Page 36 of The Dangerous Lord

“Statements I never wanted published.”

“Why not? Gideon says you’ve nothing to be ashamed of.”

“But you don’t believe that, do you?” he said bitterly. “No, you’re much too clever to be fooled by the claims of a man’s friends.”

He cocked his head, unwittingly exposing more of his rigid features to the candles. Amber light glinted off the snapping black eyes and taut chin. Oh, yes, he was angry, furious even. The sight was awe-inspiring and terrifying at the same time.

With a hard swallow, she clutched her wrapper against her chest. “I-I believe it now. But surely you understand why I didn’t before. How could you expect me to believe your assertions when you insist on hiding so much of your past? Despite all those wildly contradictory rumors, no one ever professed to have fought with you. There was no public mention of your military career.”

“That’s how I prefer it. If I’d wanted my war history made public, I would have sent the details to the newspapers upon my return three years ago. I like my privacy. A pity you didn’t feel the need to consult me concerning my wishes in the matter.”

She bristled at his accusing tone. “It’s your own fault I spoke of it. You know quite well that your story about Miss Greenaway begged to be questioned. Besides, I would never have written more about you if you hadn’t assaulted me⁠—”

“Assaulted?” He shoved away from the wall. “You call a mere kiss an assault?”

“It was not a mere kiss to me,” she burst out before she could stop herself. She continued in a more muted tone. “If it had been, I wouldn’t have reacted as I did.”

That seemed to take him by surprise. His fathomless gaze dropped to her lips and lingered, reminding her of the last time he’d touched them with his. Her mouth tingled, as if it too remembered every moment of that night.

“It was not a mere kiss to me either.” His voice resonated in the dimly lit chamber. “Not in any way.”

An unwarranted thrill shot through her at his words. He didn’t mean them. She knew exactly how sincere he could seem and how easily his sincerity could turn into betrayal. Yet she wanted to believe them.

The air felt thick and close, the space too small to contain them both, though he stood several feet away. They were alone, more completely alone than they’d been before. No one knew he was here—not the lady’s maid she’d dismissed earlier or Sara or any of the Worthings’ other visitors and servants.

And she wore only a lace dressing gown, her chemise, and her drawers. She tried to wrap the gown more tightly about her thinly clad body, but short of pinning it up, keeping it closed was impossible.

Worse yet, her actions seemed to draw his attention to it. Midnight eyes trailed over her, hungry, eager, stripping away her defenses with the deftness of a printer’s knife. He’d worn that look before, when he’d been inches away with his hands locked on her waist and his lips lowering to her mouth ...

With an unspoken curse, she tore her gaze from his.

He cleared his throat. “Nonetheless,” he continued gruffly as if angry at her for mentioning their kiss, “what I did was insufficient provocation for your tarnishing my reputation not once, but twice.”

“You tarnished my reputation first, that night on the balcony.”

“Not true. Or have you forgotten your first column?”

She groaned. Amazingly, she had. “Our opinions differ as to whether that tarnished your reputation.”

“It drove my fiancée to elope with another man. I’d say that if it didn’t tarnish my reputation, it at least dulled its shine.”

“You got your revenge for it, didn’t you? Subjecting me to your kisses and⁠—”

“Subjecting you—” He approached her, his brow lowering. “Are you trying to claim you didn’t enjoy them?”

“Of course I enjoyed them!” she blurted out. At his pleased look, she added archly, “How could I not? You’re a rake—making women enjoy your kisses is your avocation. But that doesn’t change the fact that they were forced upon me.”

“I am not a rake.” He dragged his fingers through his hair in exasperation. “If you’d actually researched your spurious columns, you’d know that. As for forcing you, believe me, if you’d slapped me after the first kiss, I wouldn’t have stayed for a second.” His gaze narrowed. “But you grabbed my coat to draw me back. You welcomed those kisses, no matter what you claimed later. You lied about our entire encounter to Sara. At least have the good grace to admit it.”

“I did not lie to her,” she protested.

“You told her I’d taken advantage of you.”

“No! She merely ... assumed that you’d done so because ... because⁠—”

“Because you said I went ‘too far.’” Slowly he neared her, eyes glittering like onyx set in silver. “What exactly is ‘too far,’ Felicity?”

She shrank against the dressing table. “I’m sure you know that better than I, given your reputation.”