Infamous by Virginia Henley

lord.” Though he suddenly found her nakedness highly inappropriate, he seemed unaware of his own.
    Silence stretched between them; he said sharply, “I’m waiting!”
    â€œIt’s a long story, my lord.”
    â€œWe have all night. I am not noted for my patience, but in your case, Lady Marjory, I will try to make an exception.”
    â€œPlease don’t call me that…My name is Jory.” The noise he made in his throat sounded like a growl. She took a deep breath and plunged in. “I am lady-in-waiting to Princess Joanna. I am also her confidante and friend. For months she has railed against this arranged marriage with Gilbert de Clare, but in the end her father’s wishes have prevailed and she has no choice but to wed a man who is thirty years her senior.”
    She watched the impatience mount on his face, but he held his tongue. “Now exactly the same thing will happen to me. The Earl of Surrey and my brother will arrange my marriage and I’ll have no say in the matter. I found out that they already received an offer, which they turned down, but others will follow. This large gathering of nobles provides a most timely opportunity to negotiate matrimonial matches.”
    â€œWho offered for you?” he demanded sharply.
    â€œLord Aylesbury, for his younger son.”
    Warwick’s brows drew together in outrage. “The son of a bitch should be hanged for his temerity!” He strode to the fire and gave it a vicious jab with the poker. “Go on,” he ordered.
    â€œMy friend Joanna suggested that before they arrange my marriage with someone I don’t want and bludgeon me into becoming a dutiful wife, I should choose a tempting young lord who would lure me to dalliance.” She sighed deeply. “I chose you.”
    â€œI am not young. I am thirty-four years old.”
    â€œTruly, my lord? Thirty-four seems a perfect age to me.”
    â€œIt’s not just my age. I am unsuitable in every way.”
    â€œUnsuitable for dalliance? You are quite wrong. You set my blood on fire and make me melt with longing.”
    Warwick flung down the poker with a sharp bark of laughter. He came and sat on the foot of the bed, his eyes filled with amusement. “What the hell am I going to do with you, Jory?”
    â€œI don’t know, my lord. I am very willful.”
    To say nothing of exquisitely beautiful, temptingly innocent, and infinitely fuckable. His cock stirred and he quickly covered it with the sheet.
    â€œYou said you wanted to keep me, that you wanted to take me back to Warwick with you.”
    â€œThat was before I realized you were a highborn noble lady.” The only way I could keep you would be to make you my wife, and marriage is anathema to me! “Jory, what do you know about me?”
    â€œI know that you are Guy de Beauchamp, the infamous Earl of Warwick, but I don’t know why you are infamous.”
    â€œAre you aware that I am a widower?”
    Jory shook her head.
    â€œAre you aware that I have a son the same age as the prince?”
    â€œA son?” she asked with wonder. “Is he here with you?”
    â€œNay. My son, Rickard, rode with me only as far as Hertfordshire. He has been invited to join Prince Edward’s household at King’s Langley.”
    Jory digested the information. Then she gave him a radiant smile. “I now know that you are thirty-four years old, you are the father of a son, and that you had a wife.”
    â€œTwo wives.”
    She stared at him; she knew there was more.
    â€œBoth died under suspicious circumstances. Dark whispers of murder have swirled about me for years. These rumors are what make me the infamous Earl of Warwick. I am beyond redemption.”
    â€œDo you deny the rumors, Guy de Beauchamp?” she whispered.
    He gazed at her for a full minute, his purpleblack eyes unreadable, and then he replied, “No, I do not deny them. Both deaths were