He fixed on the solicitor an expression of cool disdain that was heightened by the black eye-patch obscuring part of his face.
Mr. Hollings straightened his coat with a thoughtful nod. There was something about this elegantly dressed gentleman with the odd accent that intrigued him. The name was not known to him however he'd learned early in his career the rewards of discretion. He never questioned the motives of his clients, but this was a most uncommon situation.
"It is unusual that Lord Vale left no instructions that you would be visiting, your grace," he ventured, hoping to learn more. "We've handled many transactions for him in the past. It seems somewhat unusual..."
"He wasn't aware of my precise plans. However, if you wish, we could send word to him that you prefer I remain aboard my ship until the matter is settled." Zach fastened the man with a cool stare.
Hollings blanched. "Oh my, no! We couldn't have that! It wouldn't be proper... that is, what if his grace were to learn of the matter?" Removing a handkerchief from his coat pocket, he blotted at his upper lip. "No indeed. I wouldn't want Lord Vale to think we were remiss in our responsibilities to a member of his family."
"If everything meets with your approval, I will make the necessary arrangements for the household staff to return immediately," he added.
Zach smiled "I will rely on your expertise, Mr. Hollings. And upon my cousin's return, I will convey my compliments regarding your excellent service."
It was amazing, he thought again, how people fawned over the titled, amazing how much could be gained with just the nod of a head or the raising of an eyebrow—amazing and loathsome.
"I would like to move in immediately. I'll have my things transferred from my ship." His gaze wandered over the richly paneled library.
It was elegant. Dark wood, dark velvet fabrics, and equally dark carpet. Elegant and the walls closed in worse than those of the cabin aboard theRevenge,making him silently long for the vastness of Resolute.
He pushed the longing back. Soon enough he would have the answers he'd come for and would conclude a very special "transaction" with Barrington. Whether she realized it or not, Lady Elyse Winslow would help him accomplish those ends. She would make the perfect pawn to get at Barrington.
His mood carried an edge of anger. He turned to the solicitor who was hesitating as if there were something else to be said but he was afraid to risk it.
"Is there something more?" Zach asked, controlling the anger. After all, this man had nothing to do with it. He told himself it was merely anticipation at being so near the truth about his father. But just this morning, he'd turned his anger on Tobias and had felt badly for it afterward. His friend was suffering his own demons, drinking himself practically unconscious each night and then enduring the after-effects the following morning. He hated Tobias’ weakness, but he understood the reasons for it.
