Page 62 of Lady Controversial
‘I am much obliged to you for your support, but it does not give you the right to tell me how to behave. I am not a member of your family.’
Ellery had the temerity to chuckle at her fit of pique. ‘If you were then I would put you over my knee for your disobedience.’
Isolda affected an insulted expression, trying hard to contain a smile. ‘You are welcome to try.’
A slow, somnolent smile graced his rugged features as he shook his head at her. ‘I would advise against taunting me, my love, since I never could resist a challenge.’
Isolda, hopelessly out of her depth when it came to flirting with a master of the art, adjured herself to concentrate upon her problems, a situation that ought to occupy her entire mind. Instead, all she seemed capable of thinking about was the sublime feel of being enclosed, safe in a way she had forgotten was possible, within the circle of Ellery’s arms.
‘I have to put Jane first,’ she said, realising how weak that sounded.
‘We both have reasons to dislike Brooke,’ Ellery replied, ‘and if he divides us then he stands a much better chance of gaining the upper hand.’
‘In my case, he has it anyway.’
Ellery nodded, conceding the point as he released her arm and paced the length of the room, resting one elbow on the arm he had folded across his waist and rubbing his chin with long fingers.
‘He cannot prove what he claims to be the truth,’ he said. ‘You were not unmasked at the fight.’
‘No, but Barker could…’
‘It would be Barker’s word against mine. Whom do you suppose will be believed? I would argue that he claimed to unmask you himself if you did not let him retain your no doubt rather substantial winnings,’ Ellery added, warming to his theme, ‘which would have the added bonus of catching Brooke out in a lie.’
‘Except it would not be a lie,’ she reminded him, glancing significantly down at her injured arm.
‘No one would ask a lady to reveal a supposed injury,’ he said, dismissing her concerns with a careless wave, ‘especially if that lady was known to be under my protection.’
Isolda raised a brow. ‘Protection?’ she asked, seeking clarification. ‘You do realise how that will be interpreted, and it will do Jane’s prospects even more harm.’ So why, she wondered, did the offer of becoming his mistress hold such appeal?
Ellery turned sharply on his heel, looking at her quizzically before his expression slowly cleared.
‘My love!’ He bounded across the room and pulled her back into his arms. Isolda would have warded him off, she absolutely would have, but he took her completely by surprise and she lost the advantage. ‘I am a blind fool! I did not stop to temper my words. I do not want you as my mistress. I want you as my wife.’
‘Your wife?’ The breath left Isolda’s body in an extravagant whoosh, her head span and for a protracted moment she was so very tempted. But Isolda was practical to a fault, even in the grips of passion, and she could see a dozen immediate reasons why such martyrdom on his part would be pointless. ‘Ellery, which of us is it that suffered a recent head injury?’ She smiled up at him and gently traced the line of his jaw with the fingers of one hand. ‘Thank you for being so willing to make the ultimate sacrifice, but it will not serve. Quite apart from anything else, your mother would go into terminal decline.’
‘It would be anything but a sacrifice, and my mother can go to the devil.’
‘We would kill one another, she and I, if we had to spend more than one night under the same roof.’
‘Then she is welcome to withdraw to the dower house of her own free will before I send her there.’
‘Ellery, thank you.’ She glanced up at him, aware that his offer was serious, and felt the heat of passion radiating from his eyes, stealing her breath away. ‘No one has ever put my interests first and been willing to go to such lengths to protect them. I am moved, deeply moved, but I can’t let you do it, even if it would allow us to get the better of Brooke.’
‘Is that why you think I am doing this? Just to best that wretched cove? Do you not feel it yourself, Isolda?’ He sent her a long, considering look. ‘This indefinable something between us. I have never known the like.’
‘We are barely acquainted,’ she replied, avoiding a direct reply since she was unwilling to lie to him. She did feel it, with every fibre of her being, but that was neither here nor there. ‘Let me do this my way, Ellery. I will throw myself upon my aunt’s mercy. For reasons I still don’t understand, she is determined to lavish patronage on Jane, and wants my sister to live with her. If I break my promise to Papa and allow it, which I have been considering doing anyway, I will be free to forge my own path.’
He grasped both her shoulders and looked down at her, his expression appealing. ‘At least promise me that you will reflect upon my suggestion overnight. We will talk again in the morning.’
Without giving her time to respond, he lowered his head and kissed her with a passion that made her knees tremble, and she was powerless to resist responding. This would be the last time that he touched her, Isolda told herself as desire roiled through her system, and she intended to brand every precious second firmly on her memory.
Those memories would have to serve her for the rest of her life since she now knew what she must do in order to protect the man she loved more than life itself but whom she could never have.
Chapter Twenty
Isolda didn’t remember much about taking her leave of the countess, which she did with the minimum of civility. She blocked out the woman’s self-satisfied smile and cutting asides and walked briskly back to their temporary accommodation, escorted by the footman whom Ellery had insisted accompany them.
‘What did all that mean?’ Jane asked, looking bewildered, speaking for the first time once they had reached the sanctity of the gatehouse.
