Page 35 of A Virgin for the Rakish Duke

“Yes, but you had wished to put them behind you. For the sake of your quest to prove yourself to your illustrious ancestors,” she murmured, pinching her brows.

“Ah, you heard that,” he said with a grimace. “I was concerned that you would fall asleep, never to awake.”

“S-so, you did not mean it?” she asked.

Jeremy thought about lying, claiming that he had been babbling, saying anything to keep her attention. Then he thought better of it.

“Yes, I meant it, and you are the only person in the world who knows of my arbitrary fear. I would now ask that you do not share it.”

He took her hands in his, holding her gaze in earnest. She nodded slowly.

“It is good to know something of what drives you. What makes you tick, as they say… You have been very close about yourself,” she whispered.

“I find trust hard to come by.”

“Thank you for trusting me, then.”

Now is the time to ask. To dispel any doubts I have about her. Ask if she is working with Simon Winchester to thwart me.

But what use would it be? She would not tell the truth if she were in league with him. It would be in her interests to lie in order to make the subterfuge work.

Harriet suddenly lifted her head and placed a delicate kiss on his cheek before falling back weakly. The touch jolted him. It was feather-light but heartfelt, lingering long enough to tell him that she meant it and had poured a considerable amount of gratitude into the gesture.

“That is for giving me a taste of freedom. I have never seen Hyde Park and am thrilled with my first sight of it. Oh, and this is for saving my life.”

She lifted her head again. Or tried to. She fell back, giggling adorably.

“I did not think so much strength was required to do something as simple as lifting one's head,” she chuckled.

“Then let me spare you the effort,” Jeremy said, softly.

He leaned over and kissed her on the lips.

“For Hyde Park, to which we will return,” he said after a breathless moment for them both. “And for saving your life.”

He kissed her again, deeper and longer. She held him tightly, one hand at the back of his head, the other slipping beneath his arm to hold his body against hers. The intensity of her embrace was alluring. The passion with which she returned his kiss fired his senses, inflamed him. He pressed her back into the cushioned embrace of the chaise on which she lay.

Beneath him, her body felt soft and supple. He supported himself on one arm, holding his weight above her but with enough contact between them that their bodies pressed together. Her hips shifted against his, producing a surge of intoxicating desire within him. She slipped an arm about his waist, pulling him closer.

He gasped as she nipped at his lower lip, holding it in her teeth, applying just enough pressure that he felt a stab of delicious pain before the bite became a suck. His lip was between hers. He could taste her and knew she was tasting him, savoring him.

Unbelievably, her hand stole down over his hip to momentarily squeeze his buttocks. It fled almost as soon as she had touched him, as though she had experienced a moment of daring before her courage failed her. Jeremy reciprocated, reaching up to caress her breasts and making her eyes widen. A shuffle from beyond the room brought them both to their senses. The doctor was outside, waiting for Jeremy.

“I had better see what the man wants,” he panted, jerking back.

Harriet was red-faced and breathless, the epitome of innocence and grace.

“We—we cannot do this,” she breathed. “We agreed not to. I am sorry. I was the one who initiated it.”

“No apology needed. I should have been strong enough to resist,” he shook his head, “we will make sure it does not happen again.”

But I want it to happen again. Don't I? Damnation, am I about to burn down the ambition of my life simply to bed a pretty woman?

He went to the door and left the room. In the passageway beyond, Doctor March was seated, smoking a pipe. He rose when Jeremy approached.

“Ah, Your Grace. I anticipated you might want some time with your betrothed after that ghastly accident, so allowed you thetime it would take me to smoke my pipe before I knocked on the door.”

“I thank you for the consideration. Did you wish to discuss your bill?” Jeremy asked.