Lady Alexandra's Lover (Sex and the Season #3) - Helen Hardt Page 0,60

my touch. “I do enjoy it when you kiss me, my lady. And…I do not think…I want to leave.”

“Do you find Monsieur Bertrand pleasing to the eye?”

She smiled shyly. “Oh, yes, my lady. He is quite handsome, indeed.”

“I can assure you he looks even better without his garments. Now, would you please help me undress him?”

Hattie ran her tongue over her lower lip. “Yes, my lady.”

Chapter 16

Ally trembled as Evan rose from the bed, fire in his eyes.

“I confess my undying love for you, and you tell me you’re going to marry another man?”

Ally gulped. “Well, I must marry Mr. Landon. He has compromised me. You witnessed it, and so did several others once you punched him.” Her voice shook.

“I compromised you long before that rogue Landon ever laid a hand on you.”

“And what if you didn’t?” Ally said hotly. “What if you were not my first? Perhaps Mr. Landon was.”

His face reddened and his nostrils flared. “How dare you? I know you were a virgin when I took you. I’ve been around the block enough times to know when I’m deflowering a woman. And you told me last night that he hadn’t touched your breasts. Were you lying to me?”

Ally bit her lower lip. “No,” she said shakily.

“You told me you love me.”

She nodded. She could not lie to him about that. “I… I do love you, Evan.” And she did. It had come to her last night, as Mr. Landon’s lips hovered over her breast. She didn’t want him to touch her. She didn’t want anyone touching her but Evan. He invaded her thoughts night and day. She loved him. She could no longer deny it. She no longer wanted to.

She longed to be with him, but she’d made a promise to herself long ago. She would marry for money and nothing else. She had to make sure she, her sister, and her mother were taken care of. Mr. Landon could make that happen.

As much as she loved Evan, he was still a second son—a son with no inheritance. Sophie would say that didn’t matter. No, it shouldn’t, but Ally had gone without for long enough. She wouldn’t risk ending up with nothing. And she would never be a burden on another person, especially not Evan. When Father had died, she, Mother, and Sophie had been supported by Lily and Rose’s parents, the Earl and Countess of Ashford. The Countess was Mama’s younger sister.

Ally had hated being a burden. She would not do it again, and certainly not to someone she loved.

Evan’s eyes still glared, but something new and hollow had invaded them. Sadness?

“You love me, yet you’d marry someone else?”

“You don’t understand—”

He grabbed her wrist. “I understand perfectly. You’re lying to me. You don’t love me.”

“No.” She vehemently shook her head. “I’m not. I would never lie about something like that.”

“But you’d lie about something else? About what then?”

“No, no, no.” That had come out all wrong. “I… I have a plan. I’ve had it in the works for months, and I—” Fear slammed into her when she recalled the ominous note she’d received earlier. It could have two distinct meanings, and she knew not to which it referred. “You don’t want to marry me anyway. I’m not…good enough for you.”

She was right about that. All she’d been through… She was damaged. Part of her head might never be right due to the abuse she’d suffered. She still had nightmares, the horrid dreams she’d probably never shake.

“Not good enough! What the fuck do you mean by that?”

She shook her head, willing the threatening tears away. How many years of her life had she spent berating herself? Her father had blamed both Sophie and her for not being boys, the heir that he wanted. But once her father had died, she had become goal-oriented. She was smart, attractive, strong. She’d make a good partner for the person she chose. And that person would have so much wealth that Ally would never have to worry about anything again.

She’d never thought she would actually fall in love. It had sneaked up on her, invaded her senses, personified in the man with whom she’d felt most likely never to fall in love. She’d always appreciated Evan’s male beauty, his strength, his quiet demeanor. But his seriousness and adherence to convention had racked her nerves.

Here she was, completely in love with this beautiful man, and miracle of all miracles, he seemed to love her as well. She did not doubt his sincerity,