In Bed with a Rogue

The hopeful glimmer in Lady Prestwick’s eyes dulled each time he had nothing positive to report. So far he had been able to tease her out of the blues, but he still hated causing her distress. He often fought the urge to hold her close and offer comfort. Aside from the public spectacle he would make of them, she didn’t seem amenable to accepting sympathy.

He entered the bookstore and headed for the novels written by Maria Edgeworth. The authoress seemed to be a favorite with Lady Prestwick. Perhaps Eve would enjoy the books as well. He would choose one to take to her along with the magazine.

As expected, Lady Prestwick was tucked into a corner with a book already in hand. He sidled up beside her and pretended to peruse the same shelves. A quick glance at the book cover revealed her selection.

She offered a shy smile. “Good morning, Lord Thorne.”

“Lady Prestwick,” he responded with a tip of his hat, then returned his attention to the bookshelf. “I hope you don’t think me forward, but I couldn’t help noticing your book selection. Is Belinda one of those mawkish gothic novels favored by silly young ladies?”

She slanted an impassive glance in his direction. “Do not pretend scorn for gothic fiction, my lord. I have it on good authority you devoured Glenarvon in one sitting.”

A shocked laugh burst from him and echoed in the high-ceilinged room. Two ladies frowned at them, and Lady Prestwick turned her back on him, pretending to search for another book.

“My apologies,” he whispered as he eased closer to her. “What other secrets has Eve revealed about me?”

“I am sure you would love to know, but I would never consider betraying my friend. But they are shameful indeed, my lord.” She tsked. “Falling from a lady’s window?”

His jaw dropped. “Balderdash!”

She shushed him as the two ladies glared in their direction.

“She lies,” he hissed as he followed her to a different section of the store. “When I get my hands on my sister…”

Lady Prestwick chuckled. “I am teasing. Eve confessed she thought we’d had a liaison the night you came home bruised and beaten. She was quite embarrassed by her assumption. I, on the other hand, was amused by the absurdity of such a situation.”

Absurd? “Why would such a scenario be absurd? There is an attraction between us.”

She stopped abruptly and he bumped against her. An intense current where their bodies met sent his blood gushing through his veins. A furious blush consumed her and she shuffled to create space between them. “This is not proper conversation, my lord.”

She wasn’t denying the attraction, not that he would believe her if she did. The quickening of her breath and high color in her complexion told him everything he needed to know.

Licking her lips, she stole a glance at him from beneath her lashes. “Perhaps you should just tell me what you have learned before we draw any more attention.”

“Not until you answer my question. Why do you find us”—he wagged a finger from her to him—“absurd?”

“Please, lower your voice.”

He smirked. “I will start shouting if you make me ask again.”

“Why are you doing this to me?”

“All I’ve said is I find you attractive.” He lowered his voice to match hers. “Why do you find it impossible that we would ever—?”

She gasped. Her face glowed red.

“Well, I needn’t continue. I’m certain you know my meaning.”

“You are teasing me, sir,” she whispered harshly. “I couldn’t be any more different from Gabrielle, Lady Ellis.”

Thank God for that. “True, but how does that mean I am teasing you?”

Wariness flared in her eyes. “I don’t know what pleasure you get from this, my lord, but I will say it so we may put this to rest. Your former betrothed is breathtaking. She is exotic and yet fashionable in the way gentlemen prefer.”

Ah, so she thought he preferred Gabrielle’s curves. While there was no denying his former fiancée was a beauty, Lady Prestwick was twice as stunning. She had a delicateness to her beauty that made her seem not of this earth.