Page 45 of Avenging the Earl's Lady
Not that Jane would make it easy.How could he have discounted her spark and her strength?
“No one took your gold coin,” she said, her voice cracking.“You broke into the house on your own.”
To get to Jane, he would have managed a climb to the upper story, even at his advanced age, but it had been more practical to go in through a door.“I shall recommend the Chubb detector lock to Hackwell.Very hard to pick.”
“You should not be here.”
“Why not, Jane?”
Her throat moved as she swallowed.“Because…because, I am…finished, Lord Shaldon, with you, with society, with everyone.If that sounds ungrateful, so be it.I amfinished.”
“Where will you go?To your cousin, Cheswick?”
“No.He is better off without me.”
No one was better off without Jane.How had he not seen that before?She added grace and kindness and beauty to every room she entered.
“To Paris, then?”
“Perhaps.Or even farther away.Perhaps the Antipodes.”
He would not like to chase her that far.
“You would like Dijon, or the south of France better.The people are more congenial.Paris is not a kind place.”
“It is surely kinder than it was thirty years ago.”
“Madame Guillotine is not killing earls’ daughters, if that’s what you mean.”He leaned close to her ear.“So, you are going to the Continent to live on the proceeds of the sale of the painting?”
A vein thumped under the porcelain skin of her neck.
He dropped the brush and took both of her shoulders, leaning in, inhaling her clean scent.
The shiver that went through her sent an answering thrill through him.
“You know,” she said tightly.“Of course you do.”
“I suppose I should be cross with you, but I’m not.”Jane’s unintentional diversionary tactic had saved the painting from whoever attacked his men on the road.“Dear Jane, will you tell me what happened?”
Her chin dipped.Oh, how he wished he could see her face, but for now, supporting her was enough.He slid his arms around her, the weight of her soft breasts warming his forearms.
His heart pounded as fiercely as hers, her breasts, by God, her breasts, rose up and down over his arms.
“What part?”she whispered.
He eased her off the hassock onto his knees and then fully onto his lap, turning her sideways to cradle her.
For now, she accepted it, the quake going through her the only evidence of resistance.
“You’re cold?”he asked.
She made a scoffing noise.“I’mangry.Youshouldn’tbe here.”
He moved a hand to her head to soothe her and took it away.Jane wasn’t a mark to be seduced.He wanted her trust, her agreement.
Through the filmy cloth, her nipples hardened.More blood shot to his groin.
Devil take it—since the laudanum had loosened him, he’d been obsessed with seducing her.And he would.Honorably.And he’d never discard her.Never.
