She gasped in outrage on Lord Everly’s behalf. “He is a wonderful man, and any woman would be happy to have him as her husband!”
“Not you,” he countered. “You have passion. You need a man in the bedchamber who will satisfy your needs.”
Her face warmed even more. “I’m sure he is more than competent when it comes to that area. You will recall this is not the first time he’s taken a wife.”
“Perhaps not,” he said softly, reaching out and cupping her cheek. “But does he make you feel like I do?”
“You mean angry?” she snapped hotly.
“Desirable.” He bent down and nibbled the side of her neck, and blast it all, her stomach clenched in response. When she had found Lord Everly earlier that day and told him that she had accepted his suit, he had kissed her lightly on the lips after asking her permission to do so. Everything he did was the actions of a perfect gentleman, whereas the marquess took what he wanted, confused her to no end, and yet,hewas the one who made her pulse flutter.
“You must stop this now,” she said. “It’s not right.”
He paused, returning his gaze to her. “That may be,” he admitted, but then dared to cup her breast. He ran his thumb over the tip of her nipple, causing it to harden, before he added, “But don’t you want just a slight taste of what true pleasure can be like?”
Dulcenia’s eyes drifted closed, allowing herself one moment of pleasure, but then she opened her eyes and glared at him. “Go away, Lord Dalhousie. I’m going to be married and you’ve made it crystal clear that it won’t be to you. I didn’t come here to have my reputation trampled on by a known rake, and although you may not care for the consequences of your actions, I do care about what repercussions it might have for Lord Everly and my father.” She lifted her chin. “Now, are you going to do the honorable thing for once? Or will you allow your darkened soul to bring me down too?”
Carew stilled.Blast it all.He’d been so concerned with defeating Lord Everly and taking what he regarded to behisthat he hadn’t stopped to consider that he was acting just like Marcus.
He’d been so caught up in this ridiculous bet and his own reluctance to walk down the aisle, that he hadn’t given a second thought to how he might actually injure Miss Hargrove. Or that of her family. He’d only wanted towinat all costs. His competitive nature, and perhaps a bit of his male pride, had decided to take control over his common sense.
He stepped back from her. “I do apologize, Miss Hargrove. I will keep a respectable distance henceforth.” He unlocked the door and quit the room.
Instead of returning to his chamber as he’d planned, he veered off toward the front doors. His plan had been to exit the manor and find some fresh air and solitude in which to silence his disquieting thoughts.
Unfortunately, that wasn’t to be the case, for Marcus accosted him on his retreat. He caught a glimpse of him passing the parlor and jogged up to him. “Aren’t you going to come entertain the ladies for a bit? I know for certain Lady Jane is eager to partner with you in whist.” He shrugged nonchalantly. “Or anything in which you might care to engage, for that fact.”
Before he’d left London, Carew might have adopted a carefree grin and turned back to do just that, but in the few days since he’d reluctantly accepted a summons here, something had changed within him, something that he didn’t think he could reverse. He was a different man, a better man—and it was all because of Miss Hargrove.
With her, he was liberated.
And damn, it felt good.
He clapped his friend on the shoulder. “I admit that you were right. I heartily concede the loss of our bet gladly, for the prize I shall gain will be more than the loss of the actress I shall forfeit to you.”
Leaving Marcus’s confused expression behind, Carew turned on his heel and briskly began to retrace his steps.
He entered the library to find that Miss Hargrove was still there, standing in front of the fireplace. He slowly exhaled a long breath. When he heard a delicate sniff, as if someone had been crying, his heart began to bleed in his chest, because he knew he had been the cause.
“Dulcenia.”
She quickly wiped at her cheeks, and only turned her head slightly to address him. “Lord Dalhousie, I thought you had gone.”
He shut the door and turned the lock once more, except this time it wouldn’t open until things had been settled between them. “I had, but then I realized something very important.”
“Oh? And what’s that?” she asked, still keeping her head turned away.
He didn’t speak again until he walked over and grasped her chin. He gently tilted her head for his kiss. He could taste the slight, salty taste of her tears and it tore his heart in two to know that he’d hurt her. When he pulled back, she gasped, her lids fluttering open over those expressive brown eyes. “I have been a righteous ass where you’ve been concerned, Miss Hargrove.” Her gaze widened, and he could tell she was surprised he was being so blunt. “I have done my best to avoid any sort of entanglements in the past, and when I received the letter from Lady Osbourne about my perfect match, you can imagine I was skeptical, especially when I realized who she was referring to.” He sighed heavily. “While I have never judged you based on your outward appearance, I had… acquaintances who had no such compunctions. They were eager to call you dowdy or ‘dull’ when I had merely known you as the bespectacled wallflower that tried her best to blend into the wallpaper at any London event.”
He frowned slightly. “But the first time I met you, when Ireallymet you the day I arrived here, something began to… stir inside of me. There was an interest there that wasn’t purely lust, but something more substantial. I began to enjoy our conversations and flirtations much more than I’d intended. I never imagined that I would start… feeling something for you. In truth, I fought against it, and yet, no matter what I did, that heavy emotion in the center of my chest refused to subside.” He shook his head. “The day I saw you outside getting along so well with Lord Everly, I was green with envy, but I refused to act the jealous swain when I had made no promises to you. When I hadrefusedto do so.”
He swallowed hard. “But tonight, after the announcement about your betrothal had been made, I knew I couldn’t stand aside any longer. I came here with seduction in mind, but it was you who made me realize how foolish I was. If I truly loved you, then I wouldn’t put you in a position that would compromise everything that you are. If I truly loved you, I would ensure you are always under my protection from the gossips in London.” She gasped when he bent down on one knee and took her hand in his. “Miss Hargrove, would you do me the honor of acceptingmyhand in marriage?”
Dulcenia opened her mouth,but nothing emerged. But then, what could she say? Her heart might be screamingyes!But her conscience refused to ignore her promise to Lord Everly.
And yet…
For everything she owed to her current betrothed, he had never said he loved her, and here was LordDollhouseon his knees, proclaiming his affection for her. It unnerved her that her fears had been confirmed, that she was the laughingstock of society, but he had made it clear that he cared for her despite his initial reservations. She would also be lying if her heart wasn’t singing with the fact her love was reciprocated.
