Page 37 of The Rakehell's Seduction
“You came to seduce me for five thousand pounds.” The words tasted bitter on her tongue. Ambrose stood but didn’t try to come closer.
“It was never about the money, Alex.” His voice was deceptively soft, like a man attempting to soothe a spooked horse.
“Oh?” She laughed bitterly.
“No,” he growled, a scowl marring his features.
“Five thousand pounds is a lot of money.”
“It is, and I never intended to take it.”
“Was that because you were more interested in the challenge itself?” She knew her voice sounded shrill, but she couldn’t seem to stop herself.
“No. Damnation, woman, let me speak.” He moved toward her. “We don’t have much time. A man named George Langley is on his way here. He’s the man who wishes to see you ruined. We must oblige him.”
“Why?” Alex demanded.
He stared at her for a long second, then drew in a slow breath. “Because if we don’t, all those other men at White’s will come after you, Alex. You will never be safe, not until the wager is deemed satisfied. That has been my goal from the start. To protect you from those other men. Not even marrying you would have saved you. Public ruination is their goal, and that doesn’t require you to be unwed. They would not hesitate to rape you, Alex. Do you understand? They are bad men who want that money and will doanythingto get it.”
That thought stopped her cold. She hadn’t realized it could be that serious.
“But…” She faltered as she realized Ambrose was right. “What do we have to do to stop them?”
“Langley will need to see you compromised. I’m sorry, my love, but that means you and I in bed…” She saw him swallow thickly, and he continued. “Or you may choose Darlington in bed. Your choice.”
Ambrose or Darlington? There was no choice. She hated and loved Ambrose at the same time, and he was the only one she could trust in that moment.
“You. I choose you.”
Ambrose’s breath blew out in a rush. “Get into bed. I’ll listen at the door.” He turned away and stripped out of his coat and waistcoat before he kicked off his boots.
Alex settled on the bed, watching him open the door a crack as he listened. They both held their breath for what seemed like forever. Finally, Ambrose tensed, and then she heard masculine voices drifting up the stairs. He closed the door, strode to the bed, and climbed in beside her. She lay back, staring up at him. How different this felt from the other night. That night had been wonderful and intimate, and this…this felt like a betrayal of that night.
He cupped her face, his eyes dark and full of concern.
“Whatever happens, trust me one last time, my love, please.” He stroked the pad of his thumb over her lips, and her lips trembled.My love—the words were a dagger to her heart when he uttered them so casually. How many other women had been his love over the years?
“One last time,” she echoed faintly. It felt as though her heart was splintering like fractures in glass, spun as fine as spiderwebs.
He nodded and solemnly lowered his head to kiss her. It felt good and bad all at once. She clenched her hands in the blankets, resisting the urge to touch him. But when his lips parted and his tongue traced the seam of her mouth, she melted. She was lost in the haze of a bittersweet kiss, like tasting the last apple from an orchard in the fall, the sweet fruit carrying a hint of frost as winter crept through the gardens and the trees.
The door to the chamber opened, and Ambrose tensed above her, their lips breaking apart.
Fear gripped her and she closed her eyes, her stomach roiling.
“Hold on to me and don’t look away,” Ambrose murmured, and she opened her eyes. She could sense a group of men at the door, far more than she’d expected, but as long as she gazed into Ambrose’s eyes, she could survive this.
There was a murmur of male chuckles, and then Darlington spoke.
“As you can see she is quite ruined. Shall we discuss payment downstairs?” Darlington’s voice was muffled as the door started to close, leaving her and Ambrose alone.
“They are gone,” he said, but didn’t move off her. “We will wait until Vaughn has seen them out, and then I shall take you home to your mother. Your father knows all that’s happened, and he will be waiting at your London townhouse with your mother.”
Alex held in the sob that tried to escape. It was over…for now. All of London would know of her ruination in a day, and she would never be able to go anywhere without hearing whispers or enduring sidelong looks.
My life, what little of one I had, is over.
“Are you all right?” Ambrose asked, frowning.
