“So you became lovers.”
Surprised by her matter of fact manner and the lack of surprise on her face, he could only nod in response. “Yes.”
“I see nothing wrong with that.”
No. Of course she wouldn’t. Except… “I made the mistake of falling in love with her though.”
“You told me in the carriage that you have never been in love.”
“I lied.”
Her jaw tightened ever so slightly, with what appeared to be disapproval. But then she asked, “And why would loving this woman be so bad?”
For some absurd reason he chuckled, only the sound was not at all humorous. “Because it turned out that she wasn’t a widow at all. Just a married woman seeking a bit of adventure.”
Miss Howard inhaled sharply. “She tricked you!”
“Indeed she did,” he said softly. “And when her husband found out about it, she accused me of seducing her and even demanded that her husband challenge me to a duel.”
“That scheming little harlot.” The words dripped from Miss Howard’s tongue like venom. Her eyes, he saw now, were dark with anger. Anger directed at Clara. Anger for what she had done. Anger on his behalf.
He almost laughed in response to her outrage. Until she added, “That woman never deserved you. So I’m glad you’re rid of her. Even if she hurt you.”
Ignoring the warmth her words stirred in his heart, he told her gruffly, “I was stupid. In retrospect there were signs, indications of her duplicitous nature that I chose to ignore. And as a result, I ended up deformed.” He touched one finger to his cheek, allowing it to slide against the raised line of flesh.
A snort was her first response. And then she said, “There is nothing deformed about you. And besides, it is my understanding that many young ladies find scars incredibly dashing.”
“Really?” For some peculiar reason, his voice was lower now, with an unintentional seductiveness to it. And yet, he could not help but ask, “And what is your opinion?”
She started a little as if unprepared for such a forward question. And then her cheeks turned a lovely shade of pink. Swallowing, she averted her gaze from his. “I’m not entirely sure.”
Intrigued by her response, he leaned forward in his seat. “Come now, Miss Howard. You can do better than that.” He allowed an encouraging smile when she glanced his way once more. “After all, we did say we would be both direct and honest with each other.”
Her blush deepened and Griffin’s whole body tightened in response. He held his breath, both dreading her answer and longing to hear it.
“Very well,” she acquiesced. Her eyes sharpened, focusing more intensely on his face. Her scrutiny caused his skin to prick with awareness. “The scar does not detract from your handsomeness. If anything, it adds character and perhaps an element of ruggedness that suits you rather well.” She tilted her head. “I also think you would be less intriguing without it.”
“Are you saying that you like it?” Surely not. He’d spent the last six years regretting the wound he’d sustained at the hands of a man who’d had every right to kill him. The awareness that it was the first thing people noticed about him had been at the front of his mind ever since.
Miss Howard grinned as if by surprise. “Well yes. I suppose I am.”
Griffin expelled a breath. His muscles relaxed. Her open acceptance of him was a balm to his soul. It made him feel light and unburdened. Furthermore, it made him feel very comfortable in her presence, which reminded him of what he’d wished to discuss with her earlier. She’d managed to distract him by redirecting his attention elsewhere, but it was time for him to focus now. For both their sakes.
“About our circumstances…” He waited for her to adjust to the seriousness of his tone before continuing. “As I mentioned earlier, we cannot remain here together.”
“And if you’ll recall, I agreed.”
“Quite.” For some absurd reason, her chirpy response made him irritable. He grabbed his cup a little too roughly, causing tea to spill onto the table. Whatever relaxed state he’d been in a second earlier was gone now. He knit his brow. “I will return you to your parents’ home immediately. With any luck, no one besides your own family will have noticed that you have been travelling unchaperoned and spending the night with a man to whom you are not related.”
Her lips twitched and he saw that her eyes sparkled with amusement. Glowering, he took a sip of his tea which was now completely cold. His irritation grew until he was sure he would shout at her, reach across the table and shake her, or worse, kiss her.
“What?” he growled, like the frustrated beast she was turning him into.
“Oh, I just love how you refer to yourself in the third person, not to mention your boorish assumption that I will have any compulsion whatsoever to do as you demand.”
“I did not demand anything. I merely made a suggestion.”
“No, you did not. You told me what you would do, which is to return me to London. You did not ask me if I would agree to come with you. And just to be clear, I will not.”
