Page 51 of A Gifted Earl

She flinched away from his touch, but with his weight on her, there was no escaping.

“What do I want of you? Your body, my dear, at my command, whenever I want it. A woman with no other options is the perfect mistress.”

Venetia wished that she had bitten him. Instead, she shifted a little, seeing just how much movement was possible.

He laughed, very sure of himself. His hand went to her breast again, and he shifted his weight to allow himself better access. She took advantage of that, and twisted hard, pulling both knees up, so that they rammed into his private parts as he unbalanced.

“Uncouth lightskirt! How dare you!”

He grabbed at her, trying to keep his balance, to keep her held down.

She obviously hadn’t hit him hard enough.

So she screamed – it was worth the risk, and if anyone tried to force her to marry this man, she would refuse. Being a starving, reputationless spinster would be better than marrying this man. He tried to put his hand over her mouth again, but this time, she did bite him, and clamped her teeth shut on the side of his hand. He half-screamed this time.

And it was at that moment that the door opened, so hard and fast that it slammed back against the wall. Terror filled her, of a different kind – who was it? It would make no difference, she realised, so, with a last surge of energy, she lifted a knee again, and made sure that this time it was hard enough, then she spat out his hand.

As she did, hands pulled Jasper off her, and flung him to the floor, where he coiled into a tight ball, clutching his private parts.

Which left her sprawled inelegantly across the couch, her skirts half pulled up and her bodice in disarray, the hard edge of a book still digging into her side. She looked up to see who her rescuer was, and discovered Lord Templewick. Her heart sank – what must he think of her, finding her like this? Surely, if there had ever been any chance of him being interested in her, it was gone now. The only positive of the moment was that there was no one else there – no one had followed him into the room.

She swallowed her pride, and pushed herself up to a sitting position,

“Thank you for your rescue, my Lord.”

She met his eyes, and what she saw there startled her.

There was anger, and amusement, and respect, and something else, something warmer. It confused her utterly.

“I think, from what I saw, and heard with my ear pressed to the door, that you were well on your way to rescuing yourself. I commend you. Did he hurt you?”

Venetia shook her head, the shock of the whole situation only now beginning to impact her. She felt suddenly cold, and shaky.

“No. Only my pride, and my side, where I inadvertently lay upon the book.” She held it up, lifting it from where it lay beside her. “It was trapped underneath me. I was in here reading with Lady Merringbar, and I must have fallen asleep. I suspect that she left me to rest, out of kindness. And Jasper somehow discovered that I was here alone.”

“But you are shaking…”

Lord Templewick settled gently onto the couch beside her, and slipped an arm around her. She leant into him, glad of his support. He pressed a gentle kiss to her brow, right on her scar, and a sob escaped her.

From the floor, Jasper’s sneering voice reached her, and she looked to find him pulling himself up to sit, his hands still cupping his injured parts.

“I see, that’s the way of it, is it? Well, you’re welcome to the slattern, Templewick - after that little performance, I’ve lost interest. No man will marry her, but she’s too much of a fool to accept it – good luck if you think you’ll get what you want from her.”

Venetia felt Lord Templewick stiffen and his arm dropped away from her. Her heart cried out at its absence, but she supposed that she should have expected it. Then he rose and stepped forward, reaching down to take hold of Jasper’s cravat. He twisted it, and with startling ease, hauled Jasper to his feet.

“You, sir, are a bounder, and worse, but I won’t use those words in front of a Lady.”

Jasper made a half-strangled complaint.

“Release me!”

Lord Templewick laughed.

“Oh I will, in good time. But first, you’ll hear what I have to say. Let’s start with everything that is wrong with your opinion of Lady Venetia. You say that no man will marry her – there you are incorrect, for I will happily do so, if she will have me.” Venetia gasped, sagging back against the couch, unable to take in what he had just said. Lord Templewick went on. “You speak of her with utter disrespect, just because an accident has left her with a small but visible scar, which only shows just how poor your judgement is. You think her a woman with no options, and believe that you are the one with choices in life. You are wrong.”

Jasper managed to laugh.

“I think not. Why do you say that?”