Page 118 of Doxy for the Ton
“It’s late,” she said. “I can’t recall the last time I slept this late.”
“We must indulge in many such times to come,” he said.
“N-no, this isn’t something a woman in my position should grow used to.”
She climbed off the bed, still clutching the corner of the bedsheet. Then she let go and, as if ashamed of her nudity, darted across the room to a chest of drawers, pulled out a chemise, and slipped it on.
“There’s no need for coyness,” Alexander said, “not after what we shared last night.”
“L-last night was…”
“Wonderful,” he said. “Beautiful, magnificent. I finally realized the depth of my feelings for you—and what I want.”
She turned toward him, her eyes glistening. “Wh-what do you want?”
“You,” he said, rising from the bed. “I wantyou.”
“You have me, Alexander.”
“Only until the end of our arrangement,” he said. “But I want more. I want you to bemine.”
She flinched. “Y-yours?”
He nodded. “I’ll honor our original agreement and settle two thousand guineas on you today.”
“A-and then?”
“Then our arrangement can be made more…permanent.”
She blinked, slowly, and silence thickened the air, save for his heartbeat thudding against his chest.
Then she shook her head.
“No.”
His gut twisted with disbelief.
“No?”
Her expression hardened. “Must I repeat myself?” she said. “Is a woman always to be disbelieved—her wishes ignored—when she says no?”
“At least tell me why,” he said.
She lifted her hand and brushed it across her eyes. When she lowered it again, they were wet with tears.
“Because I swore I would never endure that life again.”
“You mean—you had a protector before?” he asked.
“Yes.”
Jealousy stabbed at his heart. “What happened?”
She flinched as he took her wrist.
“Tell me, Mimi,” he said. “If I am to be rejected with such coldness, then you owe me a reason. Who was he? Did you love him? Do youstill?”
She closed her eyes, and he tightened his grip.
