Angel in Scarlet (Bound and Determined #4)(87)

“There is no need for that. Whatever threats I made are unnecessary now. Everything is as it should be; you are both following the rules. Miss Thorton will not be working to entrap another man, pretending to be what she is not.”

He curled his hands into fists. He would pound Thorton to the ground, if that would not cause further talk. “I do not think you understand me. I no longer care what you think is necessary. None of my actions have been based on what you want. Everything I have done is because it is what I want.”

Thorton looked at him with some disbelief. “If you had truly wanted to marry the girl, you would have done it earlier. Once you’ve had her on her knees, why—”

“I would suggest you stop speaking right there or we will have to wait for months before you can stand well enough to meet me at dawn.”

“Dueling is illegal, against the rules.”

“Do I look like a man who cares for rules? Or do you take back everything you have said about Miss Ripon?”

“I haven’t said anything to anybody. And what does it matter if you’re going to marry the chit?”

“It would matter to her.”

“There is no reason to for me to say anything now.”

“But do you take it back? Admit that you spoke without cause?”

Colton could see the war on Thorton’s face. He did not want to take back what he had seen, but neither was he a man who wanted a dawn meeting.

“What exactly is it that you want me to say?” Thorton asked.

Colton considered. He sensed that the man might not be willing to push a falsehood from his lips, and in truth that was not what Colton wanted. “I want you to say that Miss Ripon is a woman of fine character and any man would be proud to wed her.”

“I can’t…” Lord Thorton grew silent as he met Colton’s stare.

“I believe you will find that you can.”

Thorton remained silent, but his eyes were filled with consideration.

“Speak.”

“I do not believe you would indulge in a duel,” Thorton said at last. “That would cause speculation as surely as anything I might say.”

“I find I do not really care. Miss Ripon will be my wife regardless, and speculation will fade with time. Do not test me.”

Thorton took a step away. “Very well. Miss Ripon is a woman of fine character, and any man would be proud to wed her. As in the end you both did observe the rules, I suppose I can accept that.”

“What is it about rules that has you obsessed?” Colton asked the question that had been in his mind since the beginning. “I could have understood if you were pursuing Miss Ripon yourself and were disappointed, but I have no comprehension of why you care so much about things that do not concern you.”

Thorton’s face became absolutely still, a strange light in his eyes. “My wife and my mother both died because they did not follow the rules.” He stalked off into the dark garden.

Colton paused, ready to follow, to demand more answers. He had no idea how Thorton’s mother had died. Lady Perse might know, or he could ask his own mother. But Thorton’s wife had died in a riding accident. How could that have anything to do with rules?

Did he really want to know? No, at least not right now. All he wanted right now was to return to Angela.

Giving one last look into the dark of the garden, he turned and headed back to the house, back to his angel.

—

Angela lay in her bed, staring up at the canopy. She was happy but strangely unsatisfied—and that wasn’t even thinking about her body, which hummed with longing for Colton and his touch. It seemed that she began to long for him within minutes of his leaving. If only he’d given her some clue as to when they’d be together again. He’d said house parties were conducive to secret rendezvous, but she didn’t see how they could be together before late tomorrow afternoon. Ever since they’d announced their engagement, someone was always stopping her to say congratulations. Even when she’d tried to slip off to spend a moment alone, her mother had followed.

And Bliss wanted to walk early in the morning. She claimed that if she rose early enough, her stomach didn’t have time to give her trouble, and how could Angela say no to such a request? Then there would be lunch and a shooting competition and…

She sat up in bed as her door creaked open.

What?

Colton.

There was no mistaking that long, lean silhouette.

“How—” she began.

But held up a finger to his lips, silencing her.

He walked toward the bed, his eyes roaming over her in the moonlight.

She expected him to join her, but instead he gestured for her to rise. Slipping from the bed, she stood before him. He smiled slightly, then waved her to the window, where the light shone brightest.

Ahh, that she understood. She positioned herself with care so that the light shone through the thin linen of her shift. Raising her hands, she pressed them against the cold glass, high above her head. Without waiting for his command, she let her feet slide wide.

For a moment she just stood there, staring out into the darkness. Despite the wind, it was a beautiful night, clear and cold, the stars sparkling like a sea of diamonds.

He moved closer. She could sense him before she felt the heat of his body against hers. His lips brushed the side of her neck, gently, softly, the barest touch of flesh on flesh. His hips moved forward until she could feel him pressed long and hard between her buttocks.