When he put both hands on her shoulders, her attempts to twist out of his grip were so genuine he did in fact believe she meant to follow through on complete resistance. It made him all the more determined to persuade her otherwise.
“I already know I have enemies, so that’s nothing new.” He did not believe she had any real information but he was happy to humor her. “Ah, here is our champagne. Pray, be seated, dear Harriet, so you can furnish me with all the details your investigations have revealed.”
He waved her to a chair, hiding his amusement at her narrow-eyed look as he indicated to the servant to pour two coupes of champagne.
“I find your excessive gallantry cloying. Your brutish vulgarity was almost preferable, sir.”
“Is there no pleasing you?” he lamented with false despair as he took a seat facing her. He raised his glass. “To the satisfactory execution of whatever business propelled you here, my dear.”
She took a sip, eyeing him suspiciously over the rim. “I don’t know what that’s supposed to mean.” Coughing a little as the bubbles apparently tickled her nose, she added, “However I can assure you my intentions went no further than wishing to advise you of matters pertaining to your safety.”
“Ah yes! Where were we in terms of this vile conspiracy against me that you fortuitously overheard? We are taking a very long time to get to the point.”
“If you’re not going to take me seriously, I might as well go now, sir.”
“Oh, I take you very seriously, my dear.” He allowed himself a wolfish smile as he raked her body with a slow, lascivious gaze. He was rather enjoying this game. “Indeed, if it can be proved that you have in fact saved me from whatever terrible threats hang over my head, I shall reward you handsomely.”
“I don’t want money.”
He chuckled. “You’re just here for the pleasure of my company. Of course, my dear.”
She shrugged, putting down her empty glass with rather unsteady hands. “Would that surprise you?”
“Girls in your situation need to be strategic, I understand that, and I do not condemn you for it. We must barter what we have for what we want. You, no doubt, are looking for a rich and well-connected benefactor—and if you were clever enough, a title—meaning I would be just the ticket, wouldn’t I?”
She tossed her head, though he saw her stifle a smile. “I could do better than you if I were patient enough.”
“Oh, I’ll not gainsay that, my dear.” He stood up and moved ‘round to stand at her shoulder, lowering his head to kiss her neck as he refilled her glass. “You could do a lot better than me.” He handed her the fizzing liquid. “I am not a man to whom a lady should ally herself if she has other options, for I shall retire the moment I am bored. If there is any possibility that your heart might get broken then I suggest you leave right now.”
The dismay he read in her expression when she raised her head pleased him, for he fancied she was not playacting now. “Or rather, once our pleasant little session is over, for I confess I am rather looking forward to divesting you of your stockings and running my hands over your nicely turned limbs. You were well advised to delay proceedings so I might enjoy the pleasure of your diverting little mind. It’s been quite a novelty. Now, come here and sit on my lap so that I might hear more about the danger I’m in.”
She bit her lip and frowned. “I dare not, sir.”
“You dare not?” he asked, resting his chin upon the nut-brown curls that cascaded from the top of her head. “That is what brought you here, is it not?” He dipped one hand into her bodice to toy with her small nipple. It hardened immediately. “What is it this time?”
Hergasp reverberated through him. “You will ruin me.”
“Perhaps…if a child results.” He kissed her earlobe before taking the little shell into his mouth. Her trembling increased. She was enjoying this, he could tell, and he didn’t believe it was an act. “My dear, I am assiduous in employing means to prevent conception. I desire a child as little as you. You have my word that if such an accident were to happen I would hold myself responsible for the consequences—if it could be proved the bastard were mine.”
Instead of rearing up indignantly at this, she said, softly, “I do not intend to give myself to anyone other than you, sir.”
He felt rather pleased with himself. After an uncertain start he’d lulled her into an almost somnolent state. Once again he’d proved his prowess with the female species. He was looking forward to what the next hour would bring, more than he usually did.
Trying not to squirm too much on her little gilt chair, her hands clasped demurely in her lap, Hetty shivered as he stalked a
round to face her. In her experience of men, Araminta was the one to garner the kind of fascinated interest she was now enjoying.
Enjoying? If she was honest with herself, this was one of the highlights of her life. A handsome, desirable man was sizing her up and clearly did not find her wanting.
Common sense faded in and out between thrills of excitement. Three times at least during this exchange she’d been on the verge of bolting.
Now, once again, she was watching him advance like the predator he was and her mind was whirling. Would she allow him to have his wicked way with her all over again?
If she stayed she was courting ruin. Yet what difference did it make since she was, to all intents and purposes, ruined already?
Hetty was a romantic by heart, but nevertheless, a practical girl. It was perfectly possible she might never marry. Not with Araminta perpetually throwing her into the shade. What gentleman would marry Hetty when he’d forever be comparing the sisters and secretly acknowledging he got the plain and dumpy one? Well, there was Mr. Woking, but didn’t that just highlight her point?
If she had to choose, she’d rather risk hell in the afterlife by taking her pleasures with this wicked, handsome rake than endure a dubiously rewarded life of virtue on earth, sharing a marriage bed with Mr. Woking. She didn’t think she had the fortitude for that kind of life sentence. If he had bad breath, she knew with almost absolute certainty he must snore.