in so ill a temper? I have not finished my explanation. Kindly bear the manners to hear me finish it, madam,” he insisted, standing to arrange my pillows behind me for optimum comfort.
“It is not guilt that motivates me. I genuinely desire to keep you safe. I admire your courage and your fortitude. That night at the Viscount’s home, you . . .” he trailed off and sat back down on the bed. He folded his arms and for a moment glanced away. It appeared I was not the only one in the room who found it difficult to talk about the intimacy we had shared in front of strangers at the Viscount’s abode.
“I want to leave,” I said. I could bear no more. “I can’t believe my aunt would have allowed you to simply take me from my home. She is a fierce woman and likes her family to be around her.”
“Yes, I received that impression very strongly. She likes to control you. Your aunt was very reluctant to believe Lord Grange was a criminal. I am sorry, Lady Gerard, but I had no option than to abduct you from your bed while you were unconscious. Accompanied by the physician, I brought you here. Until these men are rounded up and dealt with by the court, you must be kept safe.”
I forgot my injury and sat bolt upright in the bed.
“Are you to feel no shame for kidnapping me after the way I was so cruelly abducted and bound by Lord Grange? You clearly mean to do the same to me.”
I sat firm and stubborn, refusing to allow him to help me back against the comfort of the pillows.
“Lady Gerard, if you do not sit back and rest, I swear you will vex me enough to spank your bare bottom soundly,” he informed me with a dark look, giving me no doubt he had every intention of carrying out his threat.”
“How dare you. Just like you did in front of the Viscount and his men. You will not,” I said with sarcasm, truly believing myself safe. “I mean to quit this house and make my way back home alone. I do not wish to be under the power of any other man for reasons of safety or otherwise. You are a rake, sir, and I will not stand your presence around me any longer.”
“I do not regret spanking you so publicly at the Viscount’s home. Your conduct in aligning yourself with a cad like Lord Grange in the first place more than warranted the application of discipline. I did not wish to manipulate you to orgasm in front of the men. I prefer to make love to a woman privately. My actions were to protect you, however strange they appeared. If I had not continued to treat you as a bride for sale who required examination and assessment, the Viscount would have harmed you, and if you caused him enough trouble, he would have killed you without hesitation. Examining you to prove you were a virgin and palpable to sexual arousal intrigued him and kept you safe. It also helped to protect the other women held captive until help arrived. I would do it all again. I do not regret having the pleasure of making love to you such as it was. It was a delight and I will not be sorry for it. Your reputation is secured because I mean to marry you. I owe you the debt of binding you to me as my wife.”
His manner was aloof and cold, his words direct and designed to give me no choice in the matter. I stared at him with such anger. I was merely to become his wife for saving his life and for the way he had made love to me. I was not to be married for love. I would not have it.
I am afraid my temper was to out rule my common sense. I reached out my hand and slapped the man hard across the face for his insolence, verbal mistreatment of my feelings and his brash disregard for my right to make my own decisions.
A thunderous look crossed Lord Drake’s face.
“You have a temper that must be tamed. You do not see when others seek to help you,” he told me harshly. “You are a danger to yourself, Lady Gerard. You will remain in this house, a captive if necessary, locked in your
“It is not guilt that motivates me. I genuinely desire to keep you safe. I admire your courage and your fortitude. That night at the Viscount’s home, you . . .” he trailed off and sat back down on the bed. He folded his arms and for a moment glanced away. It appeared I was not the only one in the room who found it difficult to talk about the intimacy we had shared in front of strangers at the Viscount’s abode.
“I want to leave,” I said. I could bear no more. “I can’t believe my aunt would have allowed you to simply take me from my home. She is a fierce woman and likes her family to be around her.”
“Yes, I received that impression very strongly. She likes to control you. Your aunt was very reluctant to believe Lord Grange was a criminal. I am sorry, Lady Gerard, but I had no option than to abduct you from your bed while you were unconscious. Accompanied by the physician, I brought you here. Until these men are rounded up and dealt with by the court, you must be kept safe.”
I forgot my injury and sat bolt upright in the bed.
“Are you to feel no shame for kidnapping me after the way I was so cruelly abducted and bound by Lord Grange? You clearly mean to do the same to me.”
I sat firm and stubborn, refusing to allow him to help me back against the comfort of the pillows.
“Lady Gerard, if you do not sit back and rest, I swear you will vex me enough to spank your bare bottom soundly,” he informed me with a dark look, giving me no doubt he had every intention of carrying out his threat.”
“How dare you. Just like you did in front of the Viscount and his men. You will not,” I said with sarcasm, truly believing myself safe. “I mean to quit this house and make my way back home alone. I do not wish to be under the power of any other man for reasons of safety or otherwise. You are a rake, sir, and I will not stand your presence around me any longer.”
“I do not regret spanking you so publicly at the Viscount’s home. Your conduct in aligning yourself with a cad like Lord Grange in the first place more than warranted the application of discipline. I did not wish to manipulate you to orgasm in front of the men. I prefer to make love to a woman privately. My actions were to protect you, however strange they appeared. If I had not continued to treat you as a bride for sale who required examination and assessment, the Viscount would have harmed you, and if you caused him enough trouble, he would have killed you without hesitation. Examining you to prove you were a virgin and palpable to sexual arousal intrigued him and kept you safe. It also helped to protect the other women held captive until help arrived. I would do it all again. I do not regret having the pleasure of making love to you such as it was. It was a delight and I will not be sorry for it. Your reputation is secured because I mean to marry you. I owe you the debt of binding you to me as my wife.”
His manner was aloof and cold, his words direct and designed to give me no choice in the matter. I stared at him with such anger. I was merely to become his wife for saving his life and for the way he had made love to me. I was not to be married for love. I would not have it.
I am afraid my temper was to out rule my common sense. I reached out my hand and slapped the man hard across the face for his insolence, verbal mistreatment of my feelings and his brash disregard for my right to make my own decisions.
A thunderous look crossed Lord Drake’s face.
“You have a temper that must be tamed. You do not see when others seek to help you,” he told me harshly. “You are a danger to yourself, Lady Gerard. You will remain in this house, a captive if necessary, locked in your
Similar Books
