Page 118 of Almost A Scoundrel

Still, he said, “I’m staying the night.”

“No, you’re not. I told you—”

“Yes, I know,” he cut her off. “You don’t want anything to do with me. I’ll leave you in peace once the threat has passed.”

“You truly believe that? It seems the threat will pass only when I have a husband.”

“I can be that too.”

“You are surely full of bright ideas tonight, aren’t you?”

“My only crime is not speaking up. You’re allowing your fears to rule your life.”

“Do not speak to me of fears when you have a daughter you lock away from the world because of yours.”

A short silence ensued, then, “I want her safe, you know that.”

Yes, she knew. The moment those words had left Phaedra’s lips, she’d regretted them. But it was still the truth. “And I want a future that’s not built on tricks and schemes, you know that.”

“Yes, I feel the sting of it in your words every time you speak,” he muttered in a low voice.

“Good,” Phaedra snapped. “Then I am getting my message across.”

He sighed but still bent to remove his boots.

“Deerhurst, I’m warning you... get in this bed and I will club you over the head with a...” she paused to look around for a weapon to wield. “A book.”

He paused. “You’re right. This is a bad idea.”

“Finally, you see the light.”

“You need to come with me. You’re not safe here.”

Her jaw went slack. “You are mad if you think I’m going anywhere with you.”

“Scared you won’t be able to resist me?” he challenged.

“On the contrary, I don’t trust your motivations.”

“My motivation has always been to protect you.”

“Well, what if I believe you would do anything to win my hand in marriage?”

“That’s absurd and you bloody well know it.” He moved to loom over her. “If I was prepared to do anything, Phaedra, you’d be wedded to me already. If you don’t trust in anything else, trust in that.”

Phaedra glared at the man, wanting to refute him. But she believed if he had wanted to force the issue, he could have done so after their first kiss. She missed him terribly. She hadn’t wanted to admit it, had fought for a week to ignore it, only for her heart to crack open the moment he appeared.

“I trust that you are a man.”

He chuckled. “Naturally.”

Phaedra gasped. “Are you mocking me?”

“No,” Deerhurst said. “I am challenging you to trust what you feel in your gut and not only what you can see, hear, and touch.”

She changed the subject. “What exactly is Cromby’s plan?”

“He wouldn’t say.”