What a Reckless Rogue Needs (The Sinful Scoundrels, #2)(88)

“You will not go at all. I will ring the bell if you try to leave,” Penny said.

“Penny, please. Nothing bad will happen. I just need to speak to him.”

“Do not stay long, Angie. Say what you must and return as fast as possible or I will worry.”


“I will.” Angeline marched to the door and heard Penny’s voice again.

“Angie?”

“Yes, dearest.”

“Did he kiss you?”

“Close your eyes, Penny. I’ll return shortly.”



He was sitting on a sofa in the library. A branch of candles on the table provided limited light. When he stood, she saw that he was dressed in trousers and a banyan. In the dark, she couldn’t see his expression.

He strode over to the door and shut it. His hands bracketed her on either side of the door and his big muscular body acted as a shield as if he meant to trap her. “I never intended to demean you,” he said. “If anything, it was the exact opposite.”

There had been no prelude whatsoever.

“I’m sure you meant well,” she said, “but I have thought this through and I’m sure you will agree.”

“Agree to what?” he said.

“We need to end this engagement.”

“I knew you would say that, because you are scared.”

“I am not scared, Colin, but I want more than a marriage of convenience. Come sit beside me.”

He sighed and followed her. “I am sorry for making those assumptions.”

“I realized that wasn’t what really troubled me, Colin. What troubled me is that I believed I didn’t deserve to find happiness because of what happened with Brentmoor. I felt so guilty about the scandal that I lost myself for a time, but I am no longer lost. I am very sorry if this means you will lose Sommerall, but I advise you to discuss this with your father once more.”

“Angeline,” he said, reaching for her.

“No, Colin, I cannot allow you to touch me.”

“Why?” he said.

“Because you are irresistible and I apparently have no self-restraint.”

His deep chuckle called to her—a wicked sound.

“I must leave now,” she said.

“Stay,” he said. “Tell me what I can do to reassure you.”

“Reassurance isn’t what I need,” she said.

“Tell me what you need.”

He truly had no idea.

The clock chimed the quarter hour. “I must go.”

“Tell me,” he said his voice harsh.

“I want the fairy tale.” She rose and took a step.

Colin stood and caught her hand. “Angeline, will you run away before you kiss me?”

She found she could not resist one last kiss. When his lips met hers, the kiss was butterfly gentle.

“I must go,” she said. “Penny will worry.”

He frowned. “She knows you are here?”

“Don’t worry, she thinks we’re as witless as the twins.”

“Somehow I am not reassured.”

“Good-bye, Colin.”

“You make it sound so final,” he said.

“Our families will always be close, and I hope that we will remain friends,” she said.

“Don’t leave.”

“I must.” She hurried to the door, because it hurt more than she’d expected.



Angeline closed the door behind her and dashed her fingers under her eyes. She loved him, but one-sided love wasn’t enough for a lifetime. With a deep breath, she tiptoed into the room and set the candle on the night table. Penny stirred when Angeline got under the covers.

“Angie, you were gone a long time. Did he kiss you?”

Her sister was apparently fixated on kissing. “Go to sleep, Penny.”

“You didn’t answer me. He kissed you, didn’t he?”

“We talked.”

“Angie, you should not lie.”

“About what?”

“You went to see Colin because you wanted to kiss him,” Penny said. “You mustn’t do that anymore, Angie. It would create a lot of hard feelings if our father found out.”

“I won’t kiss Colin again,” she said. The words pinched her chest as she said them.

“Angie, what is it like to kiss a boy?”

“I think it depends on the gentleman, but wait for someone who has kind eyes and always treats you with respect and dignity,” she said. “Now we must go to sleep. It’s late and Mama will scold if she finds out I kept you awake until the middle of the night.”

“I would never tell,” Penny said.

“No, but your sleepy eyes would.”



Angeline lay awake, thinking about Colin and all that had happened. Having spoken to the marquess previously, she was certain Colin would inherit Sommerall—and probably soon. She had put in more than one good word for him and managed to gently remind the marquess of his son’s many virtues. Perhaps it didn’t cancel all of his vices, but no one was perfect. Granted, he’d certainly sowed wild oats and kept mistresses, but that was surely behind him now. He would probably miss her sultry performances as a famous courtesan. She’d rather enjoyed her short-lived pretend career as a lightskirt.