Page 54 of Sloth: The Fallen Earl
That did it.
The lady let fly a curse that would have made Dynevor blush, and the mouth on her only further intrigued him.
“You may go about having other men and women obey your orders and wishes, but I’ll do as I please,” Cressida ranted. She jammed a finger against his chest with an unlikely force that made him flinch.
Suddenly, her eyes grew stricken, and he wanted to rouse her to anger once more to prevent this sadness from shining through.
His efforts were too late.
“You are nothing to me, Lord Wakefield,” she whispered. Her voice trembled slightly, revealing a crack in her impressively sturdy armor. “And I am nothing to you.” Sitting back on her bench, Cressida wrenched her gaze toward the window.
“Cressida,” he said quietly. “That may be, but what we shared last night changes everything.”
Her cheeks bloomed with a delicate flush, betraying the sweet innocence that lingered within her, despite all the ways he’d touched her and the unknown sources who’d involves her in treachery.
“Benedict,” she said, shaking her head sadly, “you’re neither my brother, nor father, nor suitor. What makes you think you have any say over anything where I’m concerned?”
“At this moment, you may be carrying my child.”
Cressida blanched, but then swiftly regained her composure. “Yes, and whose fault might that be, Benedict?”
“As I see it, we were both willing partners. As such, you share some of the blame.”
Her features crumpled.
Oh, Christ. He stilled; an insidious, evil possibility whispered in his mind. “Cressida.” His stomach churned. “I consumed a glass too many last night. Were you willingly at the club and…and….”
The lady’s eyes were a window into her world. Through their present frames radiated so much sadness, but also, sincerity.
“Yes. I was there of my own free-will and also,” Her cheeks blazed cherry red. “An active participant.”
Wakefield barely heard her, but hear her he did. His eyes slid shut.Thank God.
“I was given…that is…I drank something…”
Her halting admission brought his eyes flying open. Wakefield remained silent. Certain if he spoke, she’d stop, and then he’d never know what the hell the important bit of information she intended to share.
Cressida traced her tongue around her lips. “It made me more…it made me feel…”
Ah.“You took an aphrodisiac.”
She nodded.
She did not, however, ask for clarification, which meant she knew what she’d indulged in.
“I just want you to know that I don’t believe I’d otherwise have been so…so…”
“Insatiable?” he supplied for her.
Cressida gave a tentative nod. Her blush burned like a fire. “And I should have thought of French letters or…sponges or…”
“Stop,” he interjected gravely.
Wonder of wonders, she heeded that order.
“It wasn’t your fault.”
“I should have—”
