A warmth of fluttery sensations swirled in her lower stomach once again. His words were softly spoken, almost beguiling her with their honesty. Despite her anger at what he’d done, anticipation tightened her breasts. He moved even closer to her, invading a space she never allowed gentlemen to enter. With the tips of his fingers, he gently lifted her chin. His touch seared her with the desire to fall into his arms when what she should do was jerk away from him. It was impossible to keep her insides from trembling with expectancy as she looked into his deep blue eyes.
“It needs no explanation. You feel it as surely as I do,” he said huskily.
Yes, she did but she didn’t know why. He was considered a rake by everyone.
“You know what it is,” he continued in that seductive tone that washed over her like healing warm water. “That unidentifiable feeling of interest that stirs, swells, and draws us to another person. It feeds us, fills us, andeventually overtakes our thoughts, our senses, and our lives. It makes us want to know everything about the person.”
“I don’t know what you are talking about,” she insisted, dismayed that she knew exactly what he was describing. “There is no such thing,” she fibbed to the rogue with only minimal regret. If a man was so uncouth to say such things to a lady, she shouldn’t be expected to answer truthfully.
“Deny it if you must, but it’s there.”
Brina moved her face from his touch but put no distance between them. “Even if I were to consider your outrageous proposal, which I’m not, what would be the benefit to me other than to have my name tarnished as much as yours?”
“If we were to marry, a home. Children.”
Yes, most ladies wanted that even above love from their husbands. She smiled and tilted her chin up again, confident in her answer. “I have a home, my lord. You are standing in it. I have children. Ten of them I can see every day in the school behind this house.”
“Then I agree there’s not much I can offer you.” The inflection in his tone was conciliatory but not defeated. “No doubt a gentleman would take you at your word and not impose on your sensibilities further. However, we know I’m far from a gentleman. And because of the brief time we spent together earlier in the year, I know that you are cautious, but also curious. Intelligent, but eager to learn new things. And I believe you are more free-spirited than you want anyone to know. If nothing else, I can promise it would be an adventure filled with passion if you were married to me.”
With each word he spoke, her breaths grew shorter and deeper. She believed that too, but couldn’t hint to him it was true. She couldn’t let this rogue upset her well-planned life. It had taken her too long to settle the past and put it behind her.
She looked him boldly in the eyes and stated, “I am not looking for adventure or passion.”
The blue of his eyes seemed to darken. He gave her a quiet look of disbelief. “Our kiss was brief but passionate. You would have loved it if I had taken you with me that night in Paris. I started to offer.”
Had he?
“I was tempted to grab your hand and sweep you along with me. But I had to move fast. Unfortunately, your skirts would have slowed me down as I raced through the streets. I held you so tightly, you must have felt my hesitation after our kiss.”
Yes. How had he known she’d thought about insisting she go if she freed him?
But unlike him, Brina knew when she made a mistake. Attending the masquerade was one. She wasn’t about to make another. Her life was settled now. She had found happiness at last. She wouldn’t be drawn into this man’s unacceptable lifestyle and certainly for no other reason than he needed her to make him a better person for his family.
“I am not interested in your wagers or your adventurous games, my lord,” she said firmly and walked over and opened the door for him. “My advice is that you leave now and go take back your wager.”
“No gambler ever withdraws his bet, Mrs. Feld.”
“Perhaps not a gambler then, but a gentleman realizes when he’s overstepped propriety and rectifies it. And if that were not enough to tempt you to do the right thing, you’re an earl now. Surely that should give you the clout you need to call back your ill-conceived wager.”
He slowly shook his head and moved to stand beforeher once again. Closer than would be considered proper, but not in a threatening manner. A solicitous way. His lids lowered halfway over his eyes as his face came very close to hers. “I want you, Mrs. Feld. I’d much rather win your hand after a hard-fought battle than as an easy coup. I am a gambling man. The bet holds and I plan to win.”
A chill rippled down her spine. Her composure seemed shaken as she digested his words. The way he looked at her, for a moment she thought he might catch her up in his arms and kiss her as he had in Paris. All the things she’d felt when his lips touched hers washed over her again. The moment had been divine. His arms had been strong. They wrapped completely around her and caught her up so close to his hard, warm chest. She thought she’d never feel those things again, but now he was so close to her that she only had to—
“Are we interrupting anything?”
At the sound of her friend’s voice, Brina stepped away from the earl and looked toward the open doorway. Julia and Adeline stood there looking quite perplexed, glancing from Brina to Blacknight. They had never seen her alone with a man. Especially one standing so inappropriately close to her.
“No, not at all,” Brina said, hoping she didn’t sound as nervous and as breathless as she was. “Nothing. We weren’t doing anything—but talking. I’m glad you’re here. So glad. The earl was just saying goodbye.” She took in a deep breath and steadied herself. Being caught with the Town rake practically had her stumbling over her words. She picked up the earl’s coat and hat from the chair.
Blacknight bowed and said, “Lady Lyon. Mrs. Stockton.”
Julia and Adeline curtseyed and returned the greeting.
“It’s a pleasure to see you both again,” the earl continued, “but as Mrs. Feld said, I was just leaving.”
He took the things Brina held out for him and leaned in close to her ear. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had to pursue a lady, Mrs. Feld. I’m looking forward to it, but don’t be mistaken. I intend to go after you rigorously and win your hand. I’ll see you at the grand ball Saturday evening.”
Chapter 4
