Page 33 of Dare to Risk it All

“Heavens,” she said, relieved.

Raphe took her hand, curling his warm fingers about hers and setting off dozens of tiny, prickling explosions beneath her skin as she reacted to his touch. “Come on,” he whispered.

They hurried off after the dogs, following the distant echo of barking as they moved farther into the grand house, but soon everything was quiet, and they did not know which way to go. They ran through room after room, changing directions when a ghostly bark tempted them down a different path, but there was no sign of either the dogs or the ballroom.

“Are we lost?” Greer asked anxiously. It felt as if they were the only people in the world, let alone the house, which was even bigger than she had realised.

“Not lost, exactly,” Raphe replied, though his voice was taut.

“What exactly, then?” she pressed, very aware of the night and the quiet enveloping them, and the fact they were all alone.

“Not where we’re supposed to be,” he said tersely.

“Raphe.”

His name was a soft whisper of sound in the darkness, and though she knew she ought not, the temptation to take advantage of their solitude was unbearable… irresistible.

“No,” he said, increasing his speed as they exited yet another room.

“But I’m tired. Give me a moment to catch my breath, please,” Greer protested, though she was aware it was not running through the house that had made her heart thud with such ferocity.

His nearness was tantalising, his big body calling to hers in some primal fashion she did not entirely understand, but reacted to insistently. She wanted him. She wanted to feel his arms around her, to press herself to him and kiss him, to feel the weight of him upon her.

Reluctantly, Raphe stopped, letting go of her hand and stalking to the window to stare out at the silvered countryside beyond, glowing with moonlight. Greer looked about the room, finally settling herself down on a silk-covered chaise longue and stretching out her legs. It was difficult to do with any elegance as her large skirts billowed out, but she shifted and tugged, arranging them modestly, and subsided with a sigh of relief. Raphe turned, watching her, though she could not see his expression, his face shrouded in darkness.

The room was eerily silent and Greer far too aware of the sound of her own heart beating. She willed him to come to her, to take her in his arms, and knew he wanted to. He was waging a silent battle over there by the window. She ought to help him win it, for he was trying so hard to be good, but she longed for him to be close to her. She did not understand what it was between them, but she needed to know, needed to know him. If only he would trust her, but he didn’t even trust himself yet. Was she a fool for wanting him so? Was this merely infatuation, or was it more than that? Could it become more than that, at least?

“Don’t look at me like that, Greer.” His voice was hard, almost angry.

“Like what?” she asked, wondering what he saw in her gaze.

“Like I’m worth something. Worthy of you.”

She smiled at that, compassion filling her chest. “Of course you are.”

He made an unhappy sound, muttering words she could not hear. “You don’t know me at all.”

“I do.”

Though she could not see his expression, she heard the sneer behind the words. “Is that so? What do you know of me that makes me worth your time, your reputation, by God? For if anyone discovers us, you’ll be ruined.”

“Then you’ll marry me,” she said placidly.

“Ah, yes. A fine match we’d make, and everyone will believe I did it on purpose, to get my hands on your dowry.”

Greer shrugged. “Who cares what people think? I shall know the truth.”

“Will you? Will you really?” his voice was bitter, as dark as the room. “How? How do you know I’ve not had this in mind all along? I’ve no money, remember, and I know you’re plump in the pocket, like your sister. A quick wedding would solve all my problems. Indeed, I should do very nicely to compromise you and get you wed. I told Rothborn I’d take a punt at you, marry you for your money.”

“Ah,” she said, understanding now. “That’s why he warned you away from me.”

“Yes.”

She smiled, feeling her heart hurt at how hard he was trying to make her hate him, as much as he hated himself, apparently. “But you didn’t mean it.”

He laughed at that, shaking his head. “How damnably naïve you are.”

“I’m not, though.”