Page 79 of An Unexpected Earl

“Yes, I do.” He came forward. “But not in my bedroom.”

Her cheeks flushed as she looked around and realized for the first time what room they were in. “I don’t care.”

“I do. Gentlemen, we’re finished for the evening.” He called out over his shoulder as he took her arm to lead her out. “McTavish, I won’t need you when I return.”

He gave a sharp nod. “Yes, Brigadier.”

“And Merritt, you’ll do as we discussed?”

“Count on it.”

“Thank you. Can you show yourself out? Miss Howard and I might have a long discussion ahead of us.” He frowned down at Amelia and sensed the emotion pulsating from her. Averylong discussion.

Merritt grinned as he slid past them and out the door, drawling, “Count on it.”

Pearce’s glare only made Merritt laugh.

“This way, then.” He led her downstairs.

When they reached the drawing room, Pearce slid closed the pocket doors and leaned back against them, crossing his arms over his chest so he wouldn’t sweep her off her feet and carry her right back upstairs to his bed.

He shot her a no-nonsense look. “You shouldn’t be here.”

“And you shouldn’t have spoken to Freddie without me.” With her eyes flashing brightly in her pale face, she looked as determined as a green captain about to lead his first battle charge. “You said we were in this together.”

“We are.”

“Since when is agreeing to the trust on your own the definition of togetherness?” She waved a hand in no particular direction. A sign of how upset she was. “Iwantto trust in you, Pearce, but—”

“You can.” He kept his voice even and calm, just as he kept his distance and remained where he was. He was aching to hold and reassure her, but he couldn’t. Not yet. Not until she was ready. “You know me, Amelia. You know how I feel about you.”

As she stared at him, biting her bottom lip, he could see her struggling with what he was telling her. She wanted to believe him, he knew. But the men in her life had taught her hard lessons about trust, had used her for their own benefit— Damn to hell every man who had ever wounded her!

But Pearce wouldn’t be among them.

“I would never betray you.” Keeping his distance was killing him. “In your heart, you know that.”

“Then why?” Her anger deflated, along with her shoulders as they sagged beneath her cloak. “And after we…” Her voice choked off.

“Made love,” he finished gently for her.

Her cheeks pinkened beautifully at the memory. “I thought we’d agreed about the turnpike.”

“We did. But events have sped up, and I needed to act.” Losing the battle to keep himself away from her, he shoved away from the door and stopped in front of her. “There are more lives at risk now, including yours. Delaying is no longer an option.”

Her eyes widened, an expression that had him longing to kiss the confusion from her lips.

“Wearein this together, Amelia, but I will always draw the line at protecting you.” He touched her cheek to punctuate that promise. “I didn’t tell you that I’d planned to agree to the trust precisely because I knew you would want to stop me. Or worse—that you’d do something foolish like go after Varnham again.” When she began to protest, he cut her off with a touch of his fingertip to her lips. “But we’re running out of time, and I need to get closer to Scepter.” He crossed his arms before he wrapped them around her and pulled her against him. At that moment, if he did, he was certain she’d flee. “I’d like your understanding. But even without it, I’m going through with this. Starting tonight.”

They stared at each other for a long while, neither speaking, neither moving. Like two adversaries staring at each other across the battlefield, each waiting for the other to give first.

Then she nodded jerkily and turned her eyes away. Not the eager endorsement he’d hoped for, yet he’d gladly accept it. With Amelia, he’d take his victories whenever he could.

Blowing out a hard breath, he sank heavily onto the settee. The posture of a man at the limits of his patience.

“We can discuss our next steps tomorrow, if you’d like, after I’ve learned more about the trustees. But for now, you need to leave. Your brother will be here in an hour to take me to meet them.” He raked his gaze heatedly over her, so intensely that she shivered. “And if you stay, Iwillmake love to you.”

Her lips parted in surprise at the boldness of that declaration.Good.Because he wasn’t teasing.