Page 56 of Every Rake Has A Silver Lining

He grinned. “Most of the time. Yes.”

“Go to bed, Simon.”

He made a show of gazing around. “Why, look at that. I’m already there.” He scooted toward the middle and stretched out again. “Ah! So comfortable.” His arms folded over his chest in a semblance of repose, he closed his eyes.

Rustle of silk and the shuffle of footsteps approached, and Simon smiled inwardly.

Here she comes.

Pressure dipped the mattress.

He cracked open one eyelid.

Kneeling with her dark hair curtaining him, she glared down, her teeth bared like a lioness. “Get. Off. My. Bed.”

He turned to prop himself on an elbow, but her hair caught under his arm.

“Ow!” she howled.

Reflexes keen, he slipped an arm around her waist andflipped her on her back, reversing their positions. He grinned down at her. “Hello.”

He expected her to rail at him. To tell him to go to the devil. Or if he were really lucky to kiss him.

He didn’t expect the panic in her eyes.

“Get off me!”

He scrambled off both her and the bed.

She swiped at her face, then turned away. “You promised!” Lord, her voice sounded like a wounded animal’s.

Nausea churned his stomach. Too bad neither her brother nor Felix Davies was there to receive his accounts. “I’m so, so sorry. I’ll leave.”

She sat on the bed with her knees drawn to her chest, her hair curtaining and shielding her face from view.

“I didn’t mean to scare you, Charlotte. Please forgive me.”

“Just go.” Her hand slipped up to her face again.

Unable to bear the guilt compressing his chest, he bowed his head and stared at his hand on the door handle. “Goodnight,” he whispered as he slipped through the door.

On the other side, he pulled in a breath, releasing it slowly through his mouth.

What in the devil had he got himself into?

CHAPTER 16

Charlotte rose early the next morning. Truth be told, she didn’t sleep much. Ashamed not of her outburst, but for her reaction to what she knew in her heart Simon had meant as playful, she played it over and over in her mind.

The desperation in her voice, the fear shaking within her as he grinned down at her, haunted her most of the night. She’d been weak, exposing her vulnerability.

And she cursed herself for her lapse. It would not happen again.

In the breakfast room, Drake rose as she entered. “Lady Charlotte. I didn’t expect to see you this early.” He glanced behind her, no doubt expecting to see Simon trailing behind.

“I could say the same for you, Your Grace. You had an eventful day yesterday.”

Waiting until she served herself some toast and jam and took a seat, he reseated himself. “We both did.”

---