“You mean your lies?”
“Precisely.”
She moved towards her bedchamber.
“Where are you going?”
“To send Lord Montaigne a letter, of course.To tell him I need his protection.From acts so depraved that I fear for my mortal soul.”
Beatrice gained the threshold of her bedchamber.
It was possible, she thought, with a pang of panic, she had misjudged the situation.
She took another step.
“Damn you,” he swore, his voice ringing out from the drawing room.“Come back here, Miss Salisbury.”
Beatrice did what he asked.She couldn’t keep the smile from her face, either.
“Have you reconsidered, my lord?”
He did not look happy.Rather than furious, however, he appeared more…uncomfortable.
“If you breathe a word about our coupling to Monty, I will leave you out of doors without a glance back.”
God, victory was sweet.Her grin widened and she bit back a laugh.She loved being right.If they could bottle this feeling and sell it, opium eaters would become addicted to it instead.
“I promise that I will tell Lord Montaigne that your conduct is nothing short of gentlemanly.Would that please you?”
He gave her one long look.
“I would appreciate it.”
Oh, she had beenveryright, indeed.Whatever had happened between these two men, well—Beatrice had just found her advantage over Lord Leith.And it hadn’t even been difficult.
“I will sing your praises once you have taught me all that I need to know.The more you teach me, the more your halo will shine, I assure you.”
“Wonderful,” he said, tightly.
She stood once more.
“I must go prepare my toilette.I expect my first lesson tonight.”
“Tomorrow,” he said.“Not tonight.”He gave her a firm, searching look.“Please.”
Apparently, Lord Leith wanted a reprieve for one evening.That she was prepared to give.Especially when she had so thoroughly beaten him.
“Very well.I am still fatigued from my journey from Somerset.I will see you tomorrow evening.”
Leith nodded.
Beatrice moved to exit the room, but then she stopped.A thought had occurred to her.Something that needed to be made clear.Because, over the course of this conversation, his gaze had changed.He had begun to look at her in a different manner.She was sure of it.
“I never would have believed you.”
“Whatever do you mean?”He was trying his old sneer, but she could hear the real distress beneath it.She hadn’t wanted to upset him.But it had to be done.She had others to think of besides herself.
“That you wouldn’t bed me.”
