Page 54 of Persuasions of an Earl's Daughter

“Have you ever sought out your real father?”

He smirked. “It seemed best to vanish and pretend otherwise. Besides, I know nothing of him—not even his name—and to put an investigator onto the matter would only bring increased risk.”

She stared at the candle on the bedside table for a few moments and he eyed her profile and wished he could know what was running through her head. He imagined he knew her quite well after everything they’d been through together and in almost every instance, she reacted how he would in any given situation. He wouldn’t blame her for leaping from the bed and running away. He’d certainly wanted to when he realized the full truth of his life at the tender age of five.

“What does this have to do with not wishing to bed a woman?” she asked, her gaze continued to linger on the flickering flame.

“My father wanted me to be the perfect gentleman.”

“So you didn’t wish to disappoint him?”

“Quite the opposite actually. After he died, I realized how ridiculous all hislessonswere.”

“Lessons?”

“He was determined to beat the bastard from me.”

“Oh, August.”

“It was so important that I be the perfect marquis and for a long time, I tried desperately hard to be everything he wanted me to be.”

Her hand snaked its way over his leg to curl around his hand. He gratefully looped his fingers through hers.

“It was never good enough,” he continued. “So when he passed, I travelled the world, and did everything I could not to be the perfect marquis. Wore slightly shabby clothes, threw myself into whatever adventure I could, ensured I was the opposite of a gentleman at every turn. Hell, even thinking of building the racecourse was a plan of revenge. He never really liked horses.” He looked at her ruefully. “And most of all, I ensured I never ran the risk of continuing the line.” He gave a dry chuckle. “Everyone knows a marquis is in need of a son.”

Lilly shifted so close he felt the warmth of her body reach out to his. He was exhausted. From the day and from telling her the truth. Yet nothing could prevent him from twisting and taking her into his hold.

“Maybe I’ll bring Icarus to race at Kineton,” she said with a gentle smile.

“I like the sound of that.”

“There’s still a risk, August,” she reminded him softly.

“There is.” He pressed a finger under her chin and searched her face, grateful his instincts had been entirely correct about this woman. She’d take his secret to the grave.

“And I am not exactly experienced myself.”

“Then we’ll learn together,” he promised her before he took her mouth in a firm, deep, grateful kiss.

Chapter Twenty

Every sensation in Lilly’s body heightened. August moved away from her and retrieved the wash bowl to place it on the bedside table. Her throat dried as she eyed his movements, making note of the width of his shoulders and his capable hands. Was she really going to lie with this man?

But of course she was.

There was no debate about it. She’d been fighting an attraction to him since the moment he’d hit her with that arrogant smirk. It had only heightened as she’d begun to unravel the mystery that was Lord Blackthorpe. Now that she understood the reasons behind her confusion, she couldn’t deny her feelings.

Though she’d been wrong about him in one way. He wasn’t just her match—he was better than her. He’d fought through a horrible upbringing and still came away a good man with kind intentions. She was certain many people would be jaded and bitter after such an experience. She understood now why witnessing those sparks of kindness had enflamed her feelings for him—she had been seeing the real him.

“Lie down,” he ordered, voice gritty.

They’d spoken about so much she didn’t feel the need to respond. That was, even if she could. Her voice remained trapped in her thick throat, stolen by the knowledge she was going to be his first. This heroic man who had denied himself a life of luxury and hedonism wanted her and only her. She could scarcely summon a single syllable let alone the words to tell him how much it meant to her.

“Remove the sheet, Lil.”

The command set a flutter racing through her, centering low. For someone who rarely did as she was told, she found herself eager to please. Anything to feel his hands upon her.

She uncoiled herself from the sheet and shivered in anticipation. He dipped the cloth in the water and wrung it out then dropped down beside the bed. Before he did anything, he kissed her slowly, deeply. She closed her eyes and savored the taste of him as the damp cloth touched her skin.

---