Page 25 of Mr. Notorious and the Nefarious November

He leaned back. “Only half of what was said about me was true. The other half could be attributed to Solomon, but his parents were always threatening to cut off his allowance, so I often took the blame for his misdeeds and mine.”

“He told me that after we wed,” she said. “And, once again, I know I should have listened to you when you said he was a rake.”

“We can’t go back,” he said.

“I wish we could. We used to have so much fun together. We were always laughing. You’d recite silly poems and would attempt anything if I dared you.”

Munro closed his eyes and grimaced. “I was an idiot. I almost fell off that bridge when you dared me to walk on the edge.”

“I didn’t think you’d do it!”

He laughed. “Of course I did it. If a pretty girl asked me to lay down in the middle of the street in Piccadilly Circus, I would have done it. Especially if that girl had green eyes and a mouth that gave me too many ideas.”

She raised her brows. “What sorts of ideas?”

“The sort that would have shocked you back then and might make you blush now.”

She leaned close enough that he caught the scent of apples. “Too bad fellatio was not on your list of rewards.”

He was definitely regretting that now.

“But tell me this,” she murmured, “if I did put my mouth on you, would I need to concern myself with a silver ornament?”

Munro sat back. “You can’t quite stop thinking about that, can you?”

“It’s all anyone is talking about.”

“I’ve never had so many people staring at my trousers before.” He leaned forward. “Do you want to know if the rumor is true?”

“Yes.”

“Then give me another test, and you may explore all you want after I pass it.”

She made a face and sat back. Munro narrowed his eyes. “Don’t tell me you haven’t any more tests in mind.”

“Honestly, I didn’t think you’d get this far.”

“I should encourage you to forfeit.”

“Would I still owe you the prizes?”

“Of course. I want you in my bed, Beatrice. And I want you as my wife.”

She bit her lip, and he pointed at her. “There it is. You still don’t trust me, which is why you can’t forfeit. You need me to pass the next two tests if you’re ever to trust me.”

“And what if I simply never present you any more tests?”

“Then I suppose I use my ticket back to Italy, and you stay here. I can’t wait around hoping one day you’ll trust me, trying to prove myself to you just to have you tell me I’m still not quite good enough.”

“I’ve never thought that—”

“Beatrice, you rejected me once. I’ve put my pride aside and made my feelings plain. If you don’t want me by the time Lavinia weds, then I’ll gather up that pride and never bother you again.”

She stared at him, and he saw the turmoil in her eyes. She was torn. Munro half-wished he could shake her until she realized he loved her. But trust was something that must be freely given. As much as he wanted her, if she couldn’t give him that, he’d walk away.

Chapter Seven

Beatrice was still smiling when she stepped into the foyer of Notley House. For the third day in a row, the weather had been mild and sunny, and Munro had escorted her all about London. They’d gone to the museum, shopping on Bond Street, and for a picnic in Hyde Park. She’d given him silly dares, just like she’d done years ago. He’d almost fallen in the Serpentine when she’d dared him to walk the edge of the bridge. But when she’d dared him to swim it, he’d refused. Clearly, he was no longer the foolish youth he’d once been.

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