“This sort of thing, George?”
The fact that his brow went up told her more plainly than words that she’d amused him. Well, so what? The mannerism wasn’t quite so annoying just now, either. “That wasn’t very romantic sounding, was it?” she inquired softly, feeling incredibly shy all of a sudden.
“Not very loverlike, either, but I didn’t miss the point, dear girl. You enjoyed yourself, did you?”
She couldn’t quite manage to say the word, so she nodded, then felt a delicious thrill at the smile he bestowed on her. “Did you?”Georgie! Are you mad to ask him that?“I mean—”
He threw back his head in laughter, rolled to the side, but brought her with him. She was now looking down at him, a bit more in control in this new position, until he opened his legs and she slid between them.
“What am I going to do with you, George?”
He was still laughing, and hugging her to him. She didn’t really mind his amusement, except, as usual, she’d missed the joke.
“You could stop calling me George, to begin with.”
As soon as she said it, she wished she hadn’t. She went very still, hoping she hadn’t brought her deception to mind with that remark. But he became just as still. The smile was still there, but the change in him was almost palpable. The sardonic autocrat was back.
“And what, pray tell, should I call you? By your true name perhaps?”
“Georgie is my true name.”
“Try again, sweet, and this time make me believe you.” No answer. In fact, her expression became quite mulish. “Ah, so I’m going to have to drag it out of you, am I? Shall I bring on the instruments of the Inquisition, whips and racks and all that?”
“That isn’t funny,” she retorted.
“I daresay you wouldn’t think so, but I might find it entertaining…No, don’t squirm, love. It feels delightful, but I’m in the mood for explanations just now. And why don’t we begin with the reason for your charade.”
She sighed and laid her head on his chest. “I had to leave England.”
“Were you in trouble?”
“No, I just couldn’t stand it there another day.”
“Then why didn’t you leave in the customary fashion, by purchasing passage?”
“Because the only ships crossing the Atlantic were English.”
“I imagine that’s supposed to make sense. Give me a moment and I might figure it out…then again, I might not. What the deuce is wrong with English ships?”
She leaned up to frown at him. “Youwouldn’t find anything wrong with them, butIhappen to despise all things English.”
“Do you indeed? And am I included in that package?”
When his brow went up this time, she had the greatest urge to yank it back down. “You were. I haven’t made up my mind whether you still are.”
He grinned, then chuckled. “I’m beginning to see the light, George. You wouldn’t happen to be one of those hotheaded Americans, would you? That would certainly account for the accent I haven’t been able to place.”
“And what if I am?” she demanded defensively.
“Why, I’d consider locking you up, of course. Safest place for people who like to start wars so much.”
“Wedidn’t start—”
He kissed her silent. Then, holding her head in both hands, he kissed her thoroughly, until she was breathless enough for him to announce, “I’m not going to argue dead issues with you, dear girl. So you’re an American. I can forgive you for that.”
“Why you—”
What works is worth repeating, James had always found, so he silenced her with another kiss, and kept this one up until she was quite dazed. By then he was aroused himself, and sorry he’d teased her.
