“How?” she demanded, frustrated with herself for her reaction. Irritated by the disappointment surging inside her at his withdrawal.
She felt bereft. For a moment, she felt as if she were about to topple over. As if he had been all that was holding her upright. His presence and intensity overwhelmed, just as his touch had. It was ridiculous, her reaction to this man. It was futile, too.
Men like Elijah Decker broke hearts. Men like him did not marry ladies like Jo. For eventually, it was a marriage she must seek or suffer her brother’s wrath.
“I will send a carriage for you tonight,” he told her, holding up one of her hair pins. “Eight o’clock. The carriage will be unmarked, waiting in the mews.”
She had not felt him pluck that pin from her hair. “I have a social obligation this evening.”
He tucked her hair pin into the pocket of his waistcoat. “Feign a headache. Is that not what all ladies intent upon making mischief do?”
“If my brother discovers I have snuck out of the house alone, to meet a gentleman, he will send me to a convent,” she protested.
Julian had certainly threatened as much in the past, though she was certain it was bluster. Her brother was all bark and no bite.
Mr. Decker watched her, his expression impassive. “Scared,bijou?”
Her chin went up in defiance. “Never. If I agree to this, will you promise to return my list?”
“I will consider it.” He grinned, looking very much like a man who knew he held all the power.
Because he did.
Chapter Four
Decker was completelyand utterly mad.
One moment, he had been determined to return the list to Lady Jo, and the next, he had been arranging an assignation with her. All because he had touched the silken patch of skin at her nape. All because he had settled his hand upon her waist. Just a few minutes alone with her, when they could have been caught at any second, had been the sole requirement for him to commit his current, crushing act of stupidity.
He still had the list in his pocket now, as he awaited her in the carriage he had told her he would send for her use. He had never dallied with innocents. Ladies of experience were his preference. The sort who did not have angry papas or brothers demanding a betrothal. The sort who were happy with one night of passion and nothing more. What had he been thinking, sending for her, spiriting her away, taking such witless risks?
The answer to that question was painfully obvious, and painfully hard, right now. He had been thinking with his prick. Because the potent allure of her innocence was too rich. He had looked down at her lush, pink lips and those glistening eyes fringed with long lashes, and he had been struck by longing so fierce and deep, he had been forced to take a step away from her.
The distance had not cured his need. He had known he could not possibly aid her with this list in any way save one. And he was going to begin tonight, despite the risks of debauching an unwed lady.
The door to his carriage opened. She had come, after all.
“Mr. Decker.” Surprise tinged her voice as she accepted a hand up.
“You were expecting someone else?” he teased.
She settled on the bench alongside him, fussing with her skirts. Her scent drifted over him, orange blossom with a hint of jasmine. His cock stirred to life.
“I was not expecting you in the carriage,” she said. “You said you would send a carriage. Not a carriage with yourself in it.”
A servant closed the door at his nod.
Decker whisked the hat from her head so he had an unobstructed view of her face. “Next time, I will elaborate so there is no room for confusion.”
Her lush lips pursed. “There will be no next time, Mr. Decker.”
“Yes,” he told her confidently, “there will. Just Decker will do for what I have in mind this evening. No mister.”
Her eyes widened. “And what is it that you have in mind, sir?”
Sir.He was not certain he liked that either, but mayhap in the proper circumstances…
“Patience, my dear, is an under-appreciated virtue.”
