Disgrace and Desire by Sarah Mallory

Strong hands reached out and grabbed her, preventing her from falling.
    ‘Easy, my lady. There is no need to be afraid.’
    Recognising Jack Clifton’s deep warm voice did nothing to calm her. The noise coming from the open windows above was such that she felt sure no one had heard her scream and no one would hear her now, if she called out for assistance. Fighting down her panic, she shrugged off his hands.
    ‘You persist in tormenting me,’ she said in a low, shaking voice.
    She heard him laugh and gritted her teeth against her anger.
    ‘You wrong me, madam. I saw you slip away, so I came outside to wait for you. I thought, perhaps, when you came back from your assignation, I might speak with you.’ His teeth gleamed in the dim light. ‘I did not expect you to return as if the hounds of hell were snapping at your heels.’
    She peered at him, trying to read his face, but it was impossible in the gloom.
    ‘You know why I went into the garden?’
    She sensed rather than saw him shrug.
    ‘I presumed it was to meet a gentleman.’ On this occasion his opinion of her character did not arouse her anger. ‘So now will you accept an apology for my behaviour this morning, madam?’
    She said cautiously, ‘I might do so.’
    ‘Then I humbly beg your pardon. My conduct was not that of a gentleman.’
    He was so close, so reassuringly solid, but could she trust him? She glanced nervously over her shoulder. If Major Clifton had not sent her that note, then who could it be? She looked up at him. ‘Did you see anyone else in the gardens, Major?’
    ‘No. What is it, Lady Allyngham, did not your lover keep the assignation?’
    His coldly mocking tone banished all thoughts of seeking his help. She gave a little hiss of anger.
    ‘You are quite despicable!’
    ‘And you are hiding something.’
    She drew herself up.
    ‘That,’ she said icily, ‘is none of your business!’
    Jack did not move as the lady turned and ran quickly up the steps and into the house. There was a mystery here: shehad seemed genuinely frightened when she came running up to him. If it had been any other woman he would have done his best to reassure her, but Lady Allyngham had made it abundantly clear what she thought of him. And she could take care of herself, could she not? He thought back to that morning, when he had held her in his arms before she wrathfully fought him off. He toyed with the idea of following her and persuading her to confide in him. Then he shrugged. As the lady had said, it was none of his business.
    Jack decided to leave. He had come to Clevedon House in search of Lady Allyngham, determined to deliver his apology and he had done so. There was now no reason for him to stay: he took no pleasure in being part of the laughing, chattering crush of guests gathered in the elegant salon. A discreet enquiry at the door elicited the information that Lady Allyngham had already departed and since there was no other amusement to be had, he made his way directly to his rooms in King Street. He decided not to call in at White’s. He had business to conclude in the morning and needed to have a clear head. After that, he thought, he would be glad to quit London and forget the bewitching, contradictory Lady Allyngham.

Chapter Three
    T he following morning Jack took a cab into the City. His first meeting with his lawyer had convinced him that he was right to sell out and take charge of his inheritance, or what was left of it. Now he quickly scanned the papers that were put before him.
    ‘Once the property in Leicestershire is sold that will give me capital to invest in the Staffordshire estates,’ he decided.
    His lawyer’s brows went up.
    ‘The Leicestershire estate was your father’s pride and joy: he always said the hunting there was second to none.’
    ‘I shall have precious little time for hunting for the next few years,’ muttered Jack, looking at the figures the lawyer had written out for him. He pushed the papers back across the