Her family couldn’t afford another scandal. She’d made a promise to her father not to bring any scandal to their name and now she’d failed him twice. There had to be a way out of this mess without creating a disaster for him and her family.
“I don’t think it will be,” she replied, brushing a tear from her cheek.
“Yes, it will.”
“No, Lady Aston will find us here together. She shall take great joy in telling my mother and then if Banning doesn’t call you out, he will force us to marry. The gossips will love this. First the accident and now I’m found in your arms.”
He caressed her hair. “Of all people, your brother certainly can’t talk about scandal. His wife created enough shame by compromising herself in front of a large group of people.”
Jennette nodded. “Which is why I hate this so much.”
His hand stopped its gentle movements. “Is it?”
She moved away from him and looked him in the eye. “What do you mean?”
“Is it really the scandal that is bothering you or the idea of marrying me that you hate?”
“What?”
“You didn’t wish to marry me before so I can only assume you would not want to marry me now.” He walked to the windows and looked down.
“I wouldn’t want to bring more dishonor upon your name, Matthew. Marrying me is only going to make things worse.” For both of them. Once she married him, her money was legally his. He could do anything he wished with it, including gambling it all away.
“I suppose you are correct.”
“Is there any way we can get out of here before someone comes?”
He turned and stared at her. His gray eyes burned through her, seeing into her soul.
“No,” he said. “There are no trees close enough to climb and the fall could kill us. It appears you’re stuck with me.”
She tried to suppress the leap her heart made with his words. If there was no other way out of this mess then she would have no choice but to marry him. Her conscience might allow that to pass, but the logical part of her mind knew better. He was a gambler, just like his brother and father. Marrying him would be a dreadful mistake she might regret for the rest of her life.
“I suppose I am.” She looked around the barren room. “How long do you think it will take someone to find us?”
“If it is Lady Aston, my guess is she would like us to be here for quite a while so she can gloat that we must have been doing something scandalous.”
Which, of course, they had. Jennette stood, covered herself with the blanket, and walked toward Matthew. He stood by the window, still staring at her.
“I’m so sorry, Matthew.” She reached up and combed his hair off his forehead. “It seems every time we are together I create a disaster for you.”
His lips tilted
up slightly. “Not all the time.”
“When haven’t I?”
He pulled her close and nipped her shoulder. “We seem to be all right when we’re in bed together.”
A thrill of excitement raced down her spine. “Oh?”
His lips moved up her neck to the sensitive lobe of her ear. “We definitely seem to manage just fine there.”
Her head rolled back allowing him more access to her neck. “I think you’re right.”
“Always,” he said, then picked her up and brought her to the bed.
Matthew rolled off Jennette and brought her to his chest. The silky texture of her raven hair tickled his shoulder. Hearing her labored breathing only made him smile. She was such a passionate woman. And yet, so fearful of scandal. He wanted to know everything about her.