“Your grace,” she hissed through her teeth. “People are beginning to stare.
Drew released her reluctantly and stepped back. Roslyn offered him a swift curtsy before turning away, a stiff smile pasted on her face that suggested she was struggling for the pretense of civility in front of their audience and trying to hide her eagerness to get away from him.
Drew’s brooding gaze followed her as she moved away through the crowd. He could still feel the lithe warmth of her body, could still feel his own arousal at her nearness. Could feel his temper heating anew.
Roslyn not only had ignored his provocative remarks, but had thrown her own back in his face, leaving him with the natural craving to pick up the gauntlet.
Drew swore a low oath under his breath. The turmoil inside him was only growing stronger.
What in blazes was he going to do about Roslyn Loring? She roused a heat in him, a hunger he’d never felt for any other woman. A hunger that was still un-sated.
The need to possess her gripped him like talons, along with the even greater need to mark her as his, to claim her before Haviland did.
Yet there was only one way he could have her, Drew reminded himself grimly. By making her his bride.
Was he prepared to take such a drastic step?
And if so, what would Roslyn herself have to say about it?
Her limbs still a little weak from her clash with the infuriating duke, Roslyn made the decision to leave the ball at once. She had accomplished what she intended. She’d danced with Lord Haviland and received an invitation to go driving with him tomorrow. There was nothing more to be gained by remaining.
And there was very good reason to escape-not the least of which was to regain command of her scattered wits. Every time she encountered Arden, he roused more turmoil in her.
How could she have allowed him to rile her into nearly making a scene with half the ton as witnesses, including Lord Haviland and his haughty relations? She had intended to ignore Arden’s very existence tonight. Instead she had let him provoke her into an unladylike altercation right there on the ballroom floor.
While it was true the duke could improve her consequence by showing her a measure of polite attention, any more intimate interest would only be detrimental. She couldn’t afford to give rise to gossip, not with the scandals attached to her family name. And if anyone discovered what had already passed between her and the duke, it might very well destroy any chance for her to win Haviland’s heart, not to mention a respectable proposal of marriage.
When Roslyn had retrieved her silk shawl and reticule from the Haviland butler, she made her way through the house to the rear terrace, where she was taken aback to find Arden waiting for her.
Coming to an abrupt halt, she stared at him in frustration. “What the devil are you doing here, your grace?”
He was leaning against the stone balustrade but pushed away when he saw her. “I thought you might decide to leave early.”
“So?”
“So I intend to accompany you home. With a highwayman at large, you should have the protection of an escort.”
His offering her protection was like a tiger offering to guard a lamb, Roslyn thought crossly. “Thank you, but I do not need your escort. I am just walking next door, and there are no highwaymen in the gardens.”
“Nevertheless, I don’t intend to let you go alone.”
There was a subtle challenge in his eyes that dared her to refuse him.
She gave in with a sigh. Arden fell in beside her as she descended the steps and set out across the estate grounds, easily matching his long stride to her shorter, more hurried one.
There was ample moonlight to see by, and the July evening held a welcome coolness after the warmth of the ballroom. In the distance, she could hear the rustle of water as the River Thames meandered its lazy path to London at the rear of the estate grounds.
Her unwanted escort remained silent as they traversed the gravel paths. Roslyn made for the side gate that offered entrance to the Danvers gardens. When Arden opened it for her and allowed her through, she wished he would leave her there. But he followed her inside and shut it behind him.
There were few lights on in the house, Roslyn saw, since most of the servants had already retired to bed.
When she reached a side door to the manor, she paused to say over her shoulder, “Thank you for your escort, your grace, but now you may return to the ball with a clear conscience.”
His voice, low and intent, came to her. “Roslyn…stay a moment.”
She turned reluctantly at his request. “Why?”
He didn’t answer for a long moment. He simply stared down at her, as if debating with himself.
Roslyn gazed up at him distractedly, wondering how she had managed to end up in a moonlit garden with Arden. She deplored the thrilling, edgy quiver of nerves that being alone with him in the dark engendered in her. She found her gaze dropping to his mouth, that firm sensuous mouth that could kiss so marvelously…
“I don’t want you driving out with Haviland tomorrow,” he finally said.
“Whyever not?”
“Because I don’t want you trying to seduce him when I intend to court you myself.”
Her gaze abruptly lifted to his, wide and disbelieving. “I beg your pardon? You intend to
“That is what I said.” There was a note of dry amusement in his voice, as if not even he could believe his declaration.
“Court me?” Roslyn repeated. “As in prelude to marriage? That makes no sense. You don’t want to marry anyone, you’ve said so in no uncertain terms.”
“So I did. But I have since changed my mind.”
“If you are making game of me-”
His mouth curled. “I would never jest about a subject so serious as matrimony. I must wed eventually, and you will do far better than anyone else.”
Shocked speechless, Roslyn stared at him, a dozen emotions warring inside her. The chief was disbelief, but that soon gave way to anger.
Arden must have seen her temper flare, for he grimaced. “I phrased my proposal rather boorishly. Let me try again. I would be honored for the privilege of making you my duchess, Miss Loring.”
She shook her head wildly. “You wouldn’t be honored in the least. And neither would I.”
“Don’t dismiss the idea out of hand-”
“Of course I will dismiss it! I told you I would never marry without love, and you don’t even believe in it.”
“I want the chance to change your mind. Love is vastly overrated, and in time, I can make you see it.”
The nerve of him, Roslyn thought furiously. Did he honestly believe she would give up her dreams just because a nobleman of his consequence deigned to propose to her?
“I have heard quite enough, your grace.”
She turned away, shaking, and made to enter the house, but Arden forestalled her by grasping her arm. When he spun her to face him, the air seemed to crackle all around them. Roslyn was suddenly very aware of the thrum of excitement pounding deep in her stomach.
She swallowed hard. “You have obviously taken leave of your senses.”
“Perhaps I have,” he muttered in a rough under voice.
“Well, I still have all of
“Because of this…”
His mouth came down hard to take possession of hers. Roslyn tried to get away, but his hand held her head still while his mouth slowly forced hers open, his tongue stabbing deep in a sensual assault that was dominating, possessive. The unexpectedness of it stole her breath and sent a surge of heat shuddering through her entire body.
Roslyn whimpered. She couldn’t resist the strong arms that crushed her to him. He ravished her mouth,
