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“Given adequate time and a more appropriate setting, I can show you such pleasures as you have never even imagined,” he murmured.
His words registered, filling her with mortification. Tearing loose, she bolted for the door.
But he was one step ahead. “Sabrina, wait, listen to m—”
“Let me go!” Shrugging off the now too-familiar hands that grasped her shoulders, she backed away, furious. Her anger was directed more at herself than at him, but she’d be damned if she’d let him know it.
“Not until you hear what I have to say.”
“Say it then, you…you unspeakable bastard! And then let me go!” she spat, backing as far away from him as possible.
“I know this must be a bit of a shock.” He took an unsteady breath. “It certainly is for me. Taking liberties with women in libraries is not a regular practice of mine. In fact, I can say in all honesty that this is the very first time I have ever done such a thing.”
Even in her upset, she found it within herself to lift a sardonic brow.
“You must believe me,” he insisted. “I did not come here intent on your ravishment.”
“I don’t care about your intentions! You’ll not touch me again! Not ever!”
Defying her words, he reached out. “Sabrina, please—”
She flinched away, warding him off with raised hands. “If you come any closer, I shall scream the roof down and to hell with the consequences. I am not some, some…strumpet for you to, to—”
“Damn it all, Sabrina! I only wished to spend time with you, to get to know you better!”
“Yes, well, you certainly achieved your purpose, didn’t you?”
“You know that isn’t what I meant.”
“Then what do you mean?”
“I should like to court you,” he all but shouted.
Stunned, she stood there, mouth agape for several seconds. “Court me? Me? You cannot possibly…” An incredulous laugh burst forth from her lungs. “This is some sort of elaborate jest, isn’t it? You are getting back at me for all of those pranks…” She searched his face, but he appeared to be perfectly serious. “If it isn’t that, then you’re daft.”
“Perhaps just a bit,” he admitted with a slanty grin. “But if I’ve lost my
head, it’s because ever since the moment I saw you again, you’ve been all I can think about.”
An electric sensation washed over her skin on hearing his words, the same feeling she experienced just before a thunderstorm. Alarmed, she drew herself up as she’d seen her mother do so many times and put on her sternest face. “Lord Montgomery, I am afraid I must refuse. Now, please let me pass.”
His brows drew together. “On what grounds do you refuse my suit?”
“Because I…you…because…”
“We are perfectly matched, Sabrina.” It was a silken promise. “You know it in your blood.”
“This is preposterous!” But her heart began to pound again.
“You asked me not to stop just now.”
The quietly spoken condemnation rang in her ears. She had indeed.
“Is it so preposterous to think we might make a good match?” he added softly.
Her trembling was uncontrollable now and spreading to the rest of her body, inside and out. Whether it was caused by fear or temptation, she could not discern. “You, sir, belong in Bedlam!”
“Why? Why is it insanity to know what I want?” he laughed, apparently not understanding why she was being so difficult.
