Bleakness entered his eyes. “Whatever you decide, Eugenie, I will stand by it. If it is no, I will not trouble you again.”
The forthright promise lacerated her tender heart. “Oh Richard. I can’t deny I have feelings for you, but…”
He stood silent, stoic, like some fallen angel awaiting the wrath of the heavens.
And in her heart she knew she could not bear to hurt him. Nor did she want to. But did she dare take the risk? “Yes,” she whispered. “Yes, I will come to dinner with you. As a friend. Nothing more.”
A smile curved his lips. “Be warned. I intend to seduce you far beyond friendship.”
She could not prevent her answering smile. “Forewarned is forearmed, my lord.”
He pulled her close and kissed her gently, a brief brush of his lips against her mouth, over far too soon. His eyes gleamed wickedly down at her. “A promise of what could be in our futures.”
Ginger mewed as if to offer his approval.
He glanced down at the cat rubbing its head against his biscuit-colored pantaloons with a grimace. “Well, my lovely cat lady, must I invite him to dinner too?”
A half laugh, half sob forced its way from her throat. Her gaze was misty. “Do you want to?”
“It might be dangerous. Grandfather has a parcel of nasty hounds.”
“He wouldn’t like that. I’ll feed him and leave him in the kitchen. Give me a moment.”
He bowed his acquiescence.
She ran into the dining room, collected her plate and with Ginger at her heels dashed for the kitchen. She put the food down on the floor. Cook would not be pleased when she realized what she’d done with the dinner. But she didn’t care. Why shouldn’t Ginger enjoy a feast?
Turning to leave, she hesitated.
Was this all a dream?
Would she awake in a moment and find herself in her bed with tears soaking her pillow?
No. It wasn’t a dream. It was Christmas and fate had offered her a second chance to find what she’d always sought. She had a deep sense this was meant to be. Risk all to gain all.
Taking a deep breath she headed back to the front door and the man she had lived beside for months yet never met before last night.
Christmas had brought them together. Christmas had always been a time for rejoicing, but over the years she’d forgotten its magic.
With the smile that had captured her heart, he held out his arm. “Are you ready, my love?”
His love. Her heart gave a little skip. Her head advised caution, but hoped thrived on his words and the warmth in his eyes. “I’m ready.”
He slanted her a wicked look. “Good, for between here and Grandfather’s house I intend to seduce you. I will kiss you shamefully and make you cry out with passion, the way I heard you through my bedroom wall.”
Her body grew hot, her breasts tingled, a pulse fluttered at her core. She felt deliciously wicked. She smothered a naughty giggle with a gasp. “I can’t believe you heard!”
“Night after night, until all I wanted was you. It seems you might be worth a trip to the nether world.”
She looked at him askance.
“One day I will explain. I promise.” His smile was filled with a contentment she hadn’t expected.
She let him guide her out into the gleaming bright snow-clad day where his carriage awaited. A peal of bells rang out across the still air. Christmas bells.
Christmas was a time of love and hope and peace.
She could feel all those things deep in her heart when he smiled at her, the way he did now, along with the rise of desire.
“Thank you for giving me your trust,” he said softly. “I promise I will never give you cause to doubt me.”
In her heart she believed him. Only time would tell if this time her heart spoke true, but he was certainly worth the risk.
If you enjoyed this story, don’t miss this other Harlequin Historical Undone ebooks in the Sinful Regency Christmas collection:
Spellbound & Seduced by Marguerite Kaye
An Illicit Indiscretion by Bronwyn Scott
Virgin Unwrapped by Christine Merrill
One Wicked Christmas by Amanda McCabe
Enjoy more passion through the ages with the sensual Harlequin Historical UNDONE titles on sale now:
The Liberation of Miss Finch by Diane Gaston
A Wickedly Pleasurable Wager by Carole Mortimer
Craving the Highlander’s Touch by Michelle Willingham
The Lady’s Scandalous Night by Jeannie Lin
Unlacing the Lady in Waiting by Amanda McCabe
The Wanton Governess by Barbara Monajem
Craving something a little longer? Find more historical romantic adventure from Harlequin Historical at http://www.Harlequin.com or your local bookstore.
Interested in writing for Harlequin Historical UNDONE? Send your submission to [email protected].
Ann Lethbridge has been reading Regency novels for as long as she can remember. She always imagined herself as Lizzie Bennet or one of Georgette Heyer’s heroines, and would often recreate the stories in her head with different outcomes or scenes. When she sat down to write her own novel, it was no wonder that she returned to her first love: the Regency.
Ann grew up roaming England with her military father. Her family lived in many towns and villages across the country, from the Outer Hebrides to Hampshire. She spent many memorable family holidays in the West Country and in Dover, where her father was born. She now lives in Canada, with her husband, two beautiful daughters, and a Maltese terrier named Teaser, who spends his days on a chair beside the computer, making sure she doesn’t slack off.
Ann visits Britain every year, to undertake research and also to visit family members who are very understanding about her need to poke around old buildings and visit every antiquity within a hundred miles. If you would like to know more about Ann and her research, or to contact her, visit her website at www.annlethbridge.com She loves to hear from readers.
ISBN: 978-1-4592-8272-8
A Rake for Christmas
Copyright © 2011 by Michèle Ann Young
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