She walked over to a bunch of red roses resting on the table. She plucked off leaves and pushed the stems into a crystal vase. Were the flowers from that bastard, Ramsbotham? The pain on her face was reflected in the gilt mirror. “Did he tell you I went to bed with him?”
Suddenly it mattered not a damn. He moved behind her and stilled her jerky movements sliding his hands down her arms. He turned her gently to face him. “He inferred it. But I didn’t believe him.”
She looked up into his face. “I didn’t. I drugged him with laudanum, but I told him we spent the night together. That is enough.”
Anthony wouldn’t tell her that Ramsbotham must have known full well no penetration took place. He allowed the joy of her words to flow through him. “He won’t talk of it.”
Her lips trembled. “He will. He’s an unscrupulous monster.” A sob sounded in her throat. She clutched his coat as he drew her against him.
“He won’t because he’s a coward,” he murmured against her hair. “I threatened him to a duel if he persists. I told him I’d run him through. He knew I meant it.”
She caught her breath on a sob. “I didn’t want to betray you, Anthony not in my heart or with my body.”
“Why did you go to his cabin?”
“I was afraid for…”
“Hetta.”
She drew away and gazed up at him. “How did you know?”
“Hetta worked it out for herself.”
“He almost raped me. I felt cheapened. Despoiled. I was determined never to have you touch me again.” She gave a sad laugh. “But I couldn’t keep to it.”
“And you won’t keep to it now.”
Anthony picked her up in his arms and carried her to the bed. He laid her down.
She placed her arm over her eyes. “Anthony,mon amour, this changes nothing.”
Did she sound less sure? He moved her arm and gazed into her blue eyes. “You will marry me, Verity. Say it.”
She pushed at his chest. “I cannot!”
“I love you. Do you want me to die from it?”
She giggled. “Oh, you fool, as if you would.”
Anthony kissed her. He lost himself in her scent and the familiar soft curves beneath his hands. He drew back to see if he was winning, if he convinced her, before lovemaking took them both away. His blood quickened, and he shuddered with fear at coming so close to losing her.
Verity gave up pushing him away and, with a sob pulled him close.
