So many laces.
And string was ever so fascinating.
Heat simmered beneath his collar. Controlling his lust was going to mean a lifetime of pain.
“Thoughtful, isn’t he?” she asked.
Rayne blinked. “Who?”
She frowned. “Farring, of course.”
“Ah, yes. Farring.” Rayne forced his gaze back to her face. “Thoughtful with a dollop of cunning deception.”
“I can’t quite judge him for meddling in my affairs, now, can I?” She lifted her brows. “Not whenIliberally meddle in the affairs of my loved ones.”
“Noble restraint.” His lips twitched. “Are you always so fair-minded?”
“When not…overcome.” She wrinkled her nose. “I’m often overcome, with you.”
Lord, did he understand.
“You set out to abduct me.” A fact, not a question.
She nodded.
“And what were you going to do with me once you abducted me?”
The corner of her mouth turned up. “Well, I briefly considered pirates.”
He could imagine—bloodthirsty little thing. “Pirates?”
She gazed out beneath her lashes. “Briefly.”
She was very pretty when she blushed. Pretty enough to take a bite. But first— “Who is Edmund Alistair Clarke, Viscount Belhaven?”
“So youdoknow his name.”
“I do,” he conceded. “But I do not know his relationship to you, do I?”
She cocked a brow. “Who do youthinkhe is?”
“I haven’t the faintest, except to know he isnotyour intended.” He stepped closer. “You are many things, Lady Julia Stanley.” He touched her elbow, slid his fingers down the side of her forearm, and lifted her palm. “And first among them isloyal. You would not have done what we did in your bedchamberifyou were on your way to marry another man.”
Her hand lay limp within his. “I thank you for that, at least.”
“Still… I’d like to know who he is and why you told me—”
“Ididn’ttell you he was my anything. I just said I was going to meet him.”
“Really? Let me see if I recall this correctly.” He altered his voice. “Al-lickprefersme in breeches.”
She pressed the back of her free hand to her mouth. “That, I’d forgotten. Terrible of me.” Her stifled giggle escaped. “I’m sorry.”
She wasn’t. And he didn’t mind.
She’d meant to make him jealous. And he vividly remembered how swiftly the wound had bled green. “Why did you let me believe you were going to wed him? And, for heaven’s sake,whydid you leave me this afternoon and write him a letter?”
Her dark eyes moved between his. “You aren’t going to understand.”
