That sorrowful look in his countenance captured me. “I should get Patience; she can help me get you out of here. We’ll get you home to Hope.”
“Don’t leave me. I’m not quite myself. I don’t feel like me, and it’s dark. Cold. I’ll sing to keep from being afraid.”
He started to hum like a little schoolboy’s ditty. Then he switched to something like a hymn. “My rock . . .”
A ton of footsteps sounded outside. I clapped his mouth. “Shhh.”
“Lady Lavinia, you’re saying you were attacked?”
It was Lady Shrewsbury’s voice. That witch Lavinia was using Daniel’s aunt to set him up in a compromise to force him to marry her.
“Yes, someone grabbed me. Who was he? I don’t know. I was terrified.”
She had them looking for Daniel.
She wanted a compromise. I’d give them one.
I tugged the dusty sheet onto Daniel, making sure he was covered, we were covered.
If he was going to be caught, it might as well be with me. I worked an arm out of my sleeve and undid the ribbon of my stays to look as seductive as possible.
“Whoa, J. What?”
I yanked down my hair. It fell onto his face.
He blew big breaths that moved my curls from his cheek. “Stop, J.”
“Trust me, Daniel. I’m pretending to be the mistress you wanted.”
“I don’t want just that.” His fingers went to my shoulder.
“Did you know your skin is so soft? What else are you hiding from me?”
He giggled and stroked my chin and my lips.
But he stopped. “I can’t, J. Can’t take advantage of you, not like this.”
Daniel was under me. I was half in the sheet with my dress falling, but he thought he was still in control. “We have to make this look good and loving.”
He squinted up at me. “Loving you is easy to do.”
I heard doors opening. “They are getting closer.”
“Let me up. Let me explain.”
If Daniel talked, they’d know my fake lover was the Earl of Ashbrook. “If I keep you covered in the dark, then the scandal is mine alone.”
“I object, J. Let me up. I’m supposed to take care of you.”
“Why do you have to be noble now?”
Thinking I could quiet him, I kissed Daniel. He had the wherewithal to kiss me back.
He tasted of bitters, like medicine for a cough or the shakes. But I gave into the sensations of his hands, the one on my waist, the one thumbing circles on my naked shoulder.
Tremors slammed through me.
“Jemina, be mine.”
