Page 65 of Dare to Risk it All

“You rat!” she exclaimed, hitting his shoulder. “You frightened the life out of me.”

“Mercy!” he said, holding up his hands in a show of surrender.

“Hmph.” She pretended to sulk, turning her back on him.

“Don’t pout, darling, or I will be forced to kiss you.”

“I’m not at all sure I feel like kissing you now,” she retorted, though heat was already simmering beneath her skin, and he must know it was a damned lie.

“Ah, well. It is a just revenge. I shall just have to endure the journey in a ferment of misery,” he said sadly, settling back against the squabs.

Greer waited a moment and then flounced back to face him. “That’s it?” she demanded crossly. “You didn’t make much of an effort.”

He raised his eyebrows, his expression far too innocent. “But you do not wish for me to kiss you. You said so, and I would never force my attentions upon you if you did not welcome them.”

“They’re not that unwelcome,” she said with obvious frustration.

“Oh?” He seemed to consider that, a frown drawing his dark brows together. “No. No, I cannot take the chance of offending my new bride.”

Greer narrowed her eyes at him. “My Lord de Ligne, if you don’t kiss me I shan’t be responsible for the consequences.”

“Are you quite certain?” he asked, looking doubtful. “You’re not just trying to soothe my injured—”

“Oh!” With a huff, she grabbed hold of his neck and pulled him close, kissing him hungrily.

Raphe laughed against her mouth but complied, doing as she’d asked and kissing her deeply, thoroughly, until she was hot and flustered.

“So demanding,” he chided, shaking his head. “I see I shall have my work cut out for me keeping you satisfied.”

“Yes,” she agreed breathlessly. “So you can stop teasing me and get on with it.”

Snorting helplessly, Raphe did as she asked.

Their welcome at Royle House was warm and mercifully brief. Whether Arabella or Bainbridge were to thank for the brevity of their hearty greeting, Greer was uncertain, but they were shown to their room without delay and left alone.

It was a lavish suite, all heavy curtains, thick carpets and opulent furnishings. The staff had arranged a cold repast of light dishes covered with silver domes upon a side table, and an ice bucket contained a bottle of Champagne. The fires blazed, and the lamps were lit against the waning winter day, making the large room feel somehow intimate and cosy.

“How grand it is,” Greer said with wonder.

“Don’t get too used to it, love,” Raphe replied with a crooked grin. “It’s the last luxury you might see for a bit.”

“Will we stay at your estate, then?”

“God, no!” he exclaimed, shaking his head. “Not unless you’ve a taste for sleeping with rats and mice, who are likely the present occupants. There’s a decent inn close by, though. We’ll stay there while we gauge how bad the condition is and if we’d best just set fire to the damn place.”

“Oh, I cannot believe it will come to that,” Greer said. “Do you not have any tenants left?”

Raphe shook his head. “The last one left ten years ago when their roof fell in. I still feel guilty. I know I ought to have done more, but I was barely keeping us afloat as it was. So I turned my back on the problem and ignored it.”

He looked so wretched, the poor man. What a burden he’d been carrying all this time. “It’s not your fault there was no money, Raphe. You did the best you could for your family. There’s no shame in that.”

He shrugged. “I don’t know about that. I realise there’s no income to be had from Marcross without a deal of investment first. Though the land is fertile enough, it will need a lot of work. It’s bound to be overgrown and in a shocking state. I’m not sure if it’s worth investing in the amount of labour and machinery it will require making it viable. The returns from farming are not what they once were, what with cheap grain imports and the lack of labour as everyone moves to work in the cities. Unless you move with the times and invest in machinery and modern techniques, you’re sunk.”

“Oh?” Greer asked, interested.

Raphe frowned. “Why the hell are we standing here discussing farming? There is a comfortable bed over there and I’ve been climbing out of my skin with the desire to get you out of your clothes since the day we met.”

“Well, don’t ask me.” Greer replied tartly. “You’re the one with all the experience.”