Devlin leaned close. “The Prince of Wales, darling, the Prince Regent. Virginia is an American and newly arrived in our country,” he explained.
Both young men laughed.
“Actually, Devlin, it has been a long day and I am not feeling well,” Virginia suddenly remarked. “It was a pleasure to meet you both. Excuse me.” And not waiting for any response from anyone, she hurried out of the room.
TERRIBLY TIRED, VIRGINIA REQUESTEDhot water for her bath. When her tub was full, the maid gone, she sank into the steaming water and leaned back, trying very hard not to think or feel, closing her eyes. It was impossible.
She had known it would hurt to be paraded as his mistress, but she had never guessed at the depths of degradation and humiliation, or the extent of the anguish. And now she no longer felt like a mistress, she truly felt like a whore.
She reminded herself that she had wanted this bargain, because she had so foolishly fallen in love with him. But they were an entire day into their agreement, and though he had what he wanted—the entire shire seemed to know who she was—she had nothing, for they had not become any closer to being friends. And after this last visit, after being so forcibly presented to the lascivious Aston and Jayson, she no longer knew if she wanted to be his friend. And on that thought, she began to cry.
And then she was furious. She was furious with herself for being so weak. She wiped her eyes, refusing to shed another tear while reminding herself that Devlin O’Neill seemed able to hurt her at every turn the way no one else could. She had known that before and she knew it better now. So what was she going to do about it?
She could surrender—or she could fight.
He walked in without knocking.
Virginia gasped and looked wildly about for her towel as Devlin stopped short. The towel lay on a chair, too far for her to reach it. She looked up. Devlin stood not far from the threshold of their bedroom, staring into the smaller adjoining chamber where she bathed. She sank deeper, not quite certain if the rim of the claw-footed tub would shield her body from his eyes, expecting him to walk out.
Instead, he slowly walked over to the open doorway of the chamber, his gaze unwavering and bright.
Virginia tried to be nonchalant. “I beg your pardon, Devlin, I am in the bath.”
He leaned his shoulder against the doorjamb and looked right into the tub. He seemed to almost smile. “I can see that.”
She felt her cheeks heat. She looked down and saw that the soapy water hid nothing, her entire body was clearly visible, and her breasts almost appeared to be floating. “I’d like some privacy,” she managed.
He folded his arms across his chest and studied her, his gaze nowhere near her face. After a tense, interminable moment, he looked up. “Are you crying?”
“I got soap in my eyes,” she said swiftly. “And would you care?”
“No.” His jaw flexed. He made no effort to leave and he looked her over even more carefully than before. “But if you were crying, I wish to know.”
Her nipples were taut and so was her sex. She wanted to cover herself. “I was not crying. Please hand me my towel,” she said calmly.
His lashes lowered, shielding the gleam in his eyes. He walked over to the chair where she had left her towel, that action bringing him dangerously close to the tub. He lifted it and held it wide open for her.
She inhaled harshly, having no intention of getting out of the tub and letting him wrap her in the cloth. “Just hand it to me,” she said.
“Of course,” he murmured, stepping over to the edge of the tub.
Virginia stood, reaching for the towel, ripping it from his hands. She quickly wrapped it around her naked body, still knee-deep in the bathwater.
He reached for her.
“Don’t,” she said hoarsely.
He froze, his arm extended but not touching her. Then he gripped her arm. “I am only helping you out so you do not fall and break your neck.”
“How kind,” she said tightly.
“I have never pretended to be kind.”
“We are friends now.”
“A mere bargain does not make a friendship.”
“So now you are a philosopher?” she cried furiously. She tried to fling him off.
