“My brothers wouldn’t have behaved like barbarians if you hadn’t deliberately provoked them. I wonder how your family would react if I did the same thing.”
“I guarantee they won’t trounce you or cart you off to Tyburn Hill for hanging.”
“Probably not, but they wouldn’t like me. And they’d wonder if you hadn’t lost your mind, bringing me here.”
He chuckled as he came up behind her. “On the contrary, you darling girl. Do or say anything you like. You’ll find it won’t make the least bit of difference to your welcome.”
“Why?”
“Because you’ve become a Malory through me.”
“Is that supposed to be significant?”
“I’m sure you’ll hear all about it soon enough, but you won’t if you don’t get dressed. Shall I help you?”
She slapped away the hand that reached around for the hem of her shirt. “I think I can manage myself, thank you. Whose clothes are these, anyway? Roslynn’s?”
“That would have been more convenient, but no. She’s a mite bigger than you just now, or so her maid assured me. So I sent round to Regan’s, who happens to be just your size.”
Georgina turned in his arms and shoved him back. “Regan? Ah, yes, the one who prefers to call you a ‘connoisseur of women’ rather than a reprehensible rake.”
“D’you never forget anything?” he said on a sigh, which she totally ignored.
“And here I thought at the time that Regan was a male friend of yours.” And then she surprised him by jabbing a finger in his chest and demanding with a good deal of heat, “So who is she? A mistress you left behind? If you’ve borrowed clothes from a mistress for me, James Malory, so help me I’ll—
His laughter cut her off. “I hate to interrupt such a splendid display of jealousy, George, but Regan’s my beloved niece.”
There was but a moment’s blank expression before she cringed. “Your niece?”
“She’ll be amused to hear you thought otherwise.”
“Well, for God’s sake, don’t tell her!” she said, aghast. “It was a perfectly natural mistake, considering you’re a confessed reprobate.”
“Now I resent that, indeed I do,” he replied in one of his drier tones. “There’s a world of difference between a rake and a reprobate, dear girl. And your perfectly natural mistake wasn’t so natural, since I haven’t kept a mistress for years.”
“What did you call Jeremy’s lie? A clanker?”
“Very amusing, George, but it happens to be true. I’ve always preferred variety. And mistresses can be quite tedious in their demands. I’d have made an exception for you, however.”
“Should I be flattered? I’m not.”
“You were my lover on theMaiden Anne. Where’s the bloody difference?”
“And now I’m your wife, if you’ll pardon that ghastly word. Where’s the difference?”
She’d hoped to annoy him with the comparison, but instead he grinned at her. “You’re getting very good at this, George.”
“At what?” Suspiciously.
“Disagreeing with me. There aren’t many who dare, you know.”
She gave an unladylike snort. “If that’s supposed to be more flattery, your score is zero.”
“Well, if we’re keeping score, how will this one rate? I want you.”
He drew her up against him as he said it, so she could feel with her body that he wasn’t speaking in a general sense, but about the present moment. He was aroused, and whenever James was aroused, his whole body seduced, hips grinding against loins, chest tantalizing nipples to hard points, touch seeking only the sensitive, and mouth stealing any protest. What protest? Georgina was lost the moment she felt his need.
In her surrender, she could tease, albeit a bit breathlessly. “What about the in-laws I’m supposed to meet?”
