Stranger in My Arms(45)

“My lord,” she remarked, “you seem rather quiet this morning. I hope that you are not distressed by … what happened last night.” Her blush burned brighter as she waited for his reply.

After a moment, Hunter joined her at the sideboard, both of them staring steadily at the array of breakfast dishes. He took a deep breath. “Lara… regarding last night, I don’t exactly remember what I…” He gripped the edge of the sideboard until his fingertips were white. “I hope… I didn’t hurt you … did I?”

Lara blinked in amazement. He thought he had forced himself on her.

What else was he to assume, upon waking in her bed with his clothes unfastened?

But why would it trouble him now, when he had done it so many times before? She risked a quick glance at him. He appeared to be overcome with remorse.

How ironic, that Hunter had never felt a drop of guilt for the times he had hurt her, and then experienced such acute shame for something he hadn’t done at all. Suddenly the situation struck her as irresistibly funny, and she turned away to hide her face.

“You were very much in your cups,” she said, struggling to sound dignified. “I suppose you didn’t know what you were doing.”

She heard a string of muffled curses, which only worsened her giggles, and she fought to contain them until her shoulders trembled.

“God, don’t cry,” Hunter said unsteadily. “Lara, please… you have to believe that I didn’t mean Lara turned toward him, and his face went blank with astonishment as he saw her mirth. “You didn’t,” she gasped.

“You fell asl-sleep-” She hiccuped with laughter, scooting away from him.

“You little devil,” Hunter exploded, following her around the room.

His relief was matched only by his annoyance. “I’ve gone through hell this morning!”

“Good,” she said in blatant satisfaction, positioning herself on the far side of the table. “After making me wear that dreadful negligee, you deserved to feel a little discomfort.”

Hunter tried to close the distance between them in a few strides, but she dodged him and retreated behind a chair.

“I’m not sorry for making you wear the negligee-only that I barely remember seeing you in it. You’ll have to put it on again.”

“I most certainly will not!”

“It doesn’t count if I don’t remember.”

“I remember enough for the both of us. I’ve never been so mortified!”

Abandoning the chase, Hunter braced his hand on the table and surveyed her with glowing dark eyes.

“You were beautiful. That much I do recall.”

She tried not to be disarmed and flattered, but it was difficult. The mood changed between them, becoming surprisingly comfortable. Lara sat at the table, while Hunter glanced at the crumb-scattered area Johnny had occupied. “Have you told the boy that he’s to live with us from now on?” he asked abruptly.

A smile touched her lips. “Not in so many words.

Actually, he seems to take it for granted.”

“He’s damned lucky. Any other child in his situation would have been dispatched to a workhouse or worse.”

Lara picked up a fork and toyed with the remaining scraps on her plate.

“My lord,” she murmured, “there is something I would like to discuss with you.

I’ve been thinking about what happened to Johnny, having to live in prison with his father because there was no one to keep him, and… I’m certain that he isn’t the only one. If it occurred at Holbeach, it must happen in other prisons as well. Right now there may be many children residing with their parents behind bars, and I can’t imagine a more appalling atmosphere-” “Wait.” Hunter pulled out a chair and sat facing her, reaching for her hands. He covered her fingers in a warm grip and stared directly into her eyes.

“You’re a compassionate woman, Lara. God knows you won’t rest until every orphan, every beggar, and every stray dog and cat in the world is taken care of.

But don’t start a crusade just now.”

Annoyed, Lara snatched her hands away. “I haven’t proposed doing anything,” she said.

“Yet.”

“For now, all I want is to find out if there are other children in Johnny’s circumstances. I’ve considered writing to various prison administrators and inquiring if they lodge any children of prisoners there, but I’m afraid that even if they do, they won’t admit to it Especially if the person asking happens to be a woman.” She paused and stared at him expectantly.

“You want me to find Out,” Hunter said flatly, scowling. “Dammit, Lara, I have enough to attend to as it is.”

“You once had many important political connections,” Lara persisted.

“If you asked some government officials or inspectors for whatever information they might have… or perhaps there is a reform society that might be able to supply-” “There are at least three hundred prisons in England. Suppose we discover there are indeed children living with their convicted parents-ten, twenty, perhaps a hundred.

What the hell would you be able to do about it? Adopt them all?”

Hunter laughed without amusement, and shook his head. “Put it out of your mind, Lara.”

“I can’t,” she said passionately. “I can’t be as hardhearted as you.