Page 73 of A Lady's Lesson in Scandal
This next bit was going to be hard. ‘And it’s why I can never allow you to continue your work for the Queen.’
She blinked several times before shifting away from him on the bed. Her soft expression hardened like his lake in December. ‘You won’tallowme?’
Stay calm. Don’t push her.
Of course, she needed time to accept his words. He would give her as much time as she needed. ‘Millie, you must understand. As your husband, it’s my job to decide how best to keep you safe. I love your bold ways, your wild spirit, but in this, you need to see reason.’
Millie clenched her teeth. ‘You aren’t my husband yet. And you want me to see reason? Because what I’m suggesting isn’t reasonable?’
‘It’s reasonable for you to expect that we are equals in all other things, but you must see how impossible it is for you to fight alongside me.’
‘I must understand that I’m unreasonable. I must see that our equality is impossible. Is that what you’re trying so desperately to explain to me? All the things I must agree to when I also agree to marry you?’
Drake put his hands out. ‘Calm down, please.’
‘Calm down? Now you’re telling me I need to calm down?’ Her husky voice rose a decibel.
Shit. That was unwise.
All of Drake’s alarm systems went off. He had faced many threats, innumerable dangers, and his body was telling him this situation was lethal. He needed to get out. Run. But he wasn’t going to leave until she understood. ‘Millie, you are strong and brave, but you are still just a woman. You cannot possibly fight a man with the same speed, strength, and skill of a trained warrior.’
Millie’s burst of laughter was sharp and hard. Much like her gaze. ‘I’mjusta woman.’ Every time she parroted one of his phrases back to him, he wanted to wince. ‘I recall you telling me aboutjusta woman who killed several soldiers with nothing but a slingshot and her hands. One would presume she fought with superior speed, strength, and skill than the trained warriors she defeated. Perhaps they also told her to calm down right before she flung a rock at their heads.’
Fuck. I am deep in the shits now.
When his soldiers started to panic in the war, often they just needed a strong hand to lead them in the right direction. Perhaps that tactic would be more successful.
He used his firm, no-arguments, major-general voice. ‘I can understand your frustration, Millie. But in this decision, I will not bend.’
Drake expected anger. He expected her to yell. Cry. Perhaps slap at him. He expected the fire of her rage.
He didn’t expect ice.
It hardened around her mouth, turned her limbs rigid, tightened her hands into fists.
No. This is not better. This is much worse. I’ll explain the danger. If she knows I’m just trying to keep her safe, she’ll understand.
‘Millie, these men will kill you without a thought. What kind of husband would I be if I let you walk into that danger?’
‘The kind whotrustshis wife to be capable, skilled, resilient, hisequal.’
Drake took a deep breath, willing his temper to recede. ‘I will not lose you,’ he growled.
‘You are losing me right now, Drake. Don’t you see that?’
She was killing him. Didn’t she understand he was doing thisbecauseof how desperately he loved her? Because the thought of a fucking weasel like Franklin St George touching her, let alone hurting her, drove him to the brink of madness. If he lost Millie, he lost everything.
She shook her head, her fiery hair cascading around her shoulders like a waterfall of lava. ‘Philippa was right.’ She swept the blanket aside, exposing her gorgeous breasts, soft belly, and strong thighs.
His thoughts scattered like leaves in a gale.
She scooted to the edge of the bed, flinging her legs over the side and sliding to the floor. Her muscles flexed and shifted in the most fascinating display of athleticism. Drake’s cock twitched optimistically.
Not likely.
‘Good day, my lord.’ Millie bent over to grab her nightgown where it had fallen, and Drake’s brain seized at the sight. He was too trapped by his stupid lust to move fast enough.
Millie walked across the floor, her red curls brushing over the dimples at the tops of her buttocks. Drake struggled to untangle his legs from the sheets, but by the time he freed himself, her door shut. It was impossible to ignore the loud click of her lock sliding home.
