All About Seduction(81)

Her mouth tightened. She hadn’t repulsed him, but she hadn’t consented either. He tried not to press.

“How did she pass?”

Jack turned to look into the fireplace, where the coal was just starting to glow a little. “By her own hand, trying to rid herself of the baby.”

“I am sorry,” said Caroline.

Hoping to stave off more questions, he said, “We were young. I made mistakes. It was a long time ago.” He should have married her straight off, instead of refusing to believe the baby was his because he had withdrawn. It hadn’t taken more than a couple of days to realize he was being an idiot, but she had already drunk the entire concoction of pennyroyal and mugwort meant to be taken over several days.

Caroline folded her arms across her chest and made a sound. “Yes, I thought of you.”

His heart leapt and he thought he might float off the bed with happiness.

“I wanted to wait until you were more healed, before asking.” Under her haughty almost disdain he heard a vulnerability, as if she thought he might refuse.

“I’m healed enough.” Satisfied he sounded as businesslike about it as she did, it took a huge amount of willpower to keep from grinning like a fool.

“If you do this—” She turned her head as if she couldn’t bear to look at him. “—I don’t want you to touch me or kiss me or anything other than what is absolutely necessary.”

His spine knotted. “You don’t want me to hold you?”

She shook her head.

His stomach dropped. What she was describing was like most men’s fantasies: not having to worry about the woman’s pleasure, not having to spend a lot of time getting her ready, and just focusing on his release. Instead it sounded coldly mechanical—not what he’d envisioned. Not what he hoped. And not at all what he wanted.





Chapter 16



Caroline watched Jack’s face twist as if her conditions pained him. Or more likely his leg hurt. He might think he was physically capable, but she wasn’t so sure. On the other hand it was now or never.

His arm muscles flexed as he struggled to sit up all the way. She gasped. His undershirt only concealed his torso, leaving no doubt he was a man, and available.

“All right. I will agree to not pinch or grope.”

“No touching or kissing.”

His eyes narrowed. “Agreed. No touching beyond the necessary, or anything tender during the act.”

She gave a short nod. “You must never ever tell anyone.”

“No one would believe me if I did, but I won’t.” His lip curled as if disgusted. “In exchange, you should help me to read and write better.”

Her dry mouth worked, but she had a hard time forcing her agreement. She’d refused to do more than read to him and supply him with materials before, thinking she couldn’t spare the time away from her seduction attempts or the mill, but she was desperate. Mr. Broadhurst wouldn’t allow her any more leeway. Then again, she wouldn’t have to dedicate so much time to the guests if Jack would get a child on her.

A jittering demon’s energy shook her with cold clammy claws. Finally, she gave one short nod, her head refusing to give more compliance than that.

“You might have to come over here, because I don’t think any man can manage across a room.”

Tension screamed through her body. According to Jack, she was in or near a fertile time. She didn’t know how to measure his veracity or knowledge, but she had no reason to doubt he knew what he was talking about. Besides, he’d come from a prolific clan, unlike Mr. Broadhurst, who had no living relatives.

A horrible thought occurred to her. “You don’t need to grope me or anything to be successful, do you?”

His lips twitched. “I am tempted to lie and say yes, but no. I don’t need to caress you, or kiss you or cradle you to me, but I imagine there will be some inevitable contact . . . uh, beyond what is required.”

His weight would press her into the bed, and even if he kept his hands to the sides, she would feel his breathing near her ear. She would smell him and hear him as his instrument scraped in and out, but she tried not to think of that. Her legs shook and a cold dread pooled in her stomach.

“If I do anything too outrageous, I’m certain you could get away from me. It isn’t as if I could run after you.”

But she wouldn’t be able to get away once they were engaged. She wouldn’t be able to shift his weight off her without his cooperation, not unless she kicked his broken leg. The last thing she wanted was to cause him more pain. “How is your leg feeling?”