Page 59 of The Forbidden Lord

“My fist in your jaw,” Jordan ground out.

“Make that ‘twice threatened to trounce your closest friend.’ Do tell me what you’ve done with the real Earl of Blackmore.”

“Very amusing. As for trying to seduce her, any man with eyes would attempt it.”

“Ihaven’t.” Ian leaned forward. “Are you in love with her?”

“Good God, what a question.” He forced a cynical smile to his lips. “You can ask that of me? The man with the granite heart, as Pollock calls me?”

“Pollock is a mercenary masquerading as a romantic. You, however, are a romantic masquerading as a mercenary. You’re not invincible where women are concerned. Unless I miss my guess, you’re particularly vulnerable to Lady Emma.”

“Horrible thought. No, you’re wrong. This is lust, nothing more. It’ll pass.”

A voice played suddenly in his head.You desire me, that’s all … Yet you want me to trust you with my entire future! How dare you? You have no right to ask that of me, you … you bastard!

Devil take her! One thing had nothing to do with the other! He was an honorable man; he would help her if she’d only tell him the truth. He could be trusted. After their night in the carriage, she should know that.

Yes, of course—after you practically seduced her in the museum without stopping to think what it would do to her. And her so innocent that she didn’t even know she was still a virginwhen you were done mauling her, for God’s sake! I’m about as trustworthy as a snake.

All the same, he must help her. She was unhappy with this situation—any fool could see that. Somehow he must help her out of it.

“Merely lust, is it?” Ian said, breaking into his thoughts. “Then it must be difficult for you to be around this ‘acquaintance,’ since you’re too honorable to seduce an innocent without marrying her, and you have no interest in marriage.”

“You have no idea,” he muttered under his breath. That was precisely why he should keep his distance from her. Yet that was impossible under the circumstances.

He glanced out the window, relieved to see Ian’s town house up ahead. “Looks like we’re here, old friend. Will you be making the rounds of the balls tonight?”

Ian thankfully didn’t comment on Jordan’s abrupt change of subject. “I don’t know. What about you?”

“Perhaps.” If he asked Ian if he knew where Emily would be, the man would torment him mercilessly. “I haven’t made any plans.”

The carriage halted. “One word of advice. If you’re truly only interested in Lady Emma for her physical attractions, you should probably stay away from her.”

“Advice? That sounds more like a command to me.”

Ian climbed out and slammed the door. “Take it however you want, my friend.”

“I will.” Jordan pounded on the ceiling. “Home, Watkins!”

Stay away from her? The devil he would. As Watkins drove off, Jordan scowled blackly. Ian had always been gallant toward women, but this time he was treading dangerous ground. Emily wasnotIan’s concern. She was his, and his alone. And he would find out what the woman was up to if it killed him.

After several minutes of contemplation, Jordan concocted a plan. As soon as he arrived home, he strode inside, bellowing for Hargraves.

The butler appeared in a flash, running after him as Jordan hurried up two flights of stairs and into his study. “Yes, milord? What do you need?”

“Pack your bags, man. You’re taking a trip.” Jordan opened his safe and removed a fistful of pound notes.

Hargraves blinked a couple of times. “Now?”

“As soon as you can be ready.”

“Where am I going?”

“To Willow Crossing.”

The butler coughed discreetly as Jordan counted out the notes. “Er … isn’t that where Emily is from? The woman you think is masquerading as Lady Emma?”

“Not think. Know. She told me the truth herself today.”