in the prison of marriage.”
He could have left it at that. Upton was turning purple
again, and although Alex could sense Evelyn’s tension, she was a lady of rare
mettle and uttered no protest. But even if she said nothing, they both knew
that the mention of the brandy spelled trouble. Before Upton could burst a
blood vessel, Alex continued, “But perhaps if you would give me some time to
discuss this with Miss Wellington, we can come to a more amicable conclusion.”
“Evelyn has naught to do with this. This is a matter between
the two of us. Let her go on, and we will come to terms.” Regaining control of
himself, Upton directed a commanding look to his niece.
Unfortunately, she did not obey but stared at her uncle in
incredulity.
“On the contrary, Mr. Upton,” Alex intervened, “marriage has
everything to do with Miss Wellington and nothing to do with you. If you will leave us, please, we have a few matters to discuss.”
Patting a handkerchief to his moist brow and adjusting his
sliding wig, Upton came out from behind his desk grumbling. “This is
unheard-of. I ought to have you thrown in jail immediately. Evelyn, if you give
me any trouble over this, I’ll take a switch to you. You will accept his
proposal, and that’s an end to it.”
He waddled out, shutting the door hard in irritation.
Alex caught her by the waist before she could flee to the
other side of the room. He needed to be reminded that they were in this
together. Her startled look at his action reminded him of more interesting
things, like the decided kissability of that full mouth now frowning at him.
“Your face will freeze like that,” he scolded, before
bending to sample the sweet wine he had decided worth fighting for.
She tried to shove away, but Alex held her firmly. He cupped
the back of her head, while his lips sought hers, stifling her gasp. She almost
succumbed. He could sense her surrender, her eagerness. Before he could
persuade her to more, she turned her head away and shoved against his chest.
“Mr. Hampton, this is serious. Can you think of nothing but
your own pleasure?”
“Give me some credit, Miss Wellington.” Alex amused himself
by tracing the delicate outer shell of her ear. “I am thinking of your pleasure
too. I would hate to see you leg-shackled for life if you could not abide my
touch. I am a man who enjoys the physical pleasures in life. I just wish to
assure myself that you do not find me repulsive.”
She looked up in shock, then shoved from his grasp. Hands on
hips, she glared at him. “I’m glad you’re so nonchalant about this. I trust
that means you have some solution to our predicament? If my uncle looks for the
brandy in the warehouse, we will both spend time in jail.”
The color was back in her cheeks, and she looked more
herself now. Glancing down at the enticing swell of her breasts beneath the
respectable black-and-brown plaid of her bodice and imagining the length of
lovely leg hidden beneath her skirts, Alex wondered if he were making a mistake
in avoiding marriage. He could see coming home to the likes of that for many
nights to come, if only she would hold her tongue. He regretted that
impossibility.
“You have considered the danger you are in if your uncle
truly knows of the smuggling?”
“You say that as if he might be involved. That is ridiculous,”
she said with a dismissive gesture. “He’s a loyal officer of his majesty, sworn
to uphold the law, and proud of his position. He’s simply making trouble. It’s
not unusual.”
She said it bravely enough, but Alex heard the hint of doubt
in her voice. “Methinks the lady doth protest too much,” he answered cynically.
“You had better consider the possibility before we make any hasty decisions.”
“What is there to decide? Marriage is impossible, you know
that. Why can’t you just board the Minerva and sail away? He cannot stop
you.”
Alex had to admit that the rejection stung. He knew she was simply
getting
He could have left it at that. Upton was turning purple
again, and although Alex could sense Evelyn’s tension, she was a lady of rare
mettle and uttered no protest. But even if she said nothing, they both knew
that the mention of the brandy spelled trouble. Before Upton could burst a
blood vessel, Alex continued, “But perhaps if you would give me some time to
discuss this with Miss Wellington, we can come to a more amicable conclusion.”
“Evelyn has naught to do with this. This is a matter between
the two of us. Let her go on, and we will come to terms.” Regaining control of
himself, Upton directed a commanding look to his niece.
Unfortunately, she did not obey but stared at her uncle in
incredulity.
“On the contrary, Mr. Upton,” Alex intervened, “marriage has
everything to do with Miss Wellington and nothing to do with you. If you will leave us, please, we have a few matters to discuss.”
Patting a handkerchief to his moist brow and adjusting his
sliding wig, Upton came out from behind his desk grumbling. “This is
unheard-of. I ought to have you thrown in jail immediately. Evelyn, if you give
me any trouble over this, I’ll take a switch to you. You will accept his
proposal, and that’s an end to it.”
He waddled out, shutting the door hard in irritation.
Alex caught her by the waist before she could flee to the
other side of the room. He needed to be reminded that they were in this
together. Her startled look at his action reminded him of more interesting
things, like the decided kissability of that full mouth now frowning at him.
“Your face will freeze like that,” he scolded, before
bending to sample the sweet wine he had decided worth fighting for.
She tried to shove away, but Alex held her firmly. He cupped
the back of her head, while his lips sought hers, stifling her gasp. She almost
succumbed. He could sense her surrender, her eagerness. Before he could
persuade her to more, she turned her head away and shoved against his chest.
“Mr. Hampton, this is serious. Can you think of nothing but
your own pleasure?”
“Give me some credit, Miss Wellington.” Alex amused himself
by tracing the delicate outer shell of her ear. “I am thinking of your pleasure
too. I would hate to see you leg-shackled for life if you could not abide my
touch. I am a man who enjoys the physical pleasures in life. I just wish to
assure myself that you do not find me repulsive.”
She looked up in shock, then shoved from his grasp. Hands on
hips, she glared at him. “I’m glad you’re so nonchalant about this. I trust
that means you have some solution to our predicament? If my uncle looks for the
brandy in the warehouse, we will both spend time in jail.”
The color was back in her cheeks, and she looked more
herself now. Glancing down at the enticing swell of her breasts beneath the
respectable black-and-brown plaid of her bodice and imagining the length of
lovely leg hidden beneath her skirts, Alex wondered if he were making a mistake
in avoiding marriage. He could see coming home to the likes of that for many
nights to come, if only she would hold her tongue. He regretted that
impossibility.
“You have considered the danger you are in if your uncle
truly knows of the smuggling?”
“You say that as if he might be involved. That is ridiculous,”
she said with a dismissive gesture. “He’s a loyal officer of his majesty, sworn
to uphold the law, and proud of his position. He’s simply making trouble. It’s
not unusual.”
She said it bravely enough, but Alex heard the hint of doubt
in her voice. “Methinks the lady doth protest too much,” he answered cynically.
“You had better consider the possibility before we make any hasty decisions.”
“What is there to decide? Marriage is impossible, you know
that. Why can’t you just board the Minerva and sail away? He cannot stop
you.”
Alex had to admit that the rejection stung. He knew she was simply
getting
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