Page 75 of A Match Made in London
She shrugged. “You are renowned for your prowess in the bedroom. I have seen the way you charm everyone; the invitations other women give you. I admit I have been curious to experience it myself for some time. Last night in the gardens was a bit magical, I admit. I might never have had the nerve to sample what you have to offer otherwise.”
His fingers dug into the arm of the chair. “You are lying,” he choked.
“What reason have I to lie?”
“You are protecting yourself.”
“Only in that I feel it prudent to end this now. I didn’t want you to have the idea that I might be willing to continue on with the affair. It was meant to be a one-time thing, after all.”
He exploded from his chair, paced the carpet in front of her. “No,” he growled, his fists balling up at his sides. “No, I don’t believe you’re capable of such a thing. After what happened to your sister, you would never enter into a physical relationship with a man for such cold, calculating reasons.”
“But you see, that’s why I have.”
He spun to face her. “What the devil are you talking about?”
Her eyes were flat as she considered him, as opaque as muddy pools of water. “Guinevere was foolish. She fell in love. That was what ruined her. Not the act itself, but the emotion. I made certain that I would not be tangled up in all that mess when you and I went into it.”
A roaring started up in his ears. He could not have heard right. “You don’t love me?”
She laughed, a horrible sound that scraped down his backbone. “Of course not. Have no fear, you needn’t worry about that particular sentiment from me. And you needn’t feel guilt over our tumble last night, either. For I was more than a willing participant. You have helped me to see what all the fuss is about, anyway.”
Something in him broke. He reached into his pocket, felt the precious paper there. The special license he had hurried out for at the crack of dawn to secure Rosalind to him for all eternity.
His hand clenched painfully, crushing the paper. Tangling it with his mother’s ring that he had picked out especially for Rosalind.
“I’m glad to hear it.” His lips felt numb, letting the lie slip out. He had to get out of here, before he lost his composure. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have somewhere to be.”
With that he spun about, marching from the room. Though his broken heart remained behind with Rosalind. As it always would.
