Page 36 of A Virgin for the Rakish Marquess

Because she hadn’t slept. Simple as that. There was no way she would sleep. It was as ifhe was in her room, sitting on the edge of her bed, patiently waiting for her with that infuriating smirk on his lips to acknowledge what he had done. Whattheyhad done.

“I am glad that you had such aquietnight,” she said sarcastically.

“The day is splendid.”

To kill you, probably.

Now, he was straight-up ignoring everything she said. This day couldn’t be worse.

“Is it?”

Diana did nothing to hide her irritation. Even Elizabeth raised her head at her tone.

James was still looking at his still-filled cup of tea. Then, he turned to Diana and looked at her absentmindedly. As if he was going through a list of chores he needed to do, and being here was just a chore he needed to tick so he could move on.

“How about we promenade in Hyde Park, My Lady?”

“Why not?”

And that’s how Diana found herself walking alongside a distant James. Of all the things she had expected from their second promenade—wicked teasing, smug satisfaction, another lesson in temptation—this was not it. Not afterthatkiss.

God!That kiss. That kiss was forever imprinted on her lips, her body, her very soul. He hadn’t kissed her. He had devoured her like that was his only purpose in life.

And the way he stopped, with barely hinged restraint… His groan was a predator’s warning. His control was a taut, dangerous thing. Yet, she could only think of one thing. He had more to give. More than that burning, branding, scorching kiss. And she wanted it all.

But now she was doubting that it had happened at all and that it wasn’t all a figment of her imagination. The man who held her like that last night couldn’t be this cold man walking beside her, couldn’t have unenthusiastically placed his palm on the hand she had wrapped around his arm. It was as if he was escorting a dowager rather than a woman he had kissed senseless the night before.

No, this won’t do. It simply won’t do.

“I am wondering,” she began, breaking an unbearably boring silence.

“Hm.” He barely listened.

Diana was ready to strike him with her parasol—an act that would surely attract more looks. And perhaps give her chaperone a heart attack.

“Well, who knew my bonehead of a brother was right, after all.”

That caught this attention. He finally looked at her as if she was there, not an accessory on his arm.

“Right about what, My Lady?”

“That one should have all his agreements in writing.”

“I am sure that is prudent,” he acknowledged. “Though there are some agreements that are better kept off the books.”

“To give either party the opportunity to back out, My Lord?”

James smirked, slow and with that rehearsed wariness that wouldn’t have the same impact if Diana hadn’t seen his mask crack.

“To give either party the opportunity to… amend the terms, My Lady.”

Diana arched an eyebrow and clenched her jaw. She wasn’t sure what vexed her more, the fake way he was toying with her or the fact that he was trying to weasel his way out of their agreement.

“A safeguard for those who lack the fortitude to see their commitments through, perhaps, My Lord?”

For a moment, it seemed like he would let her remark slide. Let her win. But then, just as she started to wonder if she had truly backed him into a corner, he let out a slow, deliberate breath and turned to her.

“Careful, My Lady. One might think you are challenging me.”

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