Read Online Hint of Desire by Lavinia Kent - Free Book Online Page A

for his anger. She shivered in fear at what he might do now, for she had experienced men’s brutality.
    Unwelcome tears threatened to flow and for a moment she fought them back, as she always had with Worthington . Then, as deep tremors shook her, Lily felt the tears leak out. She worked the edge of the blanket between her fingers, desperate to regain control. This was even worse than she had imagined. He might send her back. She didn’t know why his quiet rage and disapproval felt so corrosive. She had withstood far worse without betraying any emotion.
    He didn’t move . She huddled on the bed, tears streaming down her face, soaking the fine linen covers of the pillows. She gasped for air, trying to subdue the emotions that overwhelmed her. Another wave of tears broke forth. The dam had burst and there was no containment.
    Still he stood, his gaze never leaving her.
    She turned away and buried her face in the pillows, releasing all the misery of her tarnished soul. Sob after sob swept through her, wracking her.
    Finally, there were no more tears . She was empty.
    S he raised her swollen eyes to look at him, she saw that his head was bowed, his own eyes were closed, and a look that spoke of pain was stamped across his features. Her gaze traced the scar, which stood white on his clenched jaw. Their eyes caught and held, and she was lost in whatever passed between them.
    He took a step towards the bed . Her breath caught.
    He caught her chin between his rough fingers and tilted it up towards him, considering. She could feel his burning gaze fastened on her lower lip, and she licked it nervously, unsure of the sensations flickering to life deep in her belly.
    Then h e straightened, and drawing back a half a foot, met her eyes again. Lily sensed the calculation in his mind as he gazed at her. He seemed to be searching for her very soul.
    Westlake opened his lips to speak, then paused. “You are the Countess of Worthington, aren’t you?” Although his question was little different than it had been only moments before, his speech was more careful, smoother, and Lily felt the desire to obey his unspoken demand that she confide everything, to gain release from the burden of her secrets. Her heart raced as she tried to make sense of his lack of anger, his coolness, so different than anything she had known. What was his purpose?
    W ords failed her, and all she could manage was a slight nod of confirmation. He took that as enough for the moment. She could not read the torrent of thoughts that altered his previously reserved expression.
    “Why did you not tell me who you were? ” The question was quiet, but filled with an underlying firmness.
    She turned away from him. How could she trust him when so much was at stake?
    “ I didn’t know who you were. I was frightened. I’ve never been so afraid and confused. I could not believe I was safe.” She waited for his reply, but the silence only grew.
    She pressed her eyelids shut and wished she knew what to say, how to explain without telling him all. She must remember that cold pitch of voice he used to such avail, and remember he was not the gentle Arthur of her youth.
    She heard him give a deep sigh as he considered her words.
    “What happened that night to put you in such a state? What led you to such unreasonable fear?”
    She wanted so much to believe in him . He did not sound like an inquisitor. He did not sound cruel and they had held a secret between them once before.
    She raised her eyes to meet his. “There is not much I can say. It is mostly a blur. I really don’t know how I got there. I remember walking and running through the woods. I didn’t have a real destination in mind. I only wanted to get away.” She chewed on her lip. “I certainly never meant to meet you.”
    He smiled wryly , the first hint of emotion to cross his face. “That I can believe.”
    He kept his gaze focused on her face and the look on his face drew the words out of her, like a line