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Eden could no more move than she could breathe as he examined her. Outrage warred with a rush of desire. His brown-black eyes held her, darkening with every second that passed until they were like jet. Heat flashed across her skin as his thumb caressed her jaw, sending rivers of fire all the way to the tips of her extremities—among other places.
God have mercy… No wonder women made such fools of themselves over him.
Reason returned when he released her. Lady Montgomery hadn’t behaved like a mindless idiot around him, and neither would she. “You really want the unvarnished truth?”
“I cannot imagine why you would ever think I should want anything else.” He slanted her a smile. “I detest dissembling. If you are bothered by something I said or did, I expect you to tell me, not put on a poor show of chilly indifference. If I want the company of a second-rate actress, I’ll visit Covent Garden. Speak your mind and have done.”
His contempt lashed at her, slicing through all the restraint with which she’d armored herself. The presumptuous, arrogant, hypocritical ass! If honesty was what he wanted, then by George, honesty was what he would get.
“You name me a charlatan, when you cannot even see the end of your own nose, you’re so deeply buried in the lies you’ve told yourself and everyone else!” She was gratified to see him flinch in response. “You think I did not notice the way you looked at Lady Montgomery? Do you think me and everyone else here blind? Tell me—is it Lord Montgomery’s child she carries or yours?”
She realized her mistake the instant the words left her lips.
Fine white lines formed at the corners of his mouth as, with none of its former gentleness, his hand shot out to again grasp her chin. “You would do well to never again besmirch that lady’s name with such disgusting and entirely untrue slander.”
Jerking free, she stood her ground and faced him, angry beyond care. “You defend her, yet do more by your own conduct to incite such vulgar rumors than the wagging tongues of a thousand idle gossips!” Fury pounded in her veins, lending her reckless courage. “If anyone here is putting on an act, my lord, it is you. You say you want honesty from me, yet you cannot even be honest with yourself. You profess friendship with a man while coveting his wife, at the same time demanding my honesty while attempting to feed me the lie of your ‘genuine’ regard and interest!”
For a moment he stood, surveying her with unblinking eyes. When he finally spoke, his voice was barely above a whisper. “If you thought me even the slightest bit capable of such heinous acts, why did you agree to this outing?”
Wroth over being made a dupe, she gritted her answer from between clenched teeth. “Because I liked you well enough to think the rumors could not possibly be true. I liked you well enough to give you a chance to prove you’re not the man they say you are. I shall never again be so naïve.” She glared at him with cold disdain. “I don’t expect to see you again, Lord Tavistoke. Don’t concern yourself with escorting me and my stepmother home.” Turning, she marched off in righteous indignation.
Before she’d gone three steps, a hand grabbed her elbow.
Infuriated at having her magnificent exit ruined, Eden rounded on him.
…
Head ringing and one side of his face afire, Percy blinked in astonishment. Though it had not been totally unexpected, the sheer force of her stinging slap was a surprise. Had her fist been closed, he might have been knocked on his rump.
He couldn’t fault her for her anger. Refusing to let her go, he hauled her up against his chest and held her there, kicking the air and squeaking with fury. After several moments, her struggles finally ceased.
Though he rather liked the feel of her pressed against him, he knew he couldn’t keep her there indefinitely. Slowly, keeping a firm grip on one wrist, he let her down and turned her around to face him. “Will you hear me?”
“It appears I have little choice,” she hissed, lifting her imprisoned wrist. “Say what you must and release me, preferably before anyone sees us and I’m forced to endure your odious presence for the rest of my life.”
It hit him then she could’ve simply called out for help and thereby secured his obligation. He’d have been unable to deny his fault, and her father would have rightfully demanded he marry her. It would’ve been a bloodless victory on her part, and another unwed woman in her place would not have hesitated to do it. That she had not done so bespoke the true depth of her contempt for him.
“I know my words will mean little to you, given my recent conduct,” he told her. “But I shall prove to you their veracity. My regard for you is the very highest, and my interest in you quite genuine.” Her beautiful mouth formed a thin line, and Percy found himself longing to kiss the enticing crease back into softness. “I am not in love with Lady Montgomery.”
The line firmed.
“I thought I was, once,” he said, willing her to understand. “But I quickly came to realize I was not.”
“I know what I saw.” Her blue eyes mocked him. “You love her. Anyone who saw you look at her knows it. You wear it openly on your face—as does she openly display her affection for you. It is a wonder her husband has not run you through.” She jerked her hand, trying in vain to get loose. “Or perhaps he simply loves her too much to kill you and thereby wound her.”
He would have laughed, but knew it would only serve to drive her further from him. At least hers was a misperception he could rectify. “Monty is my closest friend,” he explained. “He knows I care for Sabrina, but he also knows I have no designs on her now or in the future.”
“Ha!”
Patience…“Though she is fond of me, Lady Montgomery does not, nor could she ever, love me the way a wife should love a husband,” he continued. “It is why I broke off our engagement.”
Her gaze narrowed. “Now who is treading the boards and putting on a show?” she said with bile. “All of London knows she ran away wit
h Montgomery while still engaged to you. You broke no troth. She threw you over.”
“That is what we let everyone believe, but it is not the truth. Would the three of us be friends now if it were? I’ll tell you what really happened if you swear never to reveal—”
She kicked his shin. Hard.
