“I want you to tell me that you did not touch Lady Iris Keene,” he said. His tone went ice cold. “That I do not have to explain to my wife that one of my closest friends is the scoundrel the ton believe him to be.”
The muscles in his cheeks twitched. He couldn’t tell Merrifield that because hehadtouched Iris. He had stroked her in ways a man who was not her husband should have, then kissed her until he swallowed her screams of pleasure. What was far worse...he wanted to do it all over again, then repeat it until they were both sated and worn out from their loving.
The marquess met his gaze, then cursed under his breath. He knew without Daniel saying a word that he couldn’t say the words he needed him to. “I didn’t take her virtue,” he told his friend. “She isn’t tainted by me.” Not completely anyway.
“But you’re not as innocent as she led Violet to believe.” Merrifield clenched his hands into a fist. “You did do something inappropriate.”
“If that is the standard we are using,” Daniel began. “I’ve done many things that could be considered unseemly.” He met the marquess’s gaze. “Lady Iris and I have kissed, and more than once.” That was the complete truth. “The first time was over a year ago. When I retrieved her from the wooded path on Scandal Lane.” He shrugged. “So, yes, I did do something unsuitable, and I’m not going to even try to make any justification for my actions.” He didn’t have any that would exonerate him. Daniel had acted improperly and deserved his friend’s derision.
Merrifield didn’t say a word. He stepped forward and his fist hit Daniel’s face before he realized the marquess had raised his arm. Daniel fell to the ground and his head hit the floor hard.
“Get up,” Merrifield demanded.
Daniel moved spit blood out of his mouth. He had bitten his tongue when Merrifield’s fist made contact. He moved his jaw around and winced. “I will not fight you.” He met his friend’s gaze. “I’ll allow I deserve to take that punch, but I refuse to let you have a second one.”
He didn’t want to hurt his friend, but he would if he had to. Daniel crawled up and used a table to help him stand. If the marquess knew about what had happened, that meant that Iris and Violet were done talking. Iris hadn’t told Violet everything, but she must have come to her own conclusions. If Merrifield knew everything, he would have hit him first and asked questions later.
“That’s too bad,” Merrifield said. “Because I am not done with you.”
He took another swing at Daniel; however, this time he was prepared for it and ducked. Merrifield fell forward and jammed his knee on the table. He cursed and turned toward Daniel again.
“Stop,” Daniel said. “You do not need to protect her reputation.”
“Why the hell not? Do you believe she’s not worth protecting?” Merrifield glared at him.
“She’s worth everything,” Daniel said in a determined tone. “I don’t need you to make me do anything. I know what needs to be done.”
Merrifield stared at him for several seconds then said, “See that it is done today.” With those words, he left Daniel alone. He sighed and slumped into a chair. He had some decisions to make and a lady to track down. But first he wanted a moment to just breathe...
Iris didn’t want breakfast.After her meeting with her sister and Francesca in the sitting room, she went to the library instead. The morning had been tumultuous and exhausting, and she didn’t want to face the rest of the guests in attendance. She would go to her bedchamber, but there were too many memories there haunting the room. The library had those two, but they were not as intense. She didn’t know how she was going to sleep in that room ever again. Whenever she closed her eyes, all she would be able to see was him and the way his hand felt gliding across her skin. She nearly moaned again at the memory of that pleasure.
When she reached the library, she walked inside, then halted immediately. Daniel sat on a chair with his eyes closed. His lip was swollen and there was a slight bruise forming on his cheek. She moved over to him and demanded, “What happened to you?”
His eyelids fluttered open. There was an intensity in his gaze that stole her breath. “Hello, Iris,” he said in a tone so husky it sent shivers down her spine.
It hadn’t slipped past her that he hadn’t answered his question. She moved closer to him and reached out to touch his lip, but then thought better of it and pulled her hand back. “Who did that to you?”
He brought his hand up and covered his mouth with his fingers. “It’s nothing.” He smiled. “If you’re worried you can do something to help.”
His charm was pouring out of him like a storm descending upon the earth, drenching it with its torrential rain. It washed over her so fast and hard she couldn’t evade it, even if she wanted to. Iris didn’t want to avoid him. She was tired of running from her own feelings. “And what is that?” She lifted a brow.
Daniel tapped his lip. “Kiss it and make it all better.”
Iris grinned. She had a feeling the scoundrel would say something outlandish. “I am not sure that would help you.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “I believe you will be all right and you do not need me.”
He leaned forward and fell to his knees before Iris. “That’s where you’re wrong.”
She stared down at him. “What are you doing?”
Her heart started to beat heavily inside of her chest. He had a look in his eyes that set her blood on fire and it made her want things she crushed down inside of her for fear they would never be hers. She swallowed hard and tried to step back.
Daniel reached for her and pulled her close to him. He kept his arms wrapped around her legs. She pressed her hands to his shoulders, intending to push him away from her, but something inside of her told her to wait.
“Iris,” he said in an imploring tone. “Don’t go. I need you more than I can possibly put into words.”
“Try,” she insisted. “I cannot make myself what you want me or need me.”
“Oh,” he began. “I want you.
