She snorted, and his eyes narrowed with a dangerous intensity. A prickle of apprehension slithered down her spine. Perhaps she had challenged him enough for one night.
“Oh, very well,” she said in a grumpy tone. “I believe you.”
“I should hope so,” he said dryly. “Not that I won’t be keeping an eye on Blundell. And if he touches you like that again, I won’t be answerable for my actions.”
Her frustration spiked. “Christian, I already told you—”
“Hush,” he said, laying a finger across her lips.
All rational thought fled her brain.
His finger left her mouth and traced a soft path along her chin. He touched her with such tenderness that it brought a sting of tears to her eyes.
“I know how difficult this last year has been for you. And I know how much you hate violence,” he said quietly. “I would not add to your distress. If Blundell makes any trouble, I promise I’ll tell you before I take any action.”
She stared at him, at sea in a swirl of conflicting emotions.
“It’s just that I miss Jeremy so much,” she tried to explain. “I can’t help seeing him … all alone on that battlefield. If anything were to happen to you …”
“Nothing’s going to happen to me. I’m as tough as bootleather.” Rising to his feet in one fluid motion, he said, “Now, you must promise me something in return.”
“What?” she asked suspiciously, trying to ignore how big and handsome he looked as he stood over her.
He pulled her to her feet. “You must promise to drive in the park with me tomorrow. Just the two of us.”
She started to protest, but he cut her off.
“It’s my condition for capitulating to your wishes. I won’t take no for an answer.”
She bit her lip, buffeted once more by those annoying emotions. As ridiculous as it sounded, he threatened her peace and security in every way possible. He shouldn’t be able to make her feel so unlike herself, but he did. It was mortifying, as was her overwhelming impulse to say yes.
“What are you afraid of, Clarissa?” he taunted softly. “It’s just a spin around the park with an old friend.”
“I’m not afraid,” she scoffed, determined to reassert herself. “But I don’t want people to gossip about us.”
“Then we’ll go earlier in the day. That way, only the nursemaids and the children will see us.”
He grinned—a beautiful, boyish grin. One she remembered all too well. “Give over, Clarissa. It’ll be fun. Just like the old days. You do remember having fun, don’t you?”
Her inner defenses collapsed. She did remember, andthatwas exactly the problem.
