Page 40 of An Innocent Little Scandal (Sensual Scandals)

She laid down her spoon after she had forced herself to take a couple bites out of respect and set down her serviette beside her plate. “If you will excuse me—”

“Lady Olivia,” the duke said smoothly. “Would you mind joining me in the study for a moment?”

She froze. She wasn’t sure she was prepared to engage in this conversation when her emotions were still so raw. “Are you sure you wouldn’t like to have an after-dinner brandy with the earl instead?”

His mouth thinned slightly. “Lord Somers and I engaged in enough chat earlier this afternoon, and I’m sure you realize that there are some things that we need to discuss.” He rose to his feet. And waited.

Olivia clenched her fists in her lap. She shot a glance to Araminta who was looking at her expectantly. “Very well.” She got up and accepted the arm that the duke extended to her, albeit rather stiffly.

They walked down the hall in silence. When they arrived at the study he paused and waved her inside. She moved forward and she heard the sound of the door closing behind them.

But it was the click of the lock that made her senses go on alert. She spun around to find that the was leaning against the door with his arms crossed. His dark eyes bore into her. “What is this? Another one of your tricks?” she demanded mockingly.

He smirked. “No, my lady. I’m just ensuring that we aren’t disturbed because we’re not leaving this room until we get some things settled.”

She mirrored his pose as she stood in the middle of the room. “I thought everything had been decided for me earlier.”

“Not quite,” he returned evenly. “You forgot one important thing.” His gaze narrowed slightly. “I will never be content with a marriage in name only if you were my wife.”

Chapter Fifteen

Miles saw the flash of indignation on her face, and he reveled in it. As long as she showed some sort of emotion, it meant that she wasn’t indifferent to him. He didn’t think that was the case, because her body had responded to his attentions more than once. Either way, he detested that he was once again, the hated, brooding duke, because he had just started to earn her trust as Mr. Stone. She had seemed infinitely more comfortable with the steward, but unfortunately, he would never be that man. He might yearn for that sort of life inside, but outwardly, he had a certain role to play, as did she.

Her cheeks reddened slightly, but he didn’t think it was solely due to anger. “Even though I told you that you were free to take your pleasure elsewhere?”

“Any child that would be born from such an affair would be a bastard.”

She waved a hand. “No one would have to know that. I would ensure that it appeared convincing, and the servants are loyal to a fault to me.”

He didn’t doubt that at all. The last time he saw Mrs. Harper the housekeeper had been wearing a smug expression, while Edgerton had merely had a look of we-told-you-so. “Iwould know,” he said firmly. “And I don’t wish for anyone to bear my children. Save you.”

“Then I’m afraid a ceremony won’t be taking place.” She sniffed and glanced away, but she wasn’t fooling him. The pulse beat at her neck fluttered and he could tell she was more flustered by his words than she cared to let on.

“Is the thought of marrying me so repulsive to you?” he asked.

She frowned. “I thought I explained my reluctance earlier.”

He latched on to that. “That doesn’t answer my question.”

She turned her back on him, but not before he caught the bloom of bright color that ran higher on her cheeks. “That doesn’t signify.”

“Oh, I think it does,” he murmured, as he walked slowly forward. He wanted to ensure that he approached her cautiously. He didn’t want to scare her away. If he intended to coerce her into this union, then he didn’t want her to feel as though she was being forced. He wanted her to burn for him the same way he was on fire for her.

He reached out and gently placed his hands on her shoulders. She stiffened but didn’t pull away from him. He considered that as a positive sign. He lowered his head until his lips nearly brushed her neck and inhaled the sweet scent of her. It was intoxicating to his senses. “Can’t you feel this connection between us? I felt it from the very first moment I met you. When I saw you fall into that ice—” His voice caught and he had to swallow before he could continue, his voice even raspier than usual. “I was scared within an inch of my life. I knew that I couldn’t let this woman die, and then, when I held you in my arms and looked into your face, I knew I would never be the same.”

He could feel a tremor pass through her body. “That’s ridiculous. You didn’t even know me.”

“I didn’t have to,” he countered. “My soul is intertwined with yours. It has been since that moment.” He brushed a stray hair away from the nape of her neck. “I have the feeling it always will.”

He didn’t imagine it when she leaned closer to his touch. He smiled against her soft skin. “I’m still angry with you. I don’t like being lied to.”

“I didn’t mean for it to get so out of hand,” he said sincerely. “I only wanted to protect you from the truth. It was obvious that night when I came upon your carriage in the snow that you were running away. I couldn’t add to your troubles by admitting who I really was. I realize now it was wrong to conceal the truth, but please believe me when I say it wasn’t done with malicious intent, or for nefarious reasons.”

She relaxed slightly beneath his hands. “I don’t know why, but I believe you.” She turned back around to face him, and his hands slid down to her upper arms.

“Then perhaps you might believe something else?”

She might have warmed to him slightly, but it was evident by her wary gaze that she was still not completely trusting in him. But if things went as he planned, that would soon change. “What is that?”

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