Page 62 of The Duchess in His Bed
“You came to my club, to me. You married a man you didn’t love in order to protect your family. Hardly the acts of a coward.”
“I did them out of fear.”
“It is not courageous if there is no fear.”
She was scared now, scared of the deception she wanted to perpetrate, scared of the guilt she harbored regarding the unfairness to Lushing, scared she might lose Aiden. “What do you fear?”
“Too many things to count.”
“I’m not certain I believe that.”
Reaching out, he skimmed his knuckles along her cheek. “I fear disappointing you.”
“By not giving me what I need?” Had he made his decision? Had he not found her sisters worthy of his seed? Did he not consider her worthy?
“Apologies for interrupting again.”
This time neither of them were startled by Beast’s voice. They didn’t jerk, didn’t back away, didn’t try to hide. Aiden merely turned his head to look at his brother, a dark brow winging up in query.
“Mum has supper ready. We’re heading over now.”
Those words caused Selena to start. “Oh. My sisters and I should be on our way then.”
“You’re invited,” Aiden said.
She shook her head. “We couldn’t possibly impose.”
“No imposition. She was counting on you being there and prepared more than enough food. We’re supping in the hotel dining room across the way.”
Panic threaded itself through her. “We can’t eat there. We can’t be seen in public.”
“The room has been closed off for our private gathering. We’ll enter through the back. No one will see you.”
“We can’t possibly—”
“My mum went to a lot of trouble.”
“Well, she shouldn’t have. Our agreement was to help in the shop, not dine with your family.”
“I need more time to observe your sisters.”
Backing away from him, she wanted to pound the shelves, noted that his brother was nowhere to be seen, had no doubt gone down the stairs to prepare for going over to the hotel or perhaps he’d noted the tension and realized a private discourse was needed. “You should have been observing them all afternoon instead of being up here with me.”
She should have thought of that earlier, should have insisted he not assist her. Only she enjoyed his presence so much. Still it had resulted in his not being able to make an assessment.
“Watching them place books on shelves hardly tells me what I need to know. What are you afraid of, Selena?”
That she might come to like him more than she already did, that seeing him with his family might make her reconsider her stupid plan.
Again, he touched his knuckles to her cheek. “It’s only dinner.”
With him, nothing was everonlyanything. Still, she disliked leaving knowing his mother had gone to such trouble. Besides she was curious about the woman. Ettie Trewlove had not been in the shop, so she had yet to meet her. She wondered what sort of woman would provide a home for bastards when many considered them not worthy of breath. While her own son would be considered legitimate under the law, in truth his status would mirror his father’s, because she would not be married to his sire.
She nodded. “If you can ensure we will not be seen.”
An edge of triumph made its way into the smile he bestowed upon her. “I am nothing if not a planner.”
Taking her elbow, he escorted her down the stairs and into the main portion of the shop. Her sisters were hovering near the door, looking somewhat concerned and uncertain. Fancy seemed not to know what to do with her guests either.
