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Her mouth fell open again. If her heart could glow, she would be brighter than a beacon. She recovered from the audacity of his statement. “Respectability from you, Lord Cadwell?”
“It took me seven days to realize that I have no choice but to attempt respectability if I ever hope to possess you in my arms once more. You deserve no less. But I give you fair warning—you know me for what I am, Miss Merrill.”
“I do not think I do,” she returned. “I thought our affair confined to the château. Your departure made that quite clear, I think.”
“I was appalled,” he explained, “that you might be discovered in a compromising situation.”
She flushed. “You may recall, sir, that you have not the honor of having been the first.”
A muscle rippled along his jaw. “I will not discuss the particulars of that. I thought that you would wake with remorse for what had happened betwixt us and that you would be relieved for me to be gone.”
“Yet here you are,” she pointed out.
“Yes, here am I, for it is the nature of the male sex to pursue, against all odds, until he has been bludgeoned and all recourse dissolved. I want you, Miss Merrill, more than I have ever wanted most other women. If the nature of such feelings should be love, I will not spurn it.”
She contemplated what he said, her gaze raking over him, saying nothing. She felt mastery of the situation, for he had made clear his feelings but she had yet to reveal hers. He was staring at her as if she were prey he meant to devour. Desire lighted his eyes, and the look made her loins warm and a familiar wetness begin to form. But she continued playing the coquette through her silence for well he deserved it.
“You disappointed me, Lord Cadwell,” she said at last.
His brows rose.
“I had hoped to stay the full three nights at Lady Follet’s,” she finished.
He beamed.
“As for respectability…” she continued, her eyes bright as she leaned toward him, “that sounds rather boring.”
He groaned. “Miss Merrill, you would make a further rake of me.”
“There is a part of the garden hidden from all view,” she whispered with a sly smile.
“I could not, Miss Merrill,” he said after some hesitation. “I may be a rake, but you will not find it so easy to question my resolve as you had. I will be a gentleman.”
Not for long, she thought to herself. She had no qualms about seducing him. But she gave him her brightest smile and took the arm he offered to escort her back to the house.
“How unfortunate,” she replied lightly, using his words. “Perhaps that can be changed.”
The Earl of Blythe grinned. “My dear Miss Merrill, you are a perfect rake.”
