She should have known he wouldn’t take no for an answer.Hauling her up, he caught her as she fell against him with all her weight, and for a moment he teetered, and she wondered whether they were going to go down again.
But he kept his balance, his arm around her once more, and skated her over to the side of the pond, holding her hand as she carefully stepped off the ice.
She pulled free the moment she could, plopping down on the bank and reaching for the blasted skates, not caring if she was exposing her ankles.He’d already held her ankles, and her hand, and her waist.He’d fallen in the snow with her, and now on the ice; he’d touched her more than she’d been touched by another man except her husband.It was outrageous.And she wanted more.
The girls continued to skate, but Brat left the ice to take up a position near her, not too close, not too far.She concentrated on watching the twins, but she knew perfectly well that he was watching her.She could feel his eyes on her like a physical touch.
“You can’t keep running away,” he said softly.
She turned to look back at him.“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You feel it too.It’s damned inconvenient.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He moved then, dropping down on the bank beside her, his greatcoat spread beneath him.“My dear Mrs.Lancaster, you’ve been a married woman.You know exactly what I’m talking about.Sheer, animal lust.”
She tried to jerk away, but he caught her gloved hand in his.“Is that too harsh for you?Shall I tell you I’m charmed by your nobility of character and enchanted by your devotion to duty?That I’m prepared to marry you and spend the rest of my days your devoted husband?”
She yanked hard, and he released her.“You’re being absurd.”
“I’m being honest.I want you.”
She knew there was color in her face, but she hoped it could be attributed to the brisk air.“You’re bored,” she said, “and I’m the only viable partner for your charmingly described animal lust.You’ll find distraction soon enough.”
“You have so little confidence in your own attractions?”
“I’m a plain widow,” she said, one eye on the oblivious twins.“I’m just the only one available.”
“I suppose you’re right,” he agreed, his honesty unexpected.“But it is so boring in the countryside.Surely you’d take pity on me?”
She turned to face him, filled with righteous wrath, and found she was dangerously close to him.“Surely you’d take pity on me and leave me alone!”she countered.“In my position my reputation is everything.I can’t afford to dally with the…the…”
“Black sheep?”he supplied lightly.They were so close, and his eyes were so dark.“Aren’t you curious about what this feels like?”
“It feels like nothing but irritation to me.”
“Liar,” he said.“I’m just as annoyed with this as you are.It’s never happened to me before.I like wild women, not quiet little governesses.You’re not my idea of a dalliance.You’re damned inconvenient.”
“Then get over it.”
“I imagine I will soon enough.I always do.”He rose with one fluid movement.“Come along, girls.We’ve got a party tonight and I know you’ll need time for primping.”
“A party?”Jenny echoed, scrambling to her feet.
“A few people in for dancing.I intend to claim your first one.”
She didn’t bother replying.She wouldn’t be dancing, she probably wouldn’t be invited to the festivities, and if she was, she’d sit with the spinsters and the other widows, safe within their confines.
It wasn’t until she got to her room that she shook off the tension that shafted through her.The man was incorrigible!“Sheer, animal lust”!She’d never heard of anything so outrageous.
Mind you, if she were to be completely honest with herself, if such a thing existed, she would feel it for Brat.He was well-named, a troublemaker of the first order, and his flirtation was driving her mad.
Because part of her, a very small, wicked part of her, felt the same way.He was playing games, she was deadly serious, and the infuriating man drew her to him like a moth to a flame.She would get very badly burned if she even considered giving in to temptation.
It was most definitely not love at first sight.Jenny didn’t believe in anything so absurd—with Josiah it had been a year’s courtship, slow and sweet.There had never been this disconcerting thunder in her blood.
It would pass—it had to.He’d get over it, he said.He always did.For some reason, he was attracted to her, but it would pass.For some wretched, inconvenient reason her heart had become involved, and that was certain disaster.
