Page 98 of The Art of Sinning

“You don’t know Mama very well if you think she’s giving up on her only son.”

The words drove an arrow through his heart. He dug his fingers into his arms, fighting the urge to run, hard and fast, away from the pain. He’d begun to realize that he couldn’t run far enough to escape it. “I can’t discuss this now, Amanda. Not here. But I will come first thing in the morning and speak to Mother, and we’ll settle the matter once and for all. All right?”

She stared at him warily. “Do youswearto come to London tomorrow?”

“Yes. You’ll see me as soon as I can get there in the morning.”

“I’ll hold you to it.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Now that I know our relations run an investigative concern, if you run away, I’ll hire them to find you wherever you go.”

He let out a long breath. He’d managed to postpone dealing with his family for another day, thank God. “I promise not to run this time.” But he would also not give in on the subject of returning.

He’d simply make that clear to Mother in a way she could finally accept.

Twenty-Four

It was well past noon by the time Yvette stood on the front steps with Edwin and Jeremy, watching as the visitors left. How had Jeremy managed to convince his sister to return to London without him? Whatever he’d said, when Miss Keane had walked out of Edwin’s study with her brother, she’d looked entirely different from when she’d gone in. Deflated. Worried.

Jeremy, meanwhile, had vanished behind a wall of wry remarks and teasing. Since his sister had only participated halfheartedly, he’d turned them on Yvette, who’d been in no mood to suffer them, either.

And now he apparently thought to go back to working on the portrait as if nothing had happened. No doubt he meant to spend hours giving her his smoldering looks and tempting her into thinking wicked thoughts. He expected to get her so eager for him that she would agree to anything he asked.

Not a chance.

The dratted devil wanted to marry her without making any effort at all. Without saying why he wished to or telling her he loved her or even explaining why he refused to return to America. And all because she’d fallen into his bed.

Well, she might have been deplorably easy to se­­duce, but he would soon find she wasn’t so easy to marry. Getting her assent would require more than kisses and facile flatteries. He would have to prove he actually cared about her. If he could.

“About your painting—” she began.

“Actually, I was thinking we might go for a walk,” Jeremy said. “It’s too lovely a day to be cooped up inside.”

She gaped at him. “I thought you wanted to finish the portrait.”

“We’ve got enough time for that later on. I feel the need for some exercise first. I’m sure you do, too.”

She didn’t know how to answer. They’d never been on a walk together. Strolling about the grounds sounded delicious.

So delicious that it raised her suspicions. Jeremy was proposing it precisely because he knew it would tempt her.

“I’d be delighted to go for a walk,” she said blithely. “And I’m sure Edwin could use one, too.”

When Jeremy glowered at her brother, Edwin blanched. “A walk? Why in God’s name would I go for a walk with the two of you?”

She looped her arm through Edwin’s. “As Mr. Keane says, it’s a lovely day. And I know how much you enjoy walking with companions.”

“No, I don’t,” Edwin protested. “Everyone moves too slowly and stops too often. I prefer a solitary walk. Youknowthat.”

Sometimes she could throttle her brother for his absolute inability to play along.

She frowned meaningfully at him. “But surely on a day like this...”

Edwin caught sight of her expression, and apparently the truthfinallydawned on him. “Ah, yes. A day like this. That... changes everything. So, I suppose we’re off for a walk.”

She shot Jeremy a triumphant smile. If he wanted her, he would have to work for it. And if he didn’t work for it, it would prove he didn’treallywant her as a wife.

“Let me just fetch my bonnet,” she said.

“No need for that,” Jeremy said. “I thought we’d merely tour your deer park, since I haven’t seen it.”