“I’m surprised the earl doesn’t want you to marry now, so he doesn’t have to be responsible for you.”
“There is no reason for him to want that. I have no suitors. I cause him no trouble and very little expense.”
“I can see that, as well. However, it won’t bother me at all to trouble him, and I will. I want you to come with your brother to Hawksthorn. I’ll clear it with the earl.”
“You obviously don’t know my uncle very well.”
“No, I don’t. But I know men, Miss Quick. And I know peers. He may have denied you time and time again to wield his power over you for the shame he feels you caused him, but he won’t deny me this request to have you come with your brother.”
“As you said, he is a severe man, Your Grace.”
“Do not underestimate me, no matter what it is I’m fighting for. Plan to be ready to travel with your brother. I’ll be sending a carriage for you.”
Her heart started pounding and her knees trembling. She was attracted to the confidence she heard in his voice and the strength she sensed inside him to win. But no, she wouldn’t get her hopes up that she would be allowed to leave Mammoth House. She’d had them dashed far too many times, and she didn’t want to go through it again.
“I will wait to hear that from my uncle.”
His frown relaxed and he gave her a half smile. “You will challenge me even on this.”
“I know my uncle.”
“Earls seldom turn down dukes when they request a favor.”
“Then I will defer to your power of persuasion, if that happens.”
He stepped in close to her and spoke softly. “You know there is another reason I want you to come with your brother, don’t you?”
Her breaths turned to choppy silent gasps of anticipation. Did he want to kiss her again? Right now? Should she let him? Her body could almost feel the wanton sensations he’d caused inside her the last time his lips touched hers.
But no. She couldn’t let him. His kisses were too overwhelming, too inviting. She could easily give in to anything he asked of her if she allowed him to kiss her again.
She swallowed hard and said, “I know there will be no repeat of what happened between us that night we were alone during the storm—in this room.”
“Are you sure about that, Miss Quick?”
No.
“Yes,” she answered but wasn’t at all sure it was the truth.
“All right, for now I’ll save that battle for another day.” A teasing light sparkled in his green eyes. “But rest assured, we will return to it and I will prove that you are wrong. For now, I’ll take it as a good sign that you remember what happened between us that night and how it felt, even though that’s not what I was referring to when I said there was another reason I wanted you to come to Hawksthorn.”
Loretta’s cheeks flamed hot and she balked at her natural instinct to swirl away from him. Instead she managed to say, “It’s not?”
“No, but I’m heartened it was the first thing that came to your mind.” He smiled easily, attractively.
“You’re a beast,” she whispered.
“Yes,” he agreed. “I want you, Miss Quick, and you might as well know it now.”
Without warning he slid his open hand around to the back of her neck. He cupped it gently but tightly, pulling her up close. Keeping his gaze solidly on hers, he lowered his head and claimed her lips in a sudden, hard, and demanding kiss that stole the air from her lungs.
Chapter 11
A gentleman must never take advantage of a lady even if she gives him permission to do so.
APROPERGENTLEMAN’SGUIDETOWOOINGTHEPERFECTLADY
SIRVINCENTTYBALTVALENTINE
