Page 53 of An Affair with a Notorious Heiress
“This entire exercise has nothing at all to do with me and everything to do with Gina. We must do what is best for her.”
“Best for her is to display her loyalty to a family member whom Society shuns.”
“It links her with me. That has been the obstacle to her having a grand Season all along. People shall assume she will follow my path, that she wishes to marry for a title, will not honor her vows, and will find herself divorced and cast aside. It must be evident we are nothing alike.”
“When people get to know her, they will realize that.”
She didn’t know why the words hurt. Probably because it confirmed that he believed the truth of her scandal, that he didn’t know her at all, that he didn’t realize she had once been as innocent as Gina. But then she didn’t want him to know her. It would make things easier when their affair came to an end.
“Meanwhile,” he continued, “you underestimate the curiosity factor. People will want a closer look at you. They’ll approach.”
“They didn’t before.”
“They were too shocked. Or timid or wary. Their reasons don’t matter. I guarantee at least six approach today.”
She scoffed at his arrogance. “Not even one will speak with her.”
“Care to make a wager? If I’m correct, you’ll come to me tonight instead of tomorrow.”
“And if you’re wrong?”
“What would you like?”
The first thing to flash through her mind involved his mouth doing wicked things to hers, but that would no doubt happen tomorrow night. She thought about asking to ride Fair Vixen. She could envision the joy that would surround her galloping over hills with that horse beneath her. But it seemed a trivial thing to bargain with when he had handed her the opportunity for power. “Tomorrow night when we are together, I will be in charge. You may only do as I command.”
The grin he bestowed on her was so wicked, so full of promise that for a moment she forgot how to breathe. “You want me to be your slave?”
Squaring her shoulders, she tossed back her head. She had fantasized about him too much, about what he might do to her. She didn’t want to be as disappointed as she’d been on her wedding night; she didn’t want him not to live up to her expectation. “Yes.”
“I’ll accept the wager.”
She blinked in surprise at the notion he wasn’t put off by the possibility of her ordering him about. The confidence he possessed, the surety in himself to not be threatened by the prospect of not being in control made him all the more appealing.
“You overestimate the power of my presence in the park,” she told him.
“You underestimate the sway of my influence.”
“I suppose we shall see who is correct.”
“Indeed, we shall. Although I must confess you make me regret I shan’t lose this wager.”
“You are too arrogant by half.”
“You like that about me.”
Damned if she didn’t. His overconfidence was very different from Downie’s. Her former husband had been insufferable with his, but Rexton seemed to use his for teasing and occasional self-deprecation.
“Off with you now,” he ordered. “Ready yourself. The park awaits.”
While Rexton waited for her to prepare for their outing he stood at the window in the parlor, gazing out, and mulled over their latest wager. Although he was more than willing to play the part of slave, he preferred for them to be equals. Still he wondered at her request, what had prompted it, what her experience with Downie and the other gents might have entailed.
When both ladies finally joined him, he discovered he had eyes for only one. No matter how much he tried to appear neutral, he was drawn to her more strongly than he’d ever been to anyone else. With his own horse in tow, he escorted them out to the stables where their mares awaited.
A groom led Gina’s horse to some steps and assisted her. Rexton merely closed his hands possessively around Tillie’s waist, relishing its narrowness, imagining it in his hands with the cloth gone, and hoisted her into the saddle. He didn’t fail to notice the way her gloved hands had folded around his shoulders for support, the deep breath she’d taken that caused her breasts to skim along his chest. Damnation, if things at the park didn’t go as planned, if he lost this wager, he’d go insane with wanting before tomorrow night.
He was reluctant to release his hold on her, considered moving her to his horse, to have her nestled between his thighs, riding with him. He tried to convince himself that it was only the physical aspects of her that he yearned to explore but the truth of it was that she fascinated him in all ways. Her sister knew the truth of his courtship so he no longer had to solely engage with her, he didn’t have to flirt or feign interest. Certainly, he wasn’t going to be rude and ignore her, but the three of them could now have honest dialogues.
Still, riding between them, he waited until they neared the entrance to Hyde Park before asking, “So, Gina, what is it that you desire in a future husband?”
