not surprised.”
“I know very little, but it’s of no consequence to me.”
“It does not matter to you that your soon-to-be husband is a bastard?”
“No. Does it matter to you?” she threw back at him. Whether he admitted it or not, she knew it was of great importance to him. She suspected his parentage guided his every decision and every step he made. Society was cruel, and she could only imagine the pain he’d endured at their hands. It helped to explain his lack of emotions as well as his willingness to inflict pain like her father.
“I have a proposition for you,” he said at last. “After we are wed, we will remain in London as you help me gain my respectability. Once I’m satisfied with my connections, you may live at Merrick, for I intend to continue to reside in London.”
“You would send me to your estate in the country to live alone?”
“If you would prefer to live in London, you will stay in my house. I will not give them any more fodder for their rumors.”
“London or the country, it matters not to me. I simply wanted to ascertain if you truly meant I may live so far away without you demanding your rights.”
Abigail held her breath, waiting and praying she understood him correctly. Her vision for her life had always been bleak, but he offered her a glimmer of hope. Could he truly mean to leave her alone?
As his grey eyes darkened to nearly black, her hopes sank. He was no doubt thinking of his rights and how often he would demand them. His gaze dropped to her mouth, and she could not stop from parting her lips. Would he kiss her? Should she want him to?
His hand slowly rose and gently grasped the back of her neck. She remained immobile as he pulled her closer. When their lips met, sparks of pleasure spread throughout her body. Lifting her hands to his chest, she clutched the lapels of his jacket. Never had anything felt as wonderful as when his lips were pressed against hers.
When his tongue touched her mouth, she jumped, but his hand held her firm. The slick wetness traced her lips before he slipped it into her mouth. Pleasure hummed though her body, making her weak. Never before had she encountered such a feeling, and it astounded her. Without breaking contact, she shifted to the edge of the chair, desperate to be closer to him. She needed more.
Suddenly her enjoyment disappeared as pain stabbed her back. She cried out as she jerked away. His eyes were confused, and his breathing heavy. In her overwhelmed state, she’d forgotten about the wounds on her back until he’d inadvertently touched them.
“Are you all right?” he rasped.
Looking at her shaking hands, she clasped them together in an effort to settle her nerves. “I’m just . . . I have never been kissed like that before.”
Straightening back in her chair, she hoped he didn’t notice her lack of explanation. Glancing over to gauge his reaction, she observed him looking down. Following his gaze, she saw black hair powder on his hand. He rubbed his fingers together as if trying to determine where it had come from.
Her face burned in mortification. Although reluctant for him to look at her and see the proof before him, she needed to distract him before he realized the source.
“What were you saying before,” she squeaked, “about your rights?” She hated to bring the subject back to what started the searing kiss, but it was preferable to the consequences.
“Ah, yes.” He discreetly pulled out a handkerchief and wiped his fingers. “First, I will not have the validity of our marriage questioned, and second, I do require heirs.”
“How soon will you have need of them? If I’m living at Merrick, I can’t see how obtaining them will be possible.”
“I don’t need heirs immediately. I will inform you prior, so rest assured, I will not be making nightly visits to your bedchamber.”
His words mixed with the throaty quality of his voice brought out a longing in her, but she squelched it. Hope resurfaced
“I know very little, but it’s of no consequence to me.”
“It does not matter to you that your soon-to-be husband is a bastard?”
“No. Does it matter to you?” she threw back at him. Whether he admitted it or not, she knew it was of great importance to him. She suspected his parentage guided his every decision and every step he made. Society was cruel, and she could only imagine the pain he’d endured at their hands. It helped to explain his lack of emotions as well as his willingness to inflict pain like her father.
“I have a proposition for you,” he said at last. “After we are wed, we will remain in London as you help me gain my respectability. Once I’m satisfied with my connections, you may live at Merrick, for I intend to continue to reside in London.”
“You would send me to your estate in the country to live alone?”
“If you would prefer to live in London, you will stay in my house. I will not give them any more fodder for their rumors.”
“London or the country, it matters not to me. I simply wanted to ascertain if you truly meant I may live so far away without you demanding your rights.”
Abigail held her breath, waiting and praying she understood him correctly. Her vision for her life had always been bleak, but he offered her a glimmer of hope. Could he truly mean to leave her alone?
As his grey eyes darkened to nearly black, her hopes sank. He was no doubt thinking of his rights and how often he would demand them. His gaze dropped to her mouth, and she could not stop from parting her lips. Would he kiss her? Should she want him to?
His hand slowly rose and gently grasped the back of her neck. She remained immobile as he pulled her closer. When their lips met, sparks of pleasure spread throughout her body. Lifting her hands to his chest, she clutched the lapels of his jacket. Never had anything felt as wonderful as when his lips were pressed against hers.
When his tongue touched her mouth, she jumped, but his hand held her firm. The slick wetness traced her lips before he slipped it into her mouth. Pleasure hummed though her body, making her weak. Never before had she encountered such a feeling, and it astounded her. Without breaking contact, she shifted to the edge of the chair, desperate to be closer to him. She needed more.
Suddenly her enjoyment disappeared as pain stabbed her back. She cried out as she jerked away. His eyes were confused, and his breathing heavy. In her overwhelmed state, she’d forgotten about the wounds on her back until he’d inadvertently touched them.
“Are you all right?” he rasped.
Looking at her shaking hands, she clasped them together in an effort to settle her nerves. “I’m just . . . I have never been kissed like that before.”
Straightening back in her chair, she hoped he didn’t notice her lack of explanation. Glancing over to gauge his reaction, she observed him looking down. Following his gaze, she saw black hair powder on his hand. He rubbed his fingers together as if trying to determine where it had come from.
Her face burned in mortification. Although reluctant for him to look at her and see the proof before him, she needed to distract him before he realized the source.
“What were you saying before,” she squeaked, “about your rights?” She hated to bring the subject back to what started the searing kiss, but it was preferable to the consequences.
“Ah, yes.” He discreetly pulled out a handkerchief and wiped his fingers. “First, I will not have the validity of our marriage questioned, and second, I do require heirs.”
“How soon will you have need of them? If I’m living at Merrick, I can’t see how obtaining them will be possible.”
“I don’t need heirs immediately. I will inform you prior, so rest assured, I will not be making nightly visits to your bedchamber.”
His words mixed with the throaty quality of his voice brought out a longing in her, but she squelched it. Hope resurfaced
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