Page 47 of The Duke of Desire
She stared at him a moment. “What do you want from me?”
“Surrender.”
Her lips parted, and he could see that her breathing had grown shallow. He could also see the beat of her pulse in her neck.
“Not to me. To yourself. If you want something you should take it.”
She looked away, and he watched her try to disguise the deep breath she was taking. After a moment, she glanced at him again, her brow arching. “Like Townsend did?”
He was absolutely certain this had happened to her. He nearly came off the chair in his effort to move closer to her. “Who did that to you?”
She nibbled the inside of her lower lip. “It doesn’t matter.”
“It does to me. And if I ever find out who he is, he’d better run.”
She swallowed. “What if Townsend’s intentions aren’t honorable?”
A plan had been forming in the back of West’s mind since he sat down. Now he knew what he had to do. “I’m going after them in the morning.”
Her eyes widened, and her nostrils flared. “You are?”
He stood, realizing they’d been alone here long enough. They could explain the “chance” meeting away, but if anyone took notice, it might begin to raise an eyebrow or two. “Yes, which means our time together is nearly at an end. I will likely not make it back before the house party concludes.”
She rose from the chair. “Shouldn’t Mr. Forth-Hodges go after her?”
“Perhaps, but I can travel faster than he can and am pleased to help if I may.”
“That’s very kind of you. Thank you.”
He appreciated the sentiment, but he wasn’t doing it for her. Well, maybe a little. It was the right thing to do—for Miss Forth-Hodges’s sake. “I need to go speak with Mr. Forth-Hodges to tell him of my plans and to ask what negotiations he would like me to make.”
“What will you do when you find them?”
“I assume they are on the road to Gretna Green. I will accompany them and ensure the deed is done.”
She laid her palm against the front of his coat. The touch jolted through him like electricity. He’d barely kept his lust in check yesterday on their walk, and trying not to think of her since then had been simple, but effective torture. “You’re a good man,” she said softly.
“You wouldn’t say that if you knew what I was thinking right now.”
“I think I would.” She pulled her hand from his chest, and he fought the urge to snatch it with his and press his lips to her wrist.
He made himself take a step away from her. He couldn’t walk away from her without at least trying…
Turning, he pinned her with a seductive stare. “If you were inclined to, say, visit the library tonight—late—my chamber is in the southeast corner of the house. There is a vase of yellow roses outside the door on a table. And if I don’t see you before I leave, please know that meeting you has been a privilege. Good evening, Miss Breckenridge.”
He spun around and strode from the room before he did the unthinkable and took her into his arms. He hoped she’d find his room later, but he feared he knew the truth.
She’d never surrender.
