Page 70 of The Virgin Who Humbled Lord Haslemere
“A problem,” she echoed faintly, pressing her fingers to her parted lips. His taste lingered there, like sweet summer berries on her tongue. Her head was still spinning, her knees still shaking from his kiss, but if he was at all affected by it, he was doing an excellent job of hiding it.
But then he’d kissed dozens of women, hadn’t he? Had she really thought this kiss meant any more to him than the kisses he shared with the others? He was London’s favorite rake, after all. It was ridiculous of her to suppose it meant anything to him, and even more so for her to allow it to mean anything toher.
She raised her chin, determined to ignore the butterflies even now fluttering against her ribs. “We have a number of problems, Lord Haslemere. Which one are youreferring to?”
“Lord Haslemere?” Benedict turned to face her, leaning against the windowsill and crossing his arms over his chest. “Are we back to that,Miss Harley?”
Georgiana frowned. There was a hint of a curve at the corner of his lips, but it wasn’t a smile. In fact, he sounded almost angry. She opened her mouth to answer him, but he interrupted before she could get a word out. “Never mind. It doesn’t matter now, because I’m sending you back to Lady Cliffordthis morning.”
She scrambled upright in bed, the seductive languor in her limbs dissipating in an instant. “No, you’re not. I told you once before, my lord. I don’t follow your commands. My loyalty is to your sister.”
His mouth tightened. “Ah, but my sister isn’t here, Miss Harley.Iam, and I’ve just informed you of my decision. Ready yourself. You leave for London in the next hour, whether you like it or not.”
“Idon’tlike it.”
He shrugged, as if what she wanted didn’t matter one way or the other to him. “I’ve made up my mind.”
Georgiana stared at him, baffled. Less than five minutes ago they’d been wrapped around each other in bed, and now he was looking at her as if he’d never seen her before. What had happened between now and then? She hadn’t the vaguest idea what she’d done, and…oh, dear God, was her lower lip wobbling?
“Are you…crying?” Benedict stumbled toward her, his face a mask of horror. “Georgiana,pleasedon’t—”
“Don’t be absurd,” Georgiana snapped.“Inevercry.”
Benedict had shouted at her, yes, and nearly tossed her over the side of the bed in his haste to get away from her, but she absolutely refused to collapse into a flood oftears over it.
No, just…no. She might not have any experience with men, least of all rakes, but she had her pride. She imitated Benedict’s—that is,Lord Haslemere’s—shrug, and looked him in the eye. “Very well, my lord. If you wish for me to return to Lady Clifford,then I’ll go.”
Benedict’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. “If I wishit? That’s it?”
“Well, it’s a bit of an inconvenience. It would be much easier for me to leave for Oxfordshire from here rather than London, but since youcommandit, I suppose I haven’t any choice.”
He stared at her for a moment in frozen silence, then without a word he was across the room, his hands grasping her shoulders. “What the devil do you mean by that, Georgiana—”
She wrenched herself free of his grasp. “That’sMiss Harley, my lord. I think it’s best if we keep our distance from this pointon, don’t you?”
“If you think you’re going to wander off to Oxfordshire on your own, straight into Kenilworth’s clutches, you’vevery much mis—”
“Don’t be silly. I won’t be on my own. Daniel willcome with me.”
“No, he won’t. Kenilworth will have sent men after Jane and Freddy. Brixton will remain with them as long as they need his protection.”
Georgiana tapped her lip, as if considering that. “Lady Clifford, then. Of course, Kenilworth’s men are likely watching the Clifford School, so there’s a chance we won’t even make it out of London before he realizes we’ve—”
“Damn it, Georgiana. For such a clever lady, you don’t have any bloody sense at all. Kenilworth isdangerous. He hurt Freddy, tried to kidnap Jane, and nearly killed Draven.” Benedict seized her again, eyes wild, his hands biting into her upper arms. “What do you suppose he’ll do toyouif he catches up with you?”
Georgiana’s eyes widened. This wasnotthe same man she’d met months ago in Maiden Lane, the rake who treated everything as if it were an amusing lark. “I don’t intend to find out.”
Benedict snatched his hands away from her, a frustrated grunt leaving his throat. “I doubt Draven intended to find himself beaten half to death, either. You have no idea how clever the duke is, orhow sinister.”
There was no question the duke was clever. After all, he’d kept his secrets this long. Nor was Georgiana under any illusions about how dangerous he was. But she was clever, too. She eyed Benedict, considering her next words carefully. “Is Lord Draven’s Oxfordshire estate a large one, Lord Haslemere?”
He blinked at her. “I don’t see how that matters, but yes, it’s a good-sized estate.”
“You mean to say it’s one of those sprawling, untidy places, with dozens of outbuildings spread out over the grounds in every direction?”
“Most large estates are.”
“It’s not an easy place to spy upon, then?”
