Page 13 of The Moonstone Marquess
“I’m so sorry. It is a lack in them, not you.”
He reached out and ran a finger lightly along the curve of her jaw. “Ah, Phoebe. I do not need your platitudes. Your little display of support does not make me feel any better.”
“That is because you agree with those who would find you repulsive. That is your failing and explains why you do the debauched and depraved things you do. You are angry and you hate yourself.”
“I was a wicked man even before I lost my arm. Losing it just gave me reason to continue being insufferable.”
She laughed. “Well, at least you see yourself clearly for what you are. But I wish you would be a little nicer to others. And a little kinder to yourself. You might also gain by learning to trust people. We aren’t all wicked creatures who wish to connive to take something from you.”
He gave her cheek a light caress. “You wish for something from me, Phoebe. It is something I can never give you.”
She frowned. “What are you talking about? I’ve asked nothing of you. If you recall, I went out of my way to point out that I am quite capable of taking care of myself. Nor do I need you to give me anything for the care of your nieces. They are sweet and undemanding. It is a pleasure to look after them.”
“I wasn’t talking about them. Nor am I speaking of monetary matters. However, I must insist on paying for everything while my nieces are with you. That includes any expenses you and Chloe have for yourselves. The matter is not open for discussion.”
“Heavens, you are the most high-handed man I have ever met.” A wave took her by surprise as she stood frowning at him instead of watching the water. She yelped and quickly hiked her gown well above her knees to keep it from getting wet.
The wretched man noticed immediately and brazenly smiled. “Nice legs.”
She stepped further away from the water and lowered her gown to mid-calf, which she supposed was just as bad. It would not have made a difference even if she were covered down to her ankles, for he’d still be looking at her in that naughty, heart-melting way. “They weren’t on display for you.”
He shrugged.
“What did you mean when you said I wished to get something from you?”
“Is it not obvious? You want my heart, Phoebe.”
She would not allow him to get away with that statement. He was the one making a thing of marrying her. She knew it was a farce. “I have told you already, you are the last man in England I will ever marry. So your heart is quite safe from me. Hide it away and keep it tightly locked up in that dark tomb of your chest so that it shrivels and dies. You may keep it all to yourself and share it with no one ever, for all I care.”
She turned to walk away, but he caught her wrist and held her back. He was gentle as he turned her to face him.
His eyes held so much pain that she found herself coming undone. Was it real? Or was he merely manipulating her? She refused to be affected by him. He had to be playing with her feelings, although she did not understand why.
“What if I did want to share my heart with you?” he asked in a ragged whisper.
All semblance of humor fled, and she found herself in utter turmoil. “Then do so, for I will never purposely hurt you. Just be honest with me. I have no intention of becoming one of your conquests. If this is all you want of me, then leave me alone. What would it accomplish to seduce me, other than the boasting rights that you could do it? Cain would make you marry me, and I would refuse. It would leave me ruined, him hating you, and you truly alone, with no friends left to trust.”
He released her.
“And another thing, what hour of the day do you and your friends plan to use your portion of the beach? I would like to keep your nieces far away from them. What do you say to allowing us the morning hours and after lunch until three o’clock? Then you and your friends can have the beach from three o’clock until darkness. Of course, you are welcome to use it beyond sundown, but I think it would be very stupid of you to swim at night when one can easily get disoriented and not see the shore.”
“I’ll keep my guests off the beach according to your schedule. I doubt any of them will bother to come down here at all. As for me, I’ll come down whenever I wish and join my nieces here whenever it pleases me to do so.”
“Do as you wish. Obviously, no one can control you. But it is not my intention to keep you away from the girls. I trust you with them. It is your friends I don’t trust.”
“They are not my friends.”
She rolled her eyes. “Stop. They are with you. You are their host. I’ll call them whatever I wish to call them. Good morning, my lord. Breakfast is in an hour.”
She hurried up the stairs without looking back at him, but she could feel his gaze on her all the while.
What did he want from her?
Why was he paying her any notice?
She strode across the lawn toward her house, her heart still in palpitations. Her body would not stop responding to him. If she were honest about it, her body seemed to ache for his touch.
This was very bad.
