Page 31 of Pride: The Rogue
“Yes, well, you didn’taskme to, Mr. Latimer.”
The minx sounded so bloody entertained at his expense, Latimer didn’t know whether to be amused, impressed, or turn her over his blasted knee.
That latter thought caused his cock to harden, not for the first, second, or even third time this night, because of this spirited minx.
Latimer let her pretend her show of reading. “What are you reading,Mrs. Lovelace?”
With the slight emphasis he placed on that form of address, the lady’s hands trembled. “At this moment?”
She never came out from behind her hiding spot.
Coward.
“Aye.”
“Nothing, Mr. Latimer.” This time, she lowered her book. “Because I’m talking to you.”
Oh, the saucy chit. He’d hand it to the vixen, she’d quite the skill for prevaricating.
He’d not however let anyone, certainly not a slip of a bad liar, get the better of him. “I take it by the way you’ve made this empty corner of the taproom your own, that you and the respectable Mr. Lovelace had a row?”
The triumphant glimmer in her eyes dimmed.
He hid a smile.
Not so mouthy now.
Mrs. Lovelace gave a toss of her head. “Never. Weneverfight. Mr. Lovelace is most attentive and loving.”
“So loving and attentive as to leave his wife alone in the taproom, while he sleeps.And, given the fact he’s more than comfortable leaving his beloved wife in some other man’s company, I take it he is far from jealous?”
She gasped. “How dare—?”
Only, Latimer wasn’t even close to done with her. “Does Mr. Lovelace happen to have a first name?”
That gave her pause. “Of course he does.”
“And?” he prodded when she still didn’t elaborate.
Latimer could practically see the wheels turning in her mind. Immensely enjoying himself now, he stared at her, while she took entirely too much time inventing the name of some fictitious Mr. Lovelace.”
“Earl,” she blurted.
“Earl?” he echoed, amused. “As in, heisan Earl. Or his name is Ea—”
Another rosy blush filled her cheeks. “His name!” Catching Latimer’s knowing grin, she took a noticeable breath and spoke again, this time, and more even tones. “His name is Earl.”
“Mr. Earl Lovelace, then?”
Nodding, she nibbled at her lower lip.
And damned with that, subtle, but seductive move, she didn’t secure the upper hand—and get him even harder.
Again, Latimer lowered his elbows on the table and leaned close.
This time, he went in for the kill.
“What is it, darlin’?” he asked in hushed tones, ones meant to needle. “Is Mr. Lovelace the selfish sort who wouldn’t share his rooms with his beloved wife?”
