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Authors: Nicole Jordan
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beguiling appeal, it would be too dangerous. She would
enjoy his company far too much and be tempted to break off with the duke, and then
all her parents’ hopes would be shattered.
Steeling herself, Sophie slowly shook her head. She had never met anyone like Lord
Jack … so full of life, so much
larger
than life. It stood to reason that she would have few defenses against him. But she
absolutely had to get over her fascination with him so she could do her duty.
Apparently he saw her gesture as a rejection, for he took yet another tack. “What
if I were to threaten to expose your visits here? Would you agree to see me then?”
She gazed blankly up at him. “Are you thinking of
blackmailing
me?”
“How else am I to gain any leverage over you?”
She couldn’t help but laugh. Raising her hands to his chest, Sophie pushed him away
while struggling to regain her shaken equilibrium.
As she restored her bonnet to its proper position and tied the ribbons, she countered
with her own threat. “In the first place, you cannot expose my secrets unless you
want me to expose your own. You don’t want anyone knowing of your patronage here,
remember?”
His eyes filled with reluctant amusement as she continued. “And in the second, I don’t
believe you would stoop so low. The kind of man who supports a shelter for needy mothers
would not resort to blackmail.”
“Would I not?”
“No. Particularly regarding an issue that is so personal to you.” Sophie cocked her
head as she studied him. “The other night you said you knew someone who could have
benefited from a refuge like Arundel. I believe I can guess whom you meant—and why
you champion the vulnerable women here. It’s because your own mother found herself
in a similar predicament all those years ago, isn’t it?”
The humor in his eyes promptly faded. “I don’t wish to discuss it.”
She could tell she had touched a nerve, so she left off prodding him. “Very well,
but I think your image of being an uncaring rake is a sham.”
Lord Jack made no comment, only ran a hand roughly through his raven hair. She could
tell he was frustrated because they were at an impasse. Perhaps he was merely spoiled;
as the privileged son of a nobleman, he was surely accustomed to getting his own way.
Or perhaps it was something deeper.
He was a charming rogue, true, but she had caught a fleeting glimpse of a different
man entirely, hidden beneath the façade. A serious, contemplative,
complex
man teeming with emotional undercurrents inside. There was an intensity about Lord
Jack that was totally unexpected … and totally compelling.
As the silence drew out, Sophie saw a muscle work in his jaw. But then abruptly, without
warning, he gave in. “Very well … you win.”
Her glance turned skeptical. She hadn’t thought he would relent so easily. “What do
I win?”
“Never mind.”
Grasping her elbow, he guided her to the door andushered her from the office. “Come, I will escort you to your carriage.”
Sophie’s steps lagged. “I would rather you didn’t.”
“Why not? Because you don’t want your aunt to know I am associating with you?”
His perceptiveness impressed her. “Yes, but not for the reason you think. If she knew
you are proposing a clandestine rendezvous with me, she would only encourage you.”
His brows drew together thoughtfully, as if he found her admission intriguing. “Indeed?”
“Yes. For some reason my Aunt Eunice likes your boldness.” Sophie laughed softly in
remembrance. “She especially admired your gall in infiltrating her ball.”
“So we would have an ally in her?”
That he wanted an ally surprised and flattered Sophie. “Well … perhaps. As it happens,
she doesn’t share my parents’ desire that I wed Dunmore. But her support would make
no difference to my father.”
Lord Jack was silent as he walked Sophie outside to the graveled drive where her
enjoy his company far too much and be tempted to break off with the duke, and then
all her parents’ hopes would be shattered.
Steeling herself, Sophie slowly shook her head. She had never met anyone like Lord
Jack … so full of life, so much
larger
than life. It stood to reason that she would have few defenses against him. But she
absolutely had to get over her fascination with him so she could do her duty.
Apparently he saw her gesture as a rejection, for he took yet another tack. “What
if I were to threaten to expose your visits here? Would you agree to see me then?”
She gazed blankly up at him. “Are you thinking of
blackmailing
me?”
“How else am I to gain any leverage over you?”
She couldn’t help but laugh. Raising her hands to his chest, Sophie pushed him away
while struggling to regain her shaken equilibrium.
As she restored her bonnet to its proper position and tied the ribbons, she countered
with her own threat. “In the first place, you cannot expose my secrets unless you
want me to expose your own. You don’t want anyone knowing of your patronage here,
remember?”
His eyes filled with reluctant amusement as she continued. “And in the second, I don’t
believe you would stoop so low. The kind of man who supports a shelter for needy mothers
would not resort to blackmail.”
“Would I not?”
“No. Particularly regarding an issue that is so personal to you.” Sophie cocked her
head as she studied him. “The other night you said you knew someone who could have
benefited from a refuge like Arundel. I believe I can guess whom you meant—and why
you champion the vulnerable women here. It’s because your own mother found herself
in a similar predicament all those years ago, isn’t it?”
The humor in his eyes promptly faded. “I don’t wish to discuss it.”
She could tell she had touched a nerve, so she left off prodding him. “Very well,
but I think your image of being an uncaring rake is a sham.”
Lord Jack made no comment, only ran a hand roughly through his raven hair. She could
tell he was frustrated because they were at an impasse. Perhaps he was merely spoiled;
as the privileged son of a nobleman, he was surely accustomed to getting his own way.
Or perhaps it was something deeper.
He was a charming rogue, true, but she had caught a fleeting glimpse of a different
man entirely, hidden beneath the façade. A serious, contemplative,
complex
man teeming with emotional undercurrents inside. There was an intensity about Lord
Jack that was totally unexpected … and totally compelling.
As the silence drew out, Sophie saw a muscle work in his jaw. But then abruptly, without
warning, he gave in. “Very well … you win.”
Her glance turned skeptical. She hadn’t thought he would relent so easily. “What do
I win?”
“Never mind.”
Grasping her elbow, he guided her to the door andushered her from the office. “Come, I will escort you to your carriage.”
Sophie’s steps lagged. “I would rather you didn’t.”
“Why not? Because you don’t want your aunt to know I am associating with you?”
His perceptiveness impressed her. “Yes, but not for the reason you think. If she knew
you are proposing a clandestine rendezvous with me, she would only encourage you.”
His brows drew together thoughtfully, as if he found her admission intriguing. “Indeed?”
“Yes. For some reason my Aunt Eunice likes your boldness.” Sophie laughed softly in
remembrance. “She especially admired your gall in infiltrating her ball.”
“So we would have an ally in her?”
That he wanted an ally surprised and flattered Sophie. “Well … perhaps. As it happens,
she doesn’t share my parents’ desire that I wed Dunmore. But her support would make
no difference to my father.”
Lord Jack was silent as he walked Sophie outside to the graveled drive where her
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