Jordan, Nicole - Notorious 1 by The seduction

had failed her, leaving her upbringing to the tender mercies of servants. He intended to try to make up for the years of neglect. And he would do anything—anything—to help her recover from her paralyzing accident.
    Perhaps the lovely Lady Wyndham was right. Perhaps she might actually be able to help Olivia. And if she managed to salvage her reputation in the process, all the better. He couldn’t blame her for wishing to protect her sisters. If he were honest with himself, her willingness to shield her family, even at the cost of great personal sacrifice, was a prime reason he was drawn to her.
    “I suppose,” he said slowly, “that we could put it to the test. You could stay at Rosewood as companion to Olivia for a trial period, a week or two, perhaps. We can always change the arrangement if we find it doesn’t serve.”
    Vanessa let out the breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. If she could conceal a shameful liaison with Lord Sin behind the decorous guise of companion, she might at least retain a shred of reputation.
    “Naturally,” he added after a moment’s thought, “it would be best to conceal the fact that you’re Rutherford’s sister. Olivia most definitely doesn’t need to be reminded of him.”
    “Of course. But I doubt she knows of my relationship to him. Aubrey says they never discussed his family in any detail, and my married name is different from his. Some of your neighbors, however, might make the connection and tell her.”
    “They wouldn’t have the opportunity,” Sinclair responded. “Olivia is bedridden and refuses to receive anyone.”
    “Perhaps then you could simply say that as a widow of limited means, I’m required to seek a position.”
    She saw Sinclair glance at the ormolu clock on the mantel. “That reminds me
    I’m late for an appointment with the employment agency. They have several candidates for me to interview. I was about to set out when you arrived.”
    She eyed him with a frown. “I thought you said you had an appointment with your tailor.”
    “I prevaricated, I admit.”
    “Do you do that frequently?”
    He flashed a wry smile that was edged with effortless male charm. “I didn’t wish to tarnish your staunch opinion of me as a libertine.”
    Unwilling to let herself be charmed any further by this man, Vanessa realized it was time to take her leave. “Pray don’t let me keep you any longer then,” she said, rising to her feet.
    “I will ring for a servant to show you out,” he offered.
    “I can manage to show myself out, my lord.”
    “Under the circumstances, I think we may safely dispense with the titles, don’t you? My name is Damien.”
    “Very well
    Damien.”
    “I like the sound of that on your lips.”
    At his provocative tone, she sent him a sharp glance. He was deliberately reminding her of their recent intimacy.
    Vanessa gave herself a fierce mental shake, not wanting to remember the taste of his kiss or the sensation of his hot mouth on her breasts. Such lascivious behavior was so unlike her. She’d never been aroused by her husband, not once in their endless year of marriage. Carnal relations had been a duty, an extremely unpleasant one. And she felt sure she would find it just as unpleasant to surrender to a dissolute rake like Lord Sin, no matter how skilled he was at lovemaking and charming the fair sex.
    Her thoughts were thus preoccupied as she moved to fetch her pelisse, so that when he came up behind her, she flinched.
    “Easy, sweeting,” he murmured in a tone he might use to soothe a frightened mare.
    With great reluctance, she accepted his aid in donning her pelisse, and when he turned her to face him, resting his hands lightly on her shoulders, she stood tensely before him.
    She wanted to flee, to escape his overwhelming nearness, but he would not let her draw away. Instead he stood looking down at her, holding her captive with his penetrating gaze.
    “Be assured, I don’t intend to harm you, Vanessa,” he vowed softly. “I am merely going to seduce you.”
    Vanessa felt