Angel in Scarlet (Bound and Determined #4)(58)

Only as she reached the edge of the wood, where the trees began to thin, did she slow, patting at her cheeks, attempting to dry the few random tears that fell.

—

Colton stood for a moment, watching Angela flee, the light cotton of her dress fluttering in the rising wind. Blast and damnation. That was not what he had wanted. He watched until it became impossible to see the flicker of her gown between the trees. That had not gone as he expected. He waited another moment and then he walked back to the bench. The sun had dropped lower, and only a little direct light still danced across the floor. He placed a foot upon it, drew in a deep breath.

“Lord Thorton,” he called. “I do believe you can come out of hiding now.”





Chapter 16


Colton stood gazing out at the water, trying to slow the waves of fury flowing through him. His heart beat fast and steady in his chest. His fingers curled and released.

He heard the shuffle of new-fallen leaves and still did not turn. He could feel Thorton’s presence but had no desire for this moment to come any more swiftly than it needed.

“I was not sure you had seen me,” Thorton said, a slight sneer marking his voice.

“You were rather hard to mistake.”

“As were you.”

His hands formed fists. He would like to beat the man. He was not normally given to violence, but he’d seen Thorton’s expression as he gazed upon Angela’s naked body and willing lips. Yes, by God, he’d like to pound him into a pulp. “May I ask what you are doing here?” he said through gritted teeth.

“I saw Miss Ripon wandering alone and was worried that she might not realize the woods can be dangerous.”

“What, were you afraid the squirrels would attack her? Or perhaps the rabbits?”

Thorton walked forward, his boots clattering on the stone floor of the folly. “I was thinking more of wolves, and I do believe she may have found one.”

He forced himself to ignore the insult. “I do not care what you think, Thorton. What happened here is none of your business.”

“I would beg to differ. I find it very much my business.”

Colton lowered his foot from the bench and turned, wondering if Thorton would see danger in his eyes. “And how do you figure that?”

Thorton tapped a walking stick upon the stones. “On any number of levels. I see there are two—or perhaps three—possibilities. One, you are a true fiend and forced yourself upon Miss Ripon. She did seem distressed as she ran from you. And the ropes, the ropes would certainly support such a claim. And yet that does not seem quite right, does it, Colton?”

Colton did not answer. A dozen ways to silence Thorton formed in his mind.

“I’ve always heard you had a taste for such things, and I’ve noticed who you spend time with at Madame Rouge’s, but this is taking things a little too far.”

“I still do not see what business it is of yours.”

“I rather think it is the business of any gentleman of quality if you have taken to forcing yourself upon the sweet maidens of our class.”

“Did she look forced to you?” He spit out the words before he could think—and great thought was needed. He had no desire to ruin Angela, but it was hard to think when he’d just had the best orgasm of his life and opened his eyes to see Thorton staring at him from the bushes.

“That is hard to tell—and there are so many types of force. I hardly think a lady like Miss Ripon would come to you and beg to be bound.”

I’ll do whatever you wish. Angela’s words, and fantasies, ran again and again through his mind. No, she had not directly begged, but…“And again, I will ask what concern of yours it is.”

“Do not be tedious, Colton. If the lady was forced, it is very much my business.”

“She was not forced.” He spit the words out.

“Ahh, I rather thought it appeared not.” Thorton tapped his stick twice. “I suppose that brings us to the next possibility: that you deliberately set out to seduce a maiden.”

“I do not care to play this game, Thorton.” Colton walked to the edge of the folly. “Unless the lady cries foul, I would suggest you keep your mouth closed and forget that this happened. I still do not understand why you felt the need to peek at us. I am quite certain that you understood at once what was happening and had no need to watch. Or do you take pleasure in such things?”

“I can assure you I took no pleasure,” Thorton stated firmly, but something in his tone said otherwise.

“Yet you seem so pleased as you recount my possible faults.”

Thorton’s face grew red. “I cannot believe you do not recognize your guilt.”

Should he feel guilty? Colton stared at the older man and briefly pondered. It would be hard to defend what he had done with Angela, but somehow the guilt would not come. “And I cannot believe you did not leave immediately when you knew what was happening. You say that you followed Miss Ripon from the house; does that mean you watched the whole time?” His mouth filled with a foul flavor at the thought.

“Do not pretend you object to that. It is well known in what direction your tastes lie.”

“What I object to is your pretense of caring for Miss Ripon and her reputation. If you believed that I was either accosting her or seducing her, why didn’t you stop me before her clothing was off? That hardly seems the mark of a gentleman.”