Page 59 of A Sense of Injustice
Luke shook his head, perturbed by her irresponsibility. ‘I knew you shouldn’t have ridden out alone.’
‘It worked out for the best.’
‘Flora, he’s twice your size. You had already swooned. I saw how dazed you appeared when we first arrived. You would never have fought off an angry, determined man.’
‘Ah, but I would.’ She withdrew her riding crop from within the folds of her habit and brandished it in the air. ‘I stupidly tried to fight him off with my stick, but he was ready for that, snatched it from me and threw it aside. So I pretended to swoon and when he almost dropped me, I simply picked it up and kept it hidden.’
‘He touched you?’ Thunderclouds gathered behind Luke’s eyes. ‘I cannot bear it. And those things he said about you and me. You didn’t deny them.’
‘If he knew that I was a virgin…Well, he’s already proved that he has a taste for such creatures. I would have whacked him around the head with my crop if he’d tried anything but I have sensed all along that he’s weak and easily manipulated. Besides, I had help.’
Luke shook his head. ‘Flora!’
She decided not to try and convince him otherwise. Even though he must have seen Remus blow Cleethorp’s hat off, he would not have known that Flora’s mischievous spirit guide then floated close to Cleethorp’s face, waving his translucent arms and pulling faces. Cleethorp had sensed his presence and been spooked by it.
‘Is that really the end? He will leave and not bother Louise again?’
‘He will. I think in some respects he’s relieved to get away from Felicity Brigstock. She was the driving force in their relationship and appears to be besotted with him. She wouldn’t have let him go voluntarily.’
‘Then we are safe.’
Flora’s legs buckled. Delayed reaction or relief? Before she could decide, a strong pair of arms caught her waist and she fell against Luke’s chest. The air left her lungs in an extravagant whoosh and her heart galloped at twice its regular pace as she inhaled his familiar masculine scent.
‘Don’t ever do that to do me again,’ he said to the top of her head.
‘I don’t look for trouble, Luke. It just seems to have a habit of finding me.’
His arms closed more tightly around her, making her feel safe and secure in ways she hadn’t realised were possible. She admitted to herself at that moment that she felt a deep, abiding love for her highly intelligent, protective and annoyingly stubborn employer. But her feelings were as inappropriate as they were inadvisable. He didn’t return those feelings and was holding her now, too close and for so long, only because he felt responsible for the situation she found herself in.
‘It isn’t your fault.’
She tried to wriggle out of his arms—someone had to remain in control—but he tightened his hold on her, making it clear that he didn’t have the slightest intention of letting her go.
‘I am quite steady now,’ she said, in a voice that was anything other than steady.
‘If he had harmed so much as a hair on your head, I…’
‘Shush! He didn’t.’ She rested the side of her face against his shoulder, conscious of her hair tumbling all over the place. She must look a fright, but it hardly seemed to matter. Extracting herself from his arms with her dignity intact, and before she said anything that would embarrass them both, seemed more expedient.
He took one arm from around her waist and placed a long finger beneath her chin, tilting her head backwards until she was obliged to meet his gaze. He looked at her through dark, intense eyes and she couldn’t fathom his expression. Remus hovered into view over Luke’s shoulder, his expression smugly satisfied.
Told you so.
Go away!Flora chided inside her head.
Well, if that’s all the thanks I get.
His image faded but Luke continued to look at her with a tormented expression. Before she fully understood his intentions, he lowered his head and placed his lips over hers with heart-stopping precision. It was too much!
It was nowhere near enough.
Flora gave up on her battle to remain in control. It was a fight she never would have won, not when Luke was in the mood to take matters into his own hands. Her arms worked their way around his neck and she returned his kiss with fervour. Lingering thoughts of escape evaporated beneath the soft persuasion of his mouth. She tasted wine on his tongue and desire on his breath, and wanted the moment to last forever.
But it didn’t. A small cry of protest slipped past her guard when he released her but kept one arm around her waist, correctly assuming that her legs would likely not support her immediately. He sent her a deeply intense look and then turned his head away.
‘Do you intend to marry Archie?’ he asked, an edge to his voice.
‘Lord Hardwick?’ Flora didn’t attempt to hide her surprise at the question. ‘Good heavens no. We have already had this conversation.’
