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“My dear Miss Hartwell, I think you might consider the delicacy of your situation. Your actions have placed you in my power. Only I can rescue your reputation and that of your sisters. For your actions shall reflect on them.” I tried a different tactic, but she laughed instead of listening to reason.
“My lord, you mistake me if you think I care for my reputation. Nor do my sisters have such delicate sensibilities.”
“Nevertheless, I shall take responsibility for your reckless behaviour, which society will frown on. In return you shall submit to me. And like a good omega you shall take your punishment for your recent behaviour with perfect grace.”
“Punishment!” she sneered. “You have no right to make such threats. No self respecting alpha uses such methods. Beating an omega? The behaviour of a weak alpha belonging to a backwards age.”
“I have no intention to beat you,” I growled. “But I suspect a good spanking might leave a better impression on you than a lecture.”
Her flush! Despite her fury and poisonous words—which were too close to the truth for my liking—, her flush made my cock grow hard.
“You followed me as I was going into heat. I shot you to defend my omega virtue. You wrote that horrid letter. I turned your offer down last night. And now you must come and bother me at home while I have packing to accomplish. And not just for myself, but my mother who must needs have another three gowns made up since she fears what she has already will be considered too grand in Paris.”
“Paris?” I growled. I could not disguise my… what? Fury that my omega—for I could not but consider her mine when every one of my instincts told me she belonged to me—was leaving. “Your mother did not mention Paris.”
“Mama goes, and I shall keep house for her.” The defiant tilt of her chin! She fought so hard, but against what and to what end? She could have refused to see me. I doubted her mother would force her to hear my suit. So why? The questions tumbled in my head and only enhanced her attractions.
“And be bored out of your mind. You’ll have more entertainment and pleasure if you remain in London.”
“And what is that, my lord?”
“You have the position as my wife and mate,” I goaded her. Her eyes flashed, and I longed to take her in hand and tame that wildness. Not crush or kill it, just… I wanted to give that fantastic temper direction and purpose. She seemed forever howling at the wind. “A far greater—”
“No. For the love of the Goddess! Yet another alpha making decisions about my mating as if I was incapable of choosing a mate. I have rejected any number of suitable alphas,” she snarled the words. “Not once have I met such an arrogant and thick-skulled dynamic. Convinced of their own superiority. That they are the ones to tell me! Me, Beatrice Hartwell, what I want. What is best for me. I choose who is worthy.”
She practically shook with emotion, her eyes bright and her cheeks stained pink.
“I refuse you. I refuse your admittedly flattering offer. But I do not wish to submit to you plans for me! You are an Ass!” she finished almost as an afterthought.
“The lady protests too much. Look in the mirror and say those words again.”
“The alpha forgets that he is trying to court me, not infuriate me. I’ll not be your mate. You are—” She bit off her next words. Wise since she was on thin ice, on the brink of saying something she would regret. Her nostrils flared as if she was scenting the air and inexplicably her roses lost their sweetness.
“What has you so agitated, omega? Is it your heat? Were you left unsatisfied? Perhaps if you stood in the corner you would have time to consider the offer you are rejecting.”
“I’m not a child!”
“Yet you persist in acting like you know what is best for you,” I chided.
“I am not yours to order around.” Her eyes flashed, but underneath the defiance she appeared tired. “You are a member of the aristocracy. You can hardly take a scandal for your wife. So why must you persist when you are met with rejection at every turn?”
“If you were my wife and mate, you’d be a member of the aristocracy. You’d be above scandal.” I ignored her question for I could not answer but sound like some hulking cave dweller who sought to drag her into a den and rut her without thought. I’d begun to fear she made me into such a one as that. An alpha banging his chest, chanting “mine” as if incapable of rational thought. “I desire you. Do you need more of a reason?
She threw back her head and laughed, pleasant and full of joy. “Oh to be above scandal! Lord Paxton, I’ve no such aspirations. And desire is no basis for a union between alpha and omega. If there is nothing else, I bid you—”
“To have your paintings…” I threw out. I’d provoke her if it meant more time in her company.
“No.”
“You are talented. Perhaps more than you realise.”
“How… To think that I am susceptible to such flattery!” Her jaw ticked and abruptly jerked away to the window which she attempted to open. A deep sigh, a look over her shoulder, and a resigned motion towards the window. “Please?”
I moved towards her. And, other than the flush in her cheeks and faint flaring of her nostrils, she showed no sign that she cared how close I was. An omega standing firm against an alpha was unusual. Not unheard of, but unusual when she did not know the alpha. I looked out and couldn’t see Jack, perhaps he’d tired of his pacing and had retreated to my house, awaiting my return.
The window stuck a bit and there was no breeze when it finally was open. And all the while, Miss Beatrice Jane Hartwell stood there. Watching me.
“Well you are good for opening windows.”
