‘You threatened him. You are unspeakable.’
‘So is he. It is clear that I am the lesser of two evils, Grace.’
‘Would you have done that – duel with him? He would not have stood a chance.
‘Exactly, which is why I threatened him with death at dawn. I enjoyed that immensely. I knew he would refuse.’ Rawden shrugged. ‘Such an opponent would be beneath me.’
‘Must you bully everyone around you?’ she sighed.
‘Yes, if it makes them come to their senses. This will be a short engagement. I am sure we can be married by week’s end, and with that in mind, I must leave and attend to the formalities.’
‘Wait, Rawden.’ She rushed towards him.
‘Are you loath to part with me, my dear?’ he said mockingly.
‘No.’ She reddened. ‘But what about Lord Sharp? If my uncle favours him, he might come here?’ Her hand went to her breast. She was clearly more frightened of Sharp than she let on.
Rawden took hold of her by the forearms. ‘You make a sound point. I will send a man to watch the house. If that wretch comes within an inch of you, I will deal with him, and once we are wed, no one will touch you except me, of course, if you want me to.’
She stared up at him, and he was struck by how pretty and soulful her eyes were – a warm brown shot through with a sunburst of gold, and dark about the edges. He would get lost in them if he did not guard himself. ‘A week from now, it will all be done and over with,’ he said.
‘What if I get another offer between then and now?’ she said defiantly.
Rawden laughed at her insolence. ‘You have no dowry, and no matter how great a woman’s charms, I doubt yours can overcome that deficiency.’
‘Are you not also deficient in character after what you did today?’
Guilt stabbed at his heart. ‘That has ever been the way I am described. But I trust I am not so deficient as to renege on a promise made to a dying man. And are you not a little bit glad that your Uncle Charles had got his comeuppance and that you have thwarted Caville Sharp.’
‘Yes.’ She gave a wan smile and then looked down. ‘I will admit I am, but that is very wrong of me.’
‘No, it is very human of you. Given how awful your uncle is, I can see why you leapt at the chance to wed my brother. I do not blame you for taking an opportunity when it was offered. It seems you have been badly treated by men.’
‘William was the exception. He was a good man.’
‘I could be good to you if you would let me,’ said Rawden, feeling like the worst, weakest fool, for she clearly despised him.
‘How can I, when you have forced your company on me from the first moment I met you, Earl Voss?’ said Grace steadily.
‘My name is Rawden. Get used to using it,’ he said, his tone harsh, though he had not meant it to be. He sighed and tried to be kind. There was no point in terrifying his future bride. ‘I can be gentler, softer, and we can become closer in time and rub along nicely together.’
‘But you are a stranger to me. I know nothing of you, Rawden, and I doubt I ever will.’
His name falling off her tongue gave him a spurt of pleasure. ‘I can teach you anything you need to know, Grace,’ he said with the sudden urge to kiss the resistance out of her full, wide mouth. He took hold of a tendril of wavy hair that had come loose and let it slide like fiery silk through his fingers, holding her eyes as he did so.
Her lips parted, and her eyes widened.‘To hell with it,’he thought, pulling her to his chest and brushing his lips against hers. She stiffened at first, but she did not pull away as he gently deepened his kiss. Encouraged and aroused, Rawden flicked his tongue inside her mouth, and she clung to him and gave a little moan of surprise. His hands went around her back and into her hair, and his mouth slid down her neck. She smelled exquisite, the nape of her neck warm and soft, her waist delicate between his hands.
Grace pushed gently at him, but her heart was not in it. She broke away. ‘We should not. You must not.’ Her eyes were bright, her cheeks pink, and she looked down as if ashamed.
Rawden took her chin between his thumb and forefinger and gently raised her face to his. ‘Who is to say we cannot. It is you and I here, no one else, and there is no shame in it, only pleasure.’ A smile came to him. ‘I am beginning to think that discharging my vow is not so bad after all.’
Grace did not resist as he kissed her again, his hunger growing, a heaviness filling his groin, shredding his restraint. She softened in his arms, and her surrender turned his kiss hungry, his hand roaming downwards from her throat to cup one perfect, pert, silk-covered breast. Spirited, aloof Grace Howden was his for the taking. He could make her want him. All he needed was time and patience.
He plundered her willing mouth, but as they clung to each other, his brother’s words came back to him like icy water thrown all over him. ‘She needs protection. Swear on your honour, Rawden.’
Rawden leapt back like a scalded cat. Grace put her hand to her mouth. ‘Oh,’ she cried, wide-eyed, horrified, and so very lovely.
He forced down the yearning in his breast. ‘Forgive me. We had an agreement, and I have broken it. Rest assured, it will not happen again.’ He took hold of her arm in a vague effort to comfort Grace, for her face was so stricken.
