Chapter12
Drew was beyond upset as he left his mount behind with an urchin to hold in Hyde Park. He was angry, more than he had been in some time. He stomped through Hyde Park, eager to reach the woman who’d apparently decided to spurn him this past week without offering an explanation.
Aurora Hillcrest had disappeared from society without telling him she was otherwise occupied, and by doing so, effectively putting an end to their mutually satisfying affair. With no appearance of consideration for his feelings, she had abandoned him completely.
He’d no idea what had caused her abrupt decision, but he intended to find out. Today. If not for his oft-stated intentions to marry her, and the time they’d spent alone together, he might think she didn’t care about him at all. But she surely must.
They had become so close in those stolen moments of shared intimacy. He would not believe he’d done anything wrong this time.
Seeing her on the arm of some strange man now, smiling up at him, made him see red.
Anger was a rare condition for him when it came to ladies he loved. He’d only been this angry once before, in fact. He’d been furious the day his wife had died, and taken their son with her. Not that it had been Clare’s decision to die, of course. He’d railed at the sky, at anyone who had tried to comfort him. He’d fumed, impotent to change fate that had left him alone and lonely for his family.
Today, he could at least vent his spleen at the one person responsible for causing his heartache in person. She was almost in arm’s reach.
Three strides.
Two.
One.
He reached out and spun Aurora about to face him by the shoulder, ignoring the squark of alarm from the ridiculous young gentleman at her side.
Aurora seemed so genuinely startled to see him towering over her in a rage that he worked to rein in his temper.
“What are you doing here?” she managed to say—before he threw away the rule book and kissed her soundly, right there in Hyde Park where anyone might see.
He did not hurry the kiss, releasing a week and more of pent-up frustration over her unannounced departure from his life.
As had happened on every encounter before, Aurora’s response was immediate and just as passionate as his own. She wrapped her arms about his neck and seemed keen to climb into his arms. But as much as he wanted to hold her, he couldn’t, and let her go.
But when they parted, they were both panting and trembling with lust for each other.
She pushed at his chest weakly, but Drew held his ground. “What the devil are you doing here?”
“Excuse me,” she replied haughtily, before turning away to smile contritely at her other suitor and apologized. “I am sorry you had to see that. Lord Sullivan is an old friend, albeit misguided about propriety. Let’s move away from him so we might continue our discussion.”
“The hell you will,” he bit out.
He was her suitor whether she liked it or not.
The other fellow took a step back, eyeing him with alarm. “I don’t want any trouble, my lord.”
“Then I strongly suggest you be on your way,” he said in the deadliest tone he could manage. “Miss Hillcrest and I have unfinished business.”
The fellow wisely fled.
Drew turned Aurora back around to face him, glaring.
“How dare you interfere—”
“You cannot think to replace me with that…boy,” he complained, waving at the retreating figure. He was not leaving her side again until the matter between them had been settled to his satisfaction.
“Of course, I have to replace you,” she said firmly, planting her hands on her hips.
Hips that had been his to hold as they made love. “Surely not. You and I—”
She cut him off, her stare angry and defiant. “You are not my client anymore, and so I must find someone else.”