She wasn’t sure if he would. He wasn’t smitten with her so was unlikely to jump at the crook of a finger like one of the twins’ beaus would do. And not following her, despite his being a rake, would just reinforce his assertion that he wasn’t interested in her. But she went to her mother’s study and paused before entering it so Daniel would know where she went if he did follow. She really didn’t want to be alone with him, even in her own house. But he obviously didn’t care if they were overheard, even though their conversation could be considered scandalous, whereas she did.
“But?” Daniel said as he entered the small room.
She let out her breath and turned to close the door behind them. “But—are you hoping for tears and whimpers on the wedding night?”
“I don’t want a wedding night—ever,” he replied. “But I am suddenly tempted to change my mind. I think a sample is in order.”
“As much as I would like to give you one, it will be in a wedding bed or no bed—my mother insists.”
“To hell with your mother. This desk will do.”
Vanessa sucked in her breath and panicked. He mistook her reason for wanting privacy! And he’d already lifted her to set her on the desk. Dare she allow him to at least kiss her before she reminded him about a wedding first? She might have, but he was too rough. She banged her head as he shoved her back on the desk, the inkwell stabbed her shoulder, his nail scratched her thigh as he yanked her skirt up. That was the last straw.
She clamped down on the scream that would have rescued her—and ruined her—and rescued herself, forcefully pushing him back before his large body could trap her there, and she rolled off the desk to get out of his way before she turned to snarl, “Was that another attempt to shock me into running away? Or have you never bedded a lady to know any better? Get rough with me again and I’ll shoot your bloody arse. You won’t be marrying a milksop in me. There will be passion in our bed, not war!”
And then she did exactly what Monty had warned her not to do, she walked out of the room, leaving Daniel certain that she was furious over his manhandling.
Chapter Forty-six
AFTER VANESSA HAD STORMEDout of the study last night, she’d gone immediately upstairs to compose herself. She couldn’t even say if that crude attempt at sex—she wouldn’t call it lovemaking—had been deliberate on Daniel’s part. Had it been a last attempt to ensure she would give up on him? Or was he just accustomed to women who didn’t mind such clumsiness? Or—had he been so impassioned with her that he hadn’t been aware he was being rough?
Whatever that had been about, she’d had the strongest urge to burst into Monty’s room and cry on his shoulder, but she doubted he was there and resisted checking to see if he’d come back. But by the time she went back downstairs, the guests were all seated for dinner—and Daniel wasn’t among them.
When she went downstairs for breakfast the next morning, Kathleen was just leaving her study. She beckoned to Vanessa to enter it, whispering, “He’s annoyed.”
Hewas Lord Albert Rathban, the bane of her family, the last person alive she wanted to be in the same room with, let alone speak to. And he blasted her immediately. “Explain yourself!”
Vanessa slowly closed the door behind her. She would have so loved to revile him, but she was mindful that the man could end up being her father-in-law. He could also change his mind about wanting her in his family, which would negate their so-called bargain.
So she faced him and said carefully, “That implies you think I’ve done something wrong?”
“Didn’t you? Why else would Daniel leave his mother here alone last night? And he didn’t even tell her! She was mortified!”
So he’d slunk away after her stern rebuff so quickly he couldn’t even give his mother an excuse for it? “Your son took liberties. I threatened to shoot him if he did so again. Or did you want me to give away the goods thereby removing all incentive for him to join me at the altar?”
That surprised him. “He wanted you?”
“Wasn’t that the point? But I’m not sure he knows how to treat a lady when he’s been steeped in lechery for so long—and that’s your fault.” And before he took umbrage, she gambled. “I don’t think he’s ever forgiven you for sending his true love away.”
“That recent one? He didn’t love her,” Albert scoffed. “She was too slutty even for his tastes. He only wanted to marry her because he knew I wouldn’t allow it—as if he needs excuses to continue to defy me.”
“But he was in love with one of them, so I think you already gave him that excuse. Refusing to marry whom you want him to marry is his sort of revenge, as it were. You don’t agree? Like father like son?”
“You’re far too lippy, gel.”
“But it’s true, isn’t it?”
“Nonsense. He was only eighteen at the time he first fell in love, but—” He frowned and nearly a full minute passed while he delved into his memories. “Now you mention it, there was a vow, something about going to his grave unwed if he couldn’t have her. But she was a servant, utterly unacceptable, and he was still a child. It was absurd to think he could be that foolish, and it was forgotten.”
“But because you got rid of her, he’ll never marry. That is more acceptable?”
“I told you I didn’t believe it, or even remember it until now!”
“Even when he started refusing the potential brides you introduced to him?”
His eyes narrowed on her. “He was still sowing his oats, reveling in his bachelorhood. No, I didnotrelate it to that damned servant wench. And it’s moot. She ended up dying in childbirth.”
“The child, too?”
