Page 15 of A Kiss Of Lies

His smile faded, and his eyes lost their sparkle. “She didn’t pray hard enough.”

She took a gulp of her wine. “She was gone before you returned home.” She tried not to let the tears well up.

“Gone? She died?” At Sarah’s silence he said softly, “How dreadful.” He reached across and stroked her arm lightly with his fingers. “I’m sorry. It’s devilishly hard, losing a close friend.”

A wave of feminine awareness washed over her. Was he offering comfort or something else? The label “devilish” was correct. Her eyes narrowed—his touch was the kind of caress a man might use to seduce a woman.

And she was tempted to let him.

However, in her situation, that was not a good idea. If she was dismissed, where would she go? She reached for her wine so as to move her arm out of his reach. “I’ve asked Mrs. Hobson to make up a bottle of ginger syrup for seasickness. Lily says she’s never been on a ship before. I thought it best to be prepared.”

He withdrew his hand and played with his napkin. “Lady Serena’s death makes you uncomfortable. I’m sorry to have brought it up, but there is no need to remind me of your position in this household.”

His deep green eyes held hers, a challenge flashing in their depths. He was daring her to stay and see where this led. This was an invitation she could so very easily accept.

“Perhaps you feel there is no need, but propriety requires me to say that yes, there is a need. Anything else would not be proper.”

Christian hated the rush of disappointment assailing him. Still, it was only day one. He had a whole voyage to work his long underused, but not forgotten, charms. He might not have a beautiful face anymore, but he still had a brain. His tongue was an equally compelling weapon.

Besides, he knew her weakness. He’d appeal to her mentally. He’d develop, embrace, and admire her undoubted intelligence.

It had been so long since he’d tried to seduce. Prior to his burns, women threw themselves at him. He was pleased to see his recall was exceptional. It was like riding a horse. If you fell off, you got back up and simply kept on riding. He felt his groin throb. He knew what he’d love to be riding right now.

He smiled inwardly. He hadn’t been mistaken. He’d noted the look of desire in her eyes. For a few minutes she’d forgotten her position in his company. Unburdened from stifling formality, her personality shone, indicating a sense of mischief. Her banter was joyous and flirtatious. The warmth of her blue eyes indicated a sparkling joy for life that was contagious.

The ferocity of his desire to catch it—to catch her—almost overwhelmed him.

He flashed Sarah his smile of old. A smile the Christian of before the burns would have offered. A smile that was sensual in its nature and implication. “Come now, there’s just the two of us here. As you mentioned earlier, an intelligent woman would surely take the opportunity to learn all that she could from one of the infamous Libertine Scholars.”

He watched her hand flutter to pick up her glass, then her tongue sliding from between her lips to wet them. “I’m sure there are many things you could teach me, my lord. However, I’d prefer to keep the lessons on topics that maintain propriety. If I am to be Lily’s governess, my reputation is everything.” She seemed to gather her wits, and her fingers firmed around her glass. She lifted it to her lips, almost in a toast, before saying, “After all, you did say that Lily has already had too many disruptions. I’d hate to be forced to resign my post once I reach England.”

He didn’t like it that she’d reverted to addressing him formally. “Christian. My name is Christian,” he uttered coolly. “Let me assure you, Sarah, your reputation is quite safe with me. There is no reason I can think of that would ever force you to resign your post.” He paused, wanting the implication of this to sink in, before looking deep into her eyes. “And my wishes are all that count.”

He watched the pulse beating at the base of her throat, and caught the tightness around her shoulders. He was pushing her too far, too quickly. He was out of practice.

“Currently, my wish is to have a pleasant meal with an intelligent woman who will be sailing with me to England on a voyage of several weeks.” He cut into his meat and shrugged, not looking at her. “I simply thought to get to know you better.” He lifted his gaze to her. “Is that a crime? If so, I do apologize.”

His diversion worked. Her shoulders relaxed, and she gave him a small smile. “I’m sorry. It’s just this job means a lot to me. I’m simply worried about losing it.”

He resisted the urge to touch her again. “You can have this job for as long as you require it, or until Lily is married,” he said earnestly. “I give you my word. There, does that allay your fears?”

She drew in a breath at the parameters of the promise. She was an intelligent woman, and so she understood it was not that simple. There was more behind his vow. If he could, Lord Markham would turn this into an altogether different arrangement; it would eventuate in an arrangement that saw her share his bed. Her body reacted with an alarming need to respond to the tempting idea.

“I suppose so,” she agreed reluctantly.

Her attraction to his lordship had not dissipated. If anything, the memories of last night, the vision of his nakedness, the feel of his muscled chest and his enticing kisses, flooded her body with an uncomfortable warmth.

Her fork slipped through her fingers and clattered onto the table. Had he been awake last night? Had her wanton behavior set him down this path?

Her face heated, and she glanced sideways at him from under her lowered eyelashes. He was still looking at her, trying to hide his shrewdness with an innocent expression.

“I’m sorry if my manners are not what they should be this evening. I’m tired from all the packing after so little sleep.”

His eyes narrowed, but his voice was calm. “You did not sleep well last night?”

She pretended to look uncomfortable while watching for any acknowledgement that he knew she’d been in his room. “You woke me up—well, woke the whole household, actually. It was upsetting. I hate to hear anyone in pain.” When he said nothing but continued to look closely at her, she added, “With your screams—I mean nightmares, I was told.”

He didn’t even blink. “I’m sorry. The rest of the household is used to my nightmares. Were you awake for long?” he asked, feigning innocence.

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