Page 71 of Avenging the Earl's Lady
Chapter 17
His lordship had left the arms of his beautiful lover and come here.
The nerve.The absolute nerve.He’d left one woman to track down another.
And did he think she’d welcome him into her bed?
He came to stand next to her, dressed all in black like a housebreaker, the coat hugging his muscled frame.
After meeting his lover—hisotherlover—he’d gone home and changed his clothing.Had he dressed like that to break in to see her again?
“My lord.”Guignard stood, licking his pale lips.
“It’s all right, Guignard.Tell Lady Jane.”
Guignard turned sad eyes upon her.“My lady.The masterpiece is now with Lord Shaldon.”
Jane shot to her feet and then plopped down again, a haze forming before her eyes.
“Of course.”Her voice shook on the words.
She should have known.
She’d been betrayed again.Lied to.He would split the profits from the sale, would he?He’d spoken with such assurance because he’d taken control of the painting.
She was afool.
“Always one step ahead, are you not, Shaldon?”Numbness crept up her arms.She pumped her fists, trying to get sensation back into them.“Always one step ahead ofme.”
Always one step ahead of everyone.
She mustered a breath.“So, you took his lordship’s gold sovereigns, Guignard?”Her voice shook again, anddamn it, she didn’t care.Bile rose in her and she swallowed it back, forcing her fists to uncurl.She wanted to stand, she wanted to leave.Let Shaldon play his bloody games without her.Let him do as he pleased with her foolish, unappreciative son.
“Not yet, my lady.”Guignard’s voice came faint and from far away.
Black dots sprinkled Guignard’s face.She squeezed her eyes shut and gulped in air.
“Jane.”Shaldon spoke into her ear.
His hand pressed her back.“Take another deep breath,” he said.
“Damn you,” she choked out.His hot strength enveloped her, tempted her, angered her.She squeezed her eyes tighter, resisting.
When she opened them, Guignard and his black dots were gone.
Shaldon was still there, gripping her hand and watching her, that vein pulsing again in his temple.He was down on one knee.Not, she noted, the mangled one.
Heat rose in her.She’d been naked with him, she’d made love to him, slept with him.She’d given herself to him, fully.And all the while he’d been dallying with someone else.
It was happening again,damn it.
Heart pounding wildly, she yanked her hand away and gulped in more air, reaching for sanity.
It had been only one night, after so many years of being so good.Tears brimmed, and she squeezed her eyes shut.
Only one night, one night that meantnothingto him.It must mean nothing to her.
And it didn’t.She wasn’t a raw young girl any more.She’d not given her heart, no matter that he’d asked for it.
