will not take me to your bed, nor will you take me by force. I will not be your mistress.’
‘You shall, Jane. I swear.’
It was a most arrogant declaration and too much to contemplate with all the emotions roilinginside her. She did not move, but Guy saw her face set in a dreadful silent stare and felt the shudder that went through her body as clearly as though she had been touching him instead of separated from him by a full two paces. ‘How will you do that? Will you
command
me, as is your right?’
‘No, Jane, I ask it. You seem distressed,’ he remarked, observing the tension in her face.
‘Distressed?’ she railed. Her colour mounted high in her cheeks and warmed her ears as her temper escalated to unparalleled heights. ‘I am anything but
distressed
, my lord! Can you not understand that I am furious?’
‘I understand
perfectly
,’ he said in a silky, courteous voice. ‘I can imagine that a young woman does not take a step like this without a little apprehension. But there is no need to get things out of proportion.’
He was obviously trying to reassure her, but he was mistaken if he thought he could do that—as mistaken as he was devious. ‘Out of proportion? You propose that I be your mistress and you have the audacity to say that
I
have got everything out of proportion!’ She spoke bitterly as the full force of what he expected of her hit her with all its humiliating clarity. ‘Itisn’t
your
reputation that will be slaughtered. It will be
mine
.’
The muscles in Guy’s jaw clenched tightly, banishing any trace of softness from his too-handsome face, and in a tone of calm finality he stated, ‘People will think whatever they want to think.’
‘Why?’ Jane cried passionately. ‘Is it because you want me, or to ensure that my father knows his place—to affirm your lordship’s power over your serfs? What do you expect of me? Do you suppose that I will fulfil such a bargain? For whatever reason, there is no justifying this. You are a conniving, black-hearted scoundrel. It is dishonourable behaviour and absolutely unacceptable and an outrage. I will not be used in this way. I am disgusted by your monstrous egotism your actions have revealed.’
It gave Jane a kind of awful joy to hurl the innermost feelings of her heart in wild confusion at the feet of this unfeeling man. If he were to flay her alive, he could not hurt her more than he had done already.
One sardonic brow lifted over mocking blue eyes. ‘I mean to have you, Jane.’
‘How? Will you rape me? For that is the only way you will have me—and I will fight you all the way. You can count on that,
my lord
. I findit insulting to me and dishonourable of you. I had not expected you to stake your claim on me quite so callously. By your actions, were I to do as you ask, the shame and humiliation heaped not only on me, but Richard and my family also, would be complete. Your arrogance is unbelievable! I don’t know why you are doing this, but whatever the reason it matters little to me whether you are known henceforth as the least honourable lord in Christendom.’
Guy stepped close—and Jane retreated from those suddenly fierce eyes. ‘It was never my intention to insult you—your future
husband
is another matter.’
‘My feelings for Richard are my concern,’ she said tonelessly. ‘I cannot—no, I
will
not be your lover or anything else. What you ask of me is a grave sin. I will not shamelessly dishonour Richard or my parents.’
‘I believe your father and I could come to an understanding.’
The bright hue of Jane’s cheeks and the flashing of her eyes gave evidence to the effect of his savage, cutting words. ‘You beast,’ she hissed. ‘Am I a serf to be sold or bartered at will? You are frivolous when there is nothing to be lost for you. You would take me for your own pleasure and afterwards you couldjust as well flee and leave me big with child.’ She tossed her head angrily. ‘You are just like all
‘You shall, Jane. I swear.’
It was a most arrogant declaration and too much to contemplate with all the emotions roilinginside her. She did not move, but Guy saw her face set in a dreadful silent stare and felt the shudder that went through her body as clearly as though she had been touching him instead of separated from him by a full two paces. ‘How will you do that? Will you
command
me, as is your right?’
‘No, Jane, I ask it. You seem distressed,’ he remarked, observing the tension in her face.
‘Distressed?’ she railed. Her colour mounted high in her cheeks and warmed her ears as her temper escalated to unparalleled heights. ‘I am anything but
distressed
, my lord! Can you not understand that I am furious?’
‘I understand
perfectly
,’ he said in a silky, courteous voice. ‘I can imagine that a young woman does not take a step like this without a little apprehension. But there is no need to get things out of proportion.’
He was obviously trying to reassure her, but he was mistaken if he thought he could do that—as mistaken as he was devious. ‘Out of proportion? You propose that I be your mistress and you have the audacity to say that
I
have got everything out of proportion!’ She spoke bitterly as the full force of what he expected of her hit her with all its humiliating clarity. ‘Itisn’t
your
reputation that will be slaughtered. It will be
mine
.’
The muscles in Guy’s jaw clenched tightly, banishing any trace of softness from his too-handsome face, and in a tone of calm finality he stated, ‘People will think whatever they want to think.’
‘Why?’ Jane cried passionately. ‘Is it because you want me, or to ensure that my father knows his place—to affirm your lordship’s power over your serfs? What do you expect of me? Do you suppose that I will fulfil such a bargain? For whatever reason, there is no justifying this. You are a conniving, black-hearted scoundrel. It is dishonourable behaviour and absolutely unacceptable and an outrage. I will not be used in this way. I am disgusted by your monstrous egotism your actions have revealed.’
It gave Jane a kind of awful joy to hurl the innermost feelings of her heart in wild confusion at the feet of this unfeeling man. If he were to flay her alive, he could not hurt her more than he had done already.
One sardonic brow lifted over mocking blue eyes. ‘I mean to have you, Jane.’
‘How? Will you rape me? For that is the only way you will have me—and I will fight you all the way. You can count on that,
my lord
. I findit insulting to me and dishonourable of you. I had not expected you to stake your claim on me quite so callously. By your actions, were I to do as you ask, the shame and humiliation heaped not only on me, but Richard and my family also, would be complete. Your arrogance is unbelievable! I don’t know why you are doing this, but whatever the reason it matters little to me whether you are known henceforth as the least honourable lord in Christendom.’
Guy stepped close—and Jane retreated from those suddenly fierce eyes. ‘It was never my intention to insult you—your future
husband
is another matter.’
‘My feelings for Richard are my concern,’ she said tonelessly. ‘I cannot—no, I
will
not be your lover or anything else. What you ask of me is a grave sin. I will not shamelessly dishonour Richard or my parents.’
‘I believe your father and I could come to an understanding.’
The bright hue of Jane’s cheeks and the flashing of her eyes gave evidence to the effect of his savage, cutting words. ‘You beast,’ she hissed. ‘Am I a serf to be sold or bartered at will? You are frivolous when there is nothing to be lost for you. You would take me for your own pleasure and afterwards you couldjust as well flee and leave me big with child.’ She tossed her head angrily. ‘You are just like all
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