Passions of a Gentleman (Gentlemen of Honor #3) - Rose Gordon Page 0,72

she shook her head wildly. “Tomorrow.”

She sat up abruptly, suddenly aware that if his parents were downstairs, they likely assumed she and Simon were… “Perhaps we should go make introductions now.”

“That’s not necessary,” Simon assured her.

Ignoring him, Rae pulled the counterpane off and scooted out of bed. “Yes, it is. I need to go meet them before they think I’m a lightskirt,” she said, frantically picking up her discarded clothing from the floor.

Simon’s large hands covered hers, stilling her. “You’ll just have to believe me when I say this, but my mother would be the last person to accuse another of being a lightskirt.”

Rae stared at him in disbelief, but he didn’t elaborate. “Please, Simon, I think my being up here was already a bad start to a relationship with your parents, but if we wait until morning, I don’t think I’ll be able to look at them.”

“Rae, I promise you, you have nothing to worry about on that score.”

“On that score?” She pulled her dress up to cover her chest. “And on another?”

Simon’s brow furrowed. “Rae, you’re worrying about nothing. They already know we’re married. If we weren’t up here enjoying one another they’d probably be more concerned.”

That wasn’t exactly what Rae had wanted to hear him say. For some reason, she might have felt a little better about his parents’ accusations had he openly confessed them to her. His not telling her made them seem that much more true—as if he were hiding it from her.

“If you insist,” she choked, dropping her clothes. Reluctantly, she crawled back up into his bed, finding it harder by the moment to want to be there with him. She blinked back the tears stinging the back of her eyes. She must accept this and forget about it. Her life would be miserable if she didn’t.

Simon’s hand skimmed its way up her bare arm and to her shoulder. He pushed her hair out of the way and pressed his lips to her shoulder. The act would have been her undoing only an hour ago. Now, she felt cheap and used. She gritted her teeth, another round of hot tears burning her eyes.

Seemingly oblivious to her feelings, Simon’s lips traveled across to the top of her back and to her neck.

Simon was frustrated.

First his parents had voiced something so asinine he couldn’t believe it was them talking, and now Rae was as responsive as an asparagus spear. Who would have known meeting his parents would have meant so much to her? He’d haul her down there this very minute if he didn't think his parents might say something that would cut her to the quick.

Tomorrow, he promised himself, giving her one final kiss before rolling onto his back and staring up at the ceiling. It was shaping up to be a long, uncomfortable night.

28

Rae had hoped by morning her heart would have healed a little.

It hadn’t.

Pasting a smile she didn’t feel on her lips, she allowed Simon to help her dress. She had to admit, after having to help her dress and undress for a fortnight, he’d become a very skilled lady's maid.

After he finished cinching and tying her, she took a seat on the chair next to his secretary and waited while he dressed.

“Is something bothering you?” he asked, jabbing his stickpin into the perfect knot on his cravat.

“No. Of course not.” She stretched her lips even further apart.

Simon didn’t look convinced. “Are you nervous?” His green eyes were soft and full of compassion.

“About meeting your mother?” She shook her head. She’d been introduced to Mrs. Appleton sometime last Season, though she doubted the older woman remembered much of their encounter. Nor did it matter. Whether the Appletons liked it or not, or liked her or not, she was Simon’s wife and that wouldn’t be changing any time soon, so there wasn’t any reason for them all not to get along.

“What about my father?” Simon asked with a crooked smile. “I’ve heard he makes certain lords quake in their boots.”

Rae shrugged. “If he doesn’t like me, it wouldn’t be the worst thing that could happen.”

Something was definitely wrong. What it was or why, was a complete mystery to him.

He sighed. “Rae, I’m sorry, I didn’t introduce you to my parents last night,” he said, kneeling down in front of her. He took her hands and held them in his. “Had I known it was so important to you, I would have.” Which was the absolute truth. He ran the pads of his thumbs