Page 95 of Avenging the Earl's Lady
His wife had chosen to gamble his life for a painting, but theirs had been a marriage arranged for the good of both families.By God, with Jane they would marry for his own good and hers, and they would start out with the greatest risk of all—honesty.
They would start with that in a moment.He filled a small plate with slices of bread, beef, and cheese for each of them.“An ample repast.Do have some.”
“What do you wish to tell me?”
She’d pursed her lips and straightened her back, and the challenge excited him.Not a compliant woman after all, but he hoped she would be a forgiving one.
“Let us eat, and then we’ll talk.I’m in need of sustenance.”Or he must be.It couldn’t be entirely a falsehood—he hadn’t eaten much since the night before.“Forgive my manners.”He folded the bread in half and took a bite, and the warm loaf and savory meat did indeed rouse his appetite.
Her face softened as he’d hoped it would and she took a mouthful, and then another.
When he’d finished, she pushed aside her plate.She’d been eating by rote also.
He tugged at her braid and she brought her hand down over his.Slender and small, her hand was all softness like the rest of her.
Softness wrapped around a strong core, that was Jane.He should carry her to his bed and ravish her again.And he would do so, as soon as their wounds had healed and he had secured her agreement.
“I don’t know what skills you employed or what fates came together for you to see my meeting with the Duquesa last night, but I will tell you the entire truth.I met her to make arrangements for Payne-Elsdon’s undoing, and yes, I accepted a kiss from her.The Duquesa bestows passionate embraces on every Englishman she meets clandestinely, in the hope of being seen by one of her husband’s spies.She claims to have no relations with her husband and takes every chance to goad him.The Duquesa is a beautiful woman, but I was not aroused, my dear.”
“She purposely risks putting men in the way of a challenge?”
“She doesn’t see it that way, and truly, there is no danger.Her passion is only for her father’s political cause and the Duque knows it.Besides, since his French friends were driven from Spain, the Duque usually lets other men lift his sword for him.”His thumb swept across the back of her hand.“Jane, she is not my lover.I have no other lovers but you.”
She tilted her head, studying him, clearly skeptical.“She is a cool one.And if she made Payne-Elsdon disappear…well, that is a kindness.I almost believe you.”
She tried to pull away, but he held on.
“Believe me, because it’s the truth, and I want the truth between us, Jane.I’m asking you for your hand again.Both your hands.All of you.Claim this bedchamber and make it your own, as Lady Shaldon.”He kissed her palm.“But before you say, ‘Yes, of course I will marry you, Ned,’ there’s something else.I must tell you what happened the night your brother died.I didn’t kill him, but the blame is mine.”
