Page 22 of The Dangerous Love of a Rogue
‘Slaughter me. I know.’
‘If you know they would not agree to a match, why are you courting me?’
‘Because I would be mad not to.’ He held her gaze. ‘And you would be mad not to accept me. I gave you a glimpse last night of how good life with me could be. If you want me, you will find a way to convince your family.’
She smiled, her eyes catching the sunshine. ‘You mean, our marriage would be good in your bed. That says nothing of how we would get along. Marriage is more than that. Much more. And my family will never agree. They neither like nor trust you.’
‘No… So, why did you come then?’ His words were spoken from petulance. He did not intend to seek consent. He knew he would never be approved. The only one he sought to convince was her.
Her horse pranced. She tightened her rein and held the animal still as her gaze locked with his.
Those eyes. Who was seducing who?
‘I have no idea. I think I am insane.’
A soft ache hovered in his middle. The girl was a breath of fresh air, a light summer breeze. Sunshine.
‘Did you not sleep because you were thinking of me?’ Hope swelled again.
She blushed slightly. He hoped he’d haunted her dreams as she had his.
‘So where do we go from here?’ He encouraged her to take another step towards commitment.
A frown marred her beautiful brow. She had not spent her night thinking about his offer of marriage then, merely their embrace.
‘What next?’ Drew clarified.
She shrugged, a dainty little gesture on her slim shoulders. ‘It should be nothing.’
‘But it will not be nothing, because you are here.’ She needed more persuasion. Drew leaned forward and held her hand as it held her reins. ‘Where will you be tonight?’
Maybe her common sense told her there should be nothing more, but other parts of her, that he had sway over, would bid her answer.
‘I am attending Lady Frobisher’s musical evening.’
Musical evenings were a rogue’s curse; he could do nothing untoward when seated in a row of chairs. The game was off for tonight then.
Nor could he meet her again in the park. Once could be deemed accidental but twice would draw attention. Without doubt the groom would mention this encounter to someone in the house.
‘Miss Marlow!’ A timely call came from their rear. Her groom had come to retrieve his damsel from the beast.
Drew let her hand go. ‘Tomorrow then. Where?’
‘I shall be at the Phillips’ supper party.’ She looked away after speaking, glancing over her shoulder and smiling reassuringly at the groom.
Drew’s eldest brother had been at school with the Phillips’ son, he could obtain an invitation. ‘There then. They have a large glasshouse in the grounds, to the right of the garden. I’ll meet you there at midnight.’
* * *
Mary nodded. She had begun an intrigue. She was definitely an idiot.
‘I shall look forward to it,’ he said, reaching out a hand, palm upwards. Instinctively, she released the reins, giving him her hand. His thumb pressed into her palm as he lifted it to his lips, turned it and kissed her wrist, above her glove.
Her heart skittered, its rhythm racing violently.
When he let go, the smile on his lips also glinted in his eyes. The gleam became a wicked expression as his gaze shifted to her groom. He turned his horse and rode away.
She’d imagined spending time with him for a year… But a year ago, she would not have agreed to an assignation.
