Page 45 of Marriage Most Scandalous
The question made her uncomfortable, caused her to snort. “Rubbish. I was a child, more or less. I didn’t miss out on anything that has caused me any regrets. Other families have their tragedies. We had ours. I see no difference.”
“You had friends?”
“Certainly.”
Well, she wasn’t going to admit that her current housekeeper, Florence, had probably been her closest friend. He’d see that as a lack, when she didn’t view it that way at all. And she had her friends from the private school she’d attended for several years, after her tutor had finished with her. She kept in touch with them. She also knew every other woman in the neighborhood, she’d just never taken to any of them enough to call one a close friend.
“What happened to Denton’s leg?”
The abrupt change in subject startled her. “Why don’t you ask him?”
“I did,” Sebastian replied. “He got all red in the face and— limped off.”
“It happened just last year,” she told him. “He got so foxed one night, he fell down the stairs. Unfortunately, it happened in the middle of the night, so he wasn’t found until morning. By then, he’d lost so much blood he was barely alive. It was quite touch and go for a few days and it took a long time for him to recover.”
“Lost blood from what?”
“He broke the banister during the tumble. One of the broken spikes sliced his leg open so badly that it left permanent damage, which accounts for the limp. Actually, I’m not surprised he wouldn’t tell you about it. He’s quite bitter that he’s not a perfect specimen anymore. But don’t show him any pity. He bloody well goes through the roof if he suspects you feel sorry for him.”
“Why didn’t you mention that accident?”
She frowned. “Well, I simply attributed it to Denton’s drunkenness.”
“Then you don’t think it’s related to my father’s accidents?” She blinked. “I suppose it could be, it just never occurred to me.”
“You said Denton and Juliette fight a lot. Could that fall have been the result of one of their fights?”
She shook her head. “Doubtful. That would mean she left him there to die.”
“Perhaps that was her intent.”
She wasn’t surprised that his thoughts were taking that route. “You think she’s going for a tally? How many husbands she can get killed? Come now, that’s so far-fetched—”
“You don’t really want to know what I think, Maggie.”
She would have had to be dense not to realize the subject had just changed drastically again, and to one she didn’t want to discuss. His lowered tone suggested it. And his expression, for once not the least bit inscrutable, was far too intense as he stared at her, or more precisely, at her lips.
When he took a step toward her, she fairly jumped back from him. “I need to return to my vigil,” she said quickly.
“Stay put,” he warned.
Defying him, she took another step back. “Really, the doctor will be here soon—”
She didn’t get to finish, because he yanked her toward him. She glanced down at the hand that had pulled her forward. He’d grabbed a fistful of the pink lawn chemisette she wore under her low-cut dress, which added pleated ruffles to her neck and modestly filled in her bodice. It wasn’t the first time he’d done that.
Incredulously, she said, “You did it again! How dare you do that again! Five thousand pounds deducted from your fee for wrinkling my clothes. Now maybe you’ll keep your hands to yourself!”
His response was a kiss that wrinkled her toes instead. Margaret didn’t try to stop him, probably couldn’t have if she thought to. But she was too enthralled to do anything at that moment other than enjoy the sensations inspired by his lips and tongue.
Her teeth hadn’t clenched this time. His tongue moved into her mouth as if it belonged there. The fluttering was back in her stomach, too, and even her breasts tingled. A single pulse began to throb between her legs, almost frightening her, but it was so pleasant she didn’t know what to make of it.
She’d gripped his shoulders, was afraid she’d fall if she didn’t, her knees were so weak. But he was holding her firmly to him, both his arms wrapped around her back. And the feel of his big, hard, muscular body was so exciting...
“Are you going to deduct for that, too?” he suddenly asked. “Or maybe add the five thousand back on?”
She wasn’t a flirtatious sort, but she’d just been shocked— pleasantly—so she said something she wouldn’t ordinarily say. “Maybe I will add it back on. That kiss was rather nice. Would you mind doing it again?”
“Jesus, Maggie,” he almost growled before his mouth claimed hers again, ravaging her senses.
