Even if bruised, he would heal. This man had the world at his feet. He could have his pick of any available lady of theton.
“Agreed,” she replied.
He stared down at their joined hands as if he, too, could not believe what had just passed between them. Slowly, he raised his gaze as he pressed her fingers to his lips. His warm breath and the soft touch of his mouth against her skin, ignited ripples of longing.
Longing—Lord help her—notentirelycarnal in nature.
When he released her hands, she instinctively wrapped her arms across her chest. Protection. But from what?
“I’ll ask nothing of you until the contract is drawn up and signed. But when it is”—he caressed her bottom lip with his thumb—“I promise you pleasure. My complete attention. Breathlessness. Coupling without shame...or restraint...but my price is your full surrender.”
“I won’t hold back.” Even if she’d wanted to hold back, she couldn’t.
“Well, then. We have reached accord.” He rested his head against the sofa’s back and closed his eyes. “Now go, Hera. Unless you want me to change my mind about waiting for the ink to dry and further debase us both by ravishing you on my library floor.”
She glanced doubtfully at the cold marble tile and shivered.
Then, she went.
* * *
The duke hadn’t appeared at breakfast—he’d been, in fact, called away on estate business too early for him to have spoken with either Hera or the children, a fact which disgruntled the children.
They voiced their disappointment in the strongest of terms, prompting a disapproving frown from Mrs. Small and placing Hera in the uncomfortable position of having to list the many ways in which the duke had proved his courtesy and care to them over the past few days.
Which, of course, only heightened the feeling she’d wronged him with her assumptions about his intentions and her brash, accusatory manner. He, too, had been deliberately wounding, of course, butshe’dbeen more than wounding; she’dbeen outrageous in her demands.
Not that she regretted the outcome. Quite the opposite, in fact.
She was, for the first time, anticipating her future. She’d arranged for Annis security she could never have provided on her own. And, between now and then, she could freely indulge in a fantastical reality.
Her dreams had been feverish—alive with an arousal as strong as a living, vining thing refusing release. Dream-vision Hurtheven caressed her throughout the night, stimulating her in the most intimate of places while she responded just as he’d suggested—without shame.
She sighed. Perhaps shewasa wanton.
She spent the rest of the damp, unpleasant morning alternating between similar spasms of guilt and bursts of anticipation. And so, when the skies unexpectedly cleared, and the children expressed a desire to walk along the bridle paths outside the bailey, she readily agreed, hoping the brisk air would turn her thoughts in a more pleasant direction.
She’d not forgotten the duke’s implied warning—free reigninsidethe castle—but the duke was not present, and none of the staff raised any objection to the scheme.
As she wandered a few lengths behind the children, she fixed her thoughts on a secure future for herself and Annis. How wonderful to have a place of their own—even if her means of obtaining one left a sour churn in her stomach.
Hera barely noticed when Delmare turned onto an ill-tended gravel pathway—not too different from Wisterley’s old drive.
“Mrs. Montrose!”
Felicia’s tone brought her abruptly back to the present. “A lady doesn’t shout, Fee.”
“How else,” Fee replied, “is she supposed to get the attention of the person with whom she wishes to speak?”
“In most cases, ladies are expected to wait until attention is bestowed on them.”
Fee stopped short, even as Delmare skipped further ahead. “That’sstupid.”
Hera sighed. “I don’t fully disagree?—”
Fee peeked up, incredulous. “Youdisagree with arule?”
“—Nonetheless, you must, at least,knowthe rules before you can choose how and when to, ah,bendthem.”
