Page 32 of King of Rogues
“The man I marry, will have to be honest with me. To share his feelings and be open to love. Sometimes I think you are clueless when it comes to women.”
Slowly shaking his head, Monsale turned away. “You are right, I haven’t the foggiest. But I don’t have time at my leisure to find out. If I don’t marry in the next few days, I will lose it all.”
He climbed out of the carriage, slamming the door deafeningly behind him. Naomi lay her head back against the soft, padded seat and covered her face with her hands.
For a brief moment, she had let herself believe he truly wanted her. That there was a chance for them to find happiness together.
“Stupid, foolish girl, why did you let him kiss you?” she muttered.
Because you have dreamed of that moment for so long. You couldn’t resist temptation.
It was done. She finally knew how magnificent it was to be kissed by Monsale. Far better than anything she had ever imagined. But the price had been a sharp dagger to her heart.
Heartache at the hands of the rugged duke had been a constant for so long that at times she thought she might have become impervious to it. That she might finally be able to move on and find someone else.
Why do you torture me? What is so wrong between us that you cannot accept love?
And yet, he still held her heart, would never let it go. She was forever fated to remain tightly held in the bonds of desire.
As the carriage drew away from the side of the street once more, Naomi dried her tears and did her best to console herself.
The moment she had refused to put her name on the list, she had set out on this road. Her determination to have Monsale finally declare the truth of his heart, the banner behind which she continued to march.
“Just have faith. Trust your instincts. He does care for me. If he didn’t, then why would he be so set on me having my name on the list?”
Naomi wasn’t prepared to give up. Nor did she want to try to change Monsale. She just wanted him to see that if he married for love, he could find real happiness. That having a wife who shared his heart was not something to fear. He was worthy of love.
What if the worst happens, and he does break my heart? Well, then at least I will finally know the truth. I won’t waste any more years waiting.
Monsale might well be thinking he was still playing it cool with her, but his actions spoke differently. Twice in the space of one day, he had tried to cajole Naomi into doing his bidding and putting her name on his list. He was getting desperate; she could sense it.
But what would it take to finally make him concede defeat?
Chapter Thirteen
Nineteen years and many days. That’s how long it had taken Monsale to finally kiss Lady Naomi Steele. To put his hands on her soft, delicious body.
For the first fifteen of those years, he hadn’t viewed her as anything other than the younger sister of a friend. And if he was honest about it, for much of that time he had barely given her a second thought.
But somewhere during the years that followed, she had emerged from her cocoon and spreading her wings had magically transformed into a beautiful butterfly, right before his eyes. He couldn’t see or even think about her without lust heating his soul. Burning desire for her ran deep.
Over the past year, things had become particularly problematic whenever his thoughts turned to Naomi. He wanted her. Ached for her touch.
He couldn’t walk into a social event that he knew she would be attending, without automatically seeking her out. But being the damn fool that he was, the second he got near, his resolve always faltered. His only armor in this battle was his impenetrable rogue façade which he locked firmly into place. Poor Naomi was then left to deal with his cool disinterest.
It was the very reason why he didn’t dance. If she saw him with another woman, Naomi would expect him to offer the same to her. The mere thought of holding her in his arms, even fully upright, sent his body into a hardened state.
But that kiss. By Jove, it was good. She didn’t hold back. And those lips…
He was stuck between a rock and hard place. If Naomi behaved like any other woman, she would have immediately demanded marriage. And he would have caved and be obediently on his way over to Grosvenor Street right this very minute. There he would respectfully request an audience with the duke. After informing Naomi’s father that he had just thoroughly kissed his daughter, the Duke of Redditch would agree that marriage was the only option. By the time he left Redditch House, a firm date for the wedding would have been set.
But Naomi is not like other women. She has a mind of her own. If you did go and see her father, she would never forgive you.
Monsale was still in two minds as to what he should do as he walked in the front door of his home. A somber Adan was waiting for him.
“This arrived an hour ago from Carlton House,” he said.
His heart sank at the sight of the paper in his steward’s hand. Where he was concerned, nothing good seemed to come out of the prince’s London residence. A horrid sense of foreboding gripped him.
