Page 172 of Her Beast

“I don’tcareabout those things.”

“You say that now, but once the novelty has worn off—”

“Will you come with me to visit Richard and Nanny?”

He opened his mouth, hesitated, and then said, “I would prefer that they came here, but yes, I would go there.”

“Will you agree to meet Lily and her husband? Perhaps invite them over for dinner?”

Again, he hesitated, but then said, “Well, if you like Lily and Smith likes Bankton, then I suppose I could be convinced to socialize with them, too.”

“Do you have a home in the country?”

He looked as if she’d asked him if he ran through the streets naked. “No—I’ve rarely evenbeenin the country.”

“Would you be willing to trystaying in the country during hunting season?”

This question gave him the longest pause of all. “Would you be hurt if I went to the country but didn’t go hunting with you?”

“Not at all.” She waited and then asked, “Well?”

He nodded slowly. “We might be able to negotiate some sort of agreement on that subject.”

She didn’t bother to hide her smile of triumph. “You, my small family, my few friends, horses and hunting, painting—thoseare the sorts of things that are important to me, Malcolm. I’m not sure why you ever thought I wanted balls and parties.” She rubbed her bottom over his thighs, purposely stroking over his erection and hiding her smile in his lapel when he hissed.

He did nothing but sit for a long moment, and then, slowly, his arms circled her body and she felt him sigh. “Once you are mine, Julia, I will never give you up.”

Julia closed her eyes and smiled; finally. “Now, will you please take me to bed?”

Chapter 35

It was the first time Malcolm had walked through his own house not wearing his mask.

What was even more stunning was that he’d not recalled that he’d left it lying on the desk until he was almost to his bedroom.

A complex stew of pain, fear, shame—and yes, even hope—had churned in his belly when Julia had uncovered his face.

And then had come the most shocking part: she hadn’t run or flinched or paled.

She had stayed.

Actually, she’d done more than just stay. She had touched him and told him she loved him.

Malcolm had watched her more closely than he’d ever watched anyone in his life, searching for signs of quickly concealed disgust or revulsion.

But all he’d seen on Julia’s face was sadness, sympathy, and something he was beginning to believe really was love and not just infatuation.

Malcolm had used his private corridors to lead Julia to his room. After all, he might allow her to see him, but that didn’t mean he would ever feel comfortable baring his face to others, even those servants who’d served him longest and best.

He stopped beside the panel that led to his chambers, but when he reached out to open it, he felt a hand stay his arm. “What is it?” he asked.

“That’s my room!”

He looked down to see her staring at the mirror into her own chambers.

“Yes, it is,” he agreed. The panel beneath his hand clicked and swung open.

“You mean—”

---