A Kiss of Lies by Bronwen Evans Page A

her rash compliment send heat flooding across hercheeks. She set her glass on the table, her hand shaking under his intense stare. She breathed a sigh of relief when he said simply, “Thank you.”
    They ate in silence for a time before he spoke again. “How is it that you have heard of the Libertine Scholars?”
    Again Sarah reminded herself that the secret to lying was to stick as close to the truth as possible. “I heard about it from Lady Serena, of course.”
    His brows furrowed. “I don’t believe I was ever formally introduced to her.”
    “Oh, you have never met her.”
    His lips pressed into a thin line, and he attacked his food vigorously with his knife. “So she simply listened to gossip.”
    “Partly, I would say. She used to watch you from afar. You were intimidating back then.”
    He almost choked on his food. “Intimidating?”
    “In uniform you could be, well, quite overwhelming. The first night she saw you, I thought she was going to faint.”
    “Now you’re being ridiculous.” A blush covered his fine cheekbones.
    Sarah laughed. “I’m not. She—we—were fifteen and we watched you from where we were hiding in the eaves at one of her father’s balls.” She gave an exaggerated sigh and fanned her face. “You looked very handsome in your brilliant red and white uniform.”
    Laughter crept back into his eyes. “You have a better memory than I. I can’t remember the event.”
    She teased him further. “Surely you can remember having to spend the night avoiding the Duke’s mistress, Lady Campbell. You went up in Serena’s estimation when you made it quite clear to her you were not interested.” Sarah shook her head. “The way Lady Campbell intimately touched you … I, that is, Serena, wanted to scratch her eyes out.”
    Christian threw back his head and laughed. “Ah, now I do remember that night. She was like a mare in heat, after any stallion she could find to service her.”
    “After Serena was introduced to society, she kept hoping to meet you at an event, but alas, it was never to be. She then followed your accomplishments on the battlefield and prayed every night that you’d return unhurt.”
    His smile faded, and his eyes lost their sparkle. “She didn’t pray hard enough.”
    She took a gulp of her wine. “She was gone before you returned home.” She tried not tolet the tears well up.
    “Gone? She died?” At Sarah’s silence he said softly, “How dreadful.” He reached across and stroked her arm lightly with his fingers. “I’m sorry. It’s devilishly hard, losing a close friend.”
    A wave of feminine awareness washed over her. Was he offering comfort or something else? The label “devilish” was correct. Her eyes narrowed—his touch was the kind of caress a man might use to seduce a woman.
    And she was tempted to let him.
    However, in her situation, that was not a good idea. If she was dismissed, where would she go? She reached for her wine so as to move her arm out of his reach. “I’ve asked Mrs. Hobson to make up a bottle of ginger syrup for seasickness. Lily says she’s never been on a ship before. I thought it best to be prepared.”
    He withdrew his hand and played with his napkin. “Lady Serena’s death makes you uncomfortable. I’m sorry to have brought it up, but there is no need to remind me of your position in this household.”
    His deep green eyes held hers, a challenge flashing in their depths. He was daring her to stay and see where this led. This was an invitation she could so very easily accept.
    “Perhaps you feel there is no need, but propriety requires me to say that yes, there is a need. Anything else would not be proper.”
    Christian hated the rush of disappointment assailing him. Still, it was only day one. He had a whole voyage to work his long underused, but not forgotten, charms. He might not have a beautiful face anymore, but he still had a brain. His tongue was an equally compelling weapon.
    Besides, he knew her weakness.