I leaned in close to his cheek. “We have to make this look good.”
Daniel kissed me. “Good, I need you.”
That line of pretend and not pretending was right at his fingertips, right at his tracing my bosom.
“J, you’re everything. You and Hope.”
His words seared my throat.
“We should stop, Daniel.” But he kissed my neck. And the music was all around us.
I was way past needing him.
I wanted him.
But this wasn’t right.
No words had been said between us, and maybe they didn’t have to be since he’d proposed, but I knew we both had to be in our right minds to move forward.
“Oh, let me up, J. And put up your sleeve. Find my pant-a-loons.”
He fussed again. Again, too loud. He would be understood. This deception would be found out, and he’d be a laughingstock.
No.
I grabbed the candelabra and whacked him across his head.
He fell back unconscious.
CHAPTER 35
JEMINA—RESCUINGTHEEARL
Chubble! Chubble! I must be crazed, laying on top of silent Daniel on a dusty couch.
The candelabra I used to make him quiet fell from my hand. The hit was hard, but he breathed. It was for his own good. Sorry!
This masquerade to keep Daniel from a compromise had to look good. With me kneeling on his thick thighs, I flung down my other sleeve, then, half naked, hovered over his chest.
Daniel was not moving, not touching me, not making me laugh.
But my goodness, he slept beautifully, bruises and all.
The door flung open.
I laughed a haughty sneer and stayed low with my loosed hair covering him.
“Oh, my lord, you are amazing.” I screamed and laughed as a crowd gathered.
As quickly as I could, I yanked more of the sheet up around me.
Dust flew everywhere, but now Daniel was fully covered. “Do you mind!” I said. “This room is occupied by the baron . . . by two consenting adults. Very consenting. Please leave.”
Lavinia gasped, wiped her fake tears. Her reddened cheeks said it all. “Oh, I see this room is occupied. Carry on, Buckles. We’ll have to look for my attacker elsewhere.”
The awful thing, a head-shaking Lady Shrewsbury, and a crowd of others left.
The door slammed.
