Page 34 of The Rogue’s Offer

Gideon’s manner was oddly comforting, and she laughed softly. His sympathetic demeanor and genuine remorse eased some of her embarrassment. In a small way she was grateful the earl had revealed his knowledge of George’s depravity. A second later she realized that if Gideon knew of George’s depravity, then others in the Marlborough Set no doubt knew as well.

The thought she might be an object of pity was far worse than any humiliation George’s behavior had inflicted on her. Her mortification would only be amplified if Gideon were to learn of Edgar’s attempts to coerce her into a liaison in exchange for what was rightfully hers. It made her even more unwilling to reveal her limited funds didn’t allow her to stable a horse. She shook her head.

“I am sorry, but—”

“But you’ve already made a commitment to Gilchrist.” Gideon frowned with irritation, and she didn’t correct his assumption. “I’m beginning to think I might have a rival for your attention, my dear.”

“I’m certain you do not. I think Mathias would find marital bliss as confining as I do.”

“Very well, I’ll not press you on the matter any further, but I give you fair warning that I shall do my best to convince you that we would be good for one another.”

“And I shall remind you that it is unlikely I’ll change my mind.”

“Ah ha, you’ve now given me hope. You didn’t say you wouldn’t. You said unlikely, which means my chances of persuading you otherwise are not beyond the realm of possibility.” The cheerful grin on his features made her laugh. Perhaps he was right. Maybe they would be good for each other. She immediately rejected the idea. Marriage was out of the question for her.

“You’re quite incorrigible.”

“Indeed,” the earl said with satisfaction as he guided her back into the ballroom.

§ § §

Ophelia glanced at Mathias’s stoic expression as she accepted his hand and climbed into the carriage. He quickly followed her, closing the door behind him before tapping the roof of the vehicle signaling the driver to move on. The dimly lit interior of the small carriage made it difficult to see Mathias’s face, but his icy demeanor was almost tangible. Irritated by his behavior throughout the evening, she leaned forward so she could see his face clearly. His expression was impassive, but a fiery emotion flared in his green eyes before his gaze became as unreadable as his features.

“Was tonight a test of some sort, Mathias?” Her soft question made Mathias jerk slightly as he narrowed his eyes at her.

“A test?”

“Yes.” Ophelia tipped her head slightly in his direction. “Was I supposed to have spent the majority of the evening with you? Keep Chelmsford and others at a distance to encourage their efforts in seeking my attention?”

“No.”

It was a curt answer that said he wasn’t going to expand on his answer. Frustration made Ophelia frown in annoyance. She wasn’t sure if the man was being deliberately aggravating or if something else was bothering him. With a sigh, she leaned back into her seat. The silence in the carriage was becoming more oppressive by the second, and she realized she didn’t like arguing with him. Even though he could be infuriating at times, she enjoyed his company. Leaning forward once more, she brushed her fingers over the masculine hand resting on his knee. He immediately jerked at the light touch, but didn’t pull away.

“Please, Mathias. I don’t want to argue with you. You’re angry with me, and I would like to know why.”

“I am not angry.” Despite the quiet, emotionless reply, something in his eyes flared as his gaze met hers. What the devil was wrong with the man?

“I find that difficult to believe. You’ve been ill-humored ever since we sat down to dinner. In fact, you glared at me throughout the meal.”

“I didn’t glare, Ophelia. I simply watched you charm Chelmsford over dinner.”

“Isn’t that what you wanted me to do?” she exclaimed with exasperation. “Did you, or did you not, convince me to be tutored by you in the art of seducing a man?”

“Yes, and you are an excellent student.”

The soft, even reply held a note of hard steel. It was as if he were holding something back. Something he didn’t want her to see—to know. Frustrated by his cold, unresponsive manner, she eyed him with growing irritation. While his gaze remained unreadable, his mouth thinned slightly and the strong hand beneath hers stiffened with tension.

Blast the man. He’d commended her on being an excellent student, and yet she still felt as though she’d failed his expectations in some way. Ophelia ignored the voice nagging her to answer why Mathias’s approval was so important to her. Determined to end the discord between them, one idea after another fluttered through her head as she tried to think of a way to achieve her goal.

Each one was summarily discarded until the word honey popped into her head. Ophelia was certain he hadn’t meant the lesson to be used on him except as an exercise, but if she’d done something to anger him, she wanted to know so that she could make amends. A shiver streaked down her spine as she closed the distance between them even more. If she hadn’t been so close to him, she might have missed the almost indiscernible sound of him sucking in a quick breath.

“I don’t know why you’re upset with me, but I’m sorry for whatever my transgression is,” she whispered as she drank in the warm male scent of him.

The scent of pine and leather filled her senses, and she lightly touched his cheek with her hand. Beneath her fingertips his facial muscles twitched slightly. When he didn’t respond, she sighed and brushed her mouth across his cheek. There was the faint hint of stubble scraping across her lips. The tingling sensation created an image of him lying in bed, unshaven and with his hair tousled. Her breath caught in her throat at the picture flooding her head.

“I like the way you smell, Mathias,” she murmured. “It’s fresh and clean. Like a forest.”

She allowed her lips to nibble at his ear as she cupped his cheek with her hand. A soft noise rumbled low in his throat, and she relished the sound. Her mouth slid downward to trace the line of his jaw in a feather light caress. The moment her lips touched the corner of his mouth, she cupped his face with both her hands.