the cobwebs would clear from his head. “Are you saying you don’t wish to marry me?”
“That is exactly right.” She jutted her chin to punctuate her message and bit out each word. “Not even if my life depended on it.”
He should be relieved to be released from his promise, but her tone and saucy attitude was offensive. “I will have you know I am a catch.”
She scoffed. “A catch, my big toe.”
“You are insufferable. Are you baiting me on purpose?” He stalked to the side of the bed where she was standing. Her green eyes widened. When her breath hitched, the tops of her small breasts peeked above the neckline of her dress. She was gorgeous up close with color high in her cheeks and her tousled hair framing her narrow face.
Her gaze lowered to his bare chest, lingering but a second before returning to look him in the eye. His anger dwindled as desire surged through his veins. She wet her lips, then perhaps realizing the enticing picture she presented, clamped them tightly. Damn him for overindulging last night. Memories of their night together would have sustained him through the holiday.
“Is this remorse speaking, my lady, or do you have a true objection to me?”
“Remorse? Me?” She sputtered and couldn’t maintain eye contact. “I’ve done nothing wrong, but you— For heaven’s sake, you disrobed in the kitchen. Your behavior is scandalous and unacceptable.”
Good old regret it is.
No doubt she had fancied herself incorruptible before he led her down the path of wickedness. Julius made it a practice of avoiding paragons of virtue. If he had been in his right mind last night, he never would have bedded her.
He wouldn’t be surprised if she had fabricated the proposal to ease her guilt after a night of hedonistic pleasure, and now she was instigating a row to cover her lie. Perhaps he would make her squirm; she’d had no qualms about doing the same to him a few moments ago.
“I recall you knew of my reputation before you accepted my proposal and joined me beneath the sheets.” He allowed a seductive smile to ease across his face. “Was it three times, love?”
He hadn’t thought it possible she could blush any harder, but her face was bordering on plum.
“I am afraid you’ve misjudged me, my lady.” He clicked his tongue. “I am wounded to have you think so poorly of me. I never would have tumbled you had I realized you played me false and never intended to make an honest man of me.”
“Th-that is a lie.”
He shrugged. “I suppose we will never know since I did, in fact, propose before bedding you.”
A squeak of protest was cut off when she snapped her mouth closed. She bristled, and her eyes burned with an intensity that threatened to singe him. If she was less of a lady, he was certain she would hurl curses at him.
He derived immense pleasure in vexing her.
“It is time to take care of your man, wife-to-be. Fetch me a pot of tea.” He swatted her behind, expecting she’d retaliate. She did not disappoint.
“Get it yourself.” Like the she-devil she was, she stomped his toes as she marched past.
He laughed when she slammed the door. Revenge was a sweet dish, served hot or cold.
After searching every corner of the chamber without unearthing his trousers, his merriment turned to dread. Parts of his memory were returning in flashes. He’d been frozen to the bone, his clothes turning to ice. His fingers had shaken and he’d fumbled with the front fall of his trousers. He’d left them below stairs, along with his greatcoat.
“Faith,” he muttered and collapsed on the side of the bed. He and Lady Hadley had failed to use protection last night.
Chapter Four
Bess retreated to her bedchamber to splash cool water on her face before storming to the hightop dresser. The reflection in the looking glass startled her. On first glance, she didn’t recognize herself. The woman staring back with parted lips and eyes glimmering with feverish intensity looked feral—a woman driven by strong passions and prone to foolish choices.
Destined for ruin. Her stepmothers’s sad proclamation echoed in her memory.
“No,” Bess murmured. She wasn’t that same young woman she’d been at age eighteen. She had turned her back on that reckless girl long ago and mended her ways before any lasting damage occurred.
Except to your pride.
Unbidden and unwelcome, a memory bubbled up from the dark well of her past. She couldn’t meet her own eyes in the mirror as