Page 45 of Wicked Rivals
Her lips formed a little O in surprise, and she tore the blindfold from her eyes. There was no better time than now to kiss her, in full sight of his mother.
He cupped her face and slanted his mouth down over hers. The taste upon his tongue reminded him of just how much he had restrained himself before. Her mouth opened beneath his, and he encouraged her with his tongue to be bold and not focus on the fact that they could be seen. He wanted her full attention upon him and this single decadent kiss.
When their mouths finally parted, he rested his forehead against hers, their eyes meeting. A blush stained her cheeks as she sought to regain her breath, and that only made him wish they were entirely alone so he could keep on kissing her.
“We don’t have to stop,” he said softly against her lips.
“But the children—”
“Are tired and should settle down to have a bit of lunch. As should you.” With a sigh he stepped back from his tempting Highland lass and nodded toward one of the empty blankets. He was relieved she did not fight his attempt to escort her there. He wanted to show her he could treat her the way a woman ought to be treated, as though she was precious. Even as his business rival, she was still a lady, and he wasn’t about to let her go uncared for.
“It does feel good to rest. I suppose I’m still not feeling as strong as I ought to.”
He had to agree. She appeared far too flushed from the game. He handed her a small plate of finger sandwiches and a glass of lemonade.
“Thank you.” She accepted the food and drink. They enjoyed a moment companionable silence.
“I see you and Joanna have been taking advantage of this fine day.” He chuckled as he watched the children on a distant picnic blanket squirming around Joanna like restless puppies as she handed out sandwiches.
Rosalind laughed. “Yes, it has been wonderful. The children are sweet. I suspect their mothers will be grateful we wore them out in the fields so they will sleep well tonight. Thank you for asking me to come out here with you. I did not believe I’d enjoy it as much as I have.” She sipped her lemonade and nibbled on her sandwich.
Was now his chance? Ask her about the ball while she was happy and with a full stomach? Surely she’d agree—it was part of their arrangement, after all. A dance would be public, and his mother would have little chance to question his motives if he brought Rosalind to it.
“Rosalind, there is a country ball tonight. One of our neighboring families is hosting it. When they found out we could not attend due to the presence of guests in our home, they extended invitations this morning to all of you. Would you like to join me there? Joanna is coming as well as my mother.”
“A ball?” She turned and stared anywhere but at him. “Are you asking me simply because of our agreement?”
He stared at his plate of food and considered how best to respond. “I won’t deny that is my primary goal.” He sipped at his lemonade and then set it aside before he captured her chin and forced her to face him. Sparks lit her gaze, dark flashes of defiance mixing with glints of light from excitement when she battled with him.
She looked at him slyly. “And by doing so in such a public setting, you aren’t trying to pressure me into some kind of actual agreement of marriage?”
Ashton huffed. “Of course not.”
“Good.” Her blunt tone held a challenge in it, one that Ashton was quick to take up.
“But would it be so terrible? As my wife, you would be powerful, twice as wealthy, and safe. I would protect you with my life, and my friends would as well.”
How could she refuse such an offer? The world at her fingertips. What woman wouldn’t want that? It was madness.
And it wasn’t just what he could give her, but also what he wanted. Hewantedher to be his, to call this feisty little hellion his own so that no other man would have the right to her.
The smile on her lips began to fall, and a flash of pain in her eyes stung him. “Yet you fail to offer me the two things I value above all else.”
“What are those?” he asked, leaning closer. He didn’t want her to retreat from him. If she told him, he could give them to her, no questions asked.
“Love and freedom.”
Love and freedom?He could not speak with certainty to the first, but the second was not something he understood. How would she not be free? For the first time in his life, a woman had left him baffled.
“You would be free to do as you please,” he argued.
Her laugh was as harsh as a slap. “Really? If I choose to move investments, sell or acquire a company or do anything with my property, would you let me?”
His hesitation in answering cost him. He couldn’t say yes, but not for the reason she expected. If Hugo was using her, he could not let her do anything that would aid the League’s greatest enemy. It was not because he wished to her to cease being the woman he respected.
She set her plate of food down and reached past the edge of the blanket to pluck a long stem of green grass. Rosalind raised it to her cheek, letting the green strand run along her skin before she sighed and let the breeze steal it from her open palm.
“I thought as much. As a widow, I have full control over my destiny. I am not merely the asset of a man. Iexistin society, albeit grudgingly. Marriage destroys all of that. I would lose myself and become part of you. Everything I am would vanish in an instant. You cannot understand that. It is the folly of men. You believe you understand our feminine minds and hearts, that we’re simple creatures who crave new gowns and attending balls and that we have no thoughts or opinions or desires that match or exceed your own.” There was a hardness to her face now, a frustration that he’d seen glimpses of in other women throughout his life.
