Page 17 (2/2)

"If you say so," Spencer said skeptically

"I do Now, I expect you to stay with Lady Grayson for the duration of your evening Stay out of the card rooms and rein in your libidinous inclinations until she is home safely"

"What, exactly, do you expect to happen to her?"

"Nothing, because you will be there"

Gerard rose as Pel’s lush form filled the doorway She wore pale pink, a color that should have made her look sweetly innocent; instead it emphasized her worldliness and vibrant sensuality Her full breasts were beautifully showcased in the loving eown The overall effect, to hiar-coated treat One he wished to nibble and consued

He blew out his breath; his response to the ht of her was both primitive and instinctual He wished to toss her over his shoulder, run up the stairs, and fuck like rabbits The ih a tortured groan

"Coht smile "I cannot look as bad as all that"

"Good God," Spencer cried out,forward to capture her hand and lift it to his lips "I shall need a small sword to hold them off But never fear, my dearest sister-in-law, I shall serve you until the very end"

Isabel’s soft, husky laughter drifted through the study and weakened Gerard’s already shaky resolution to allow her to go He was not a jealous ht and his tenuous position in her life caused hiallant of you, Lord Spencer," she rejoined with a blinding smile "It has been some time since I’ve enjoyed the company of a brazen rake"

The warrit his teeth "I take it as my personal duty to fill that lack"

"And you shall do so adht, Gerard cleared it, drawing their attention to hied a sht and held on his tongue, squelched before they could be freed He was desperate to say things that would , so he would not have to spend the evening alone The night before had been hell while she was gone The air in their roo it more obvious how cold and lonely the house ithout her vibrant presence

He sighed in resignation and held out his hand, every htly into his palm He escorted her to the door, draped her in her cloak, and returned to his study atch his carriage carry her away

She belonged to hi and no one could take her away But he had no wish to keep her by force He wished to earn her regard, just as he had earned the respect of his tenants Pride in ownership worked both ways, and until he’d worked side by side with his tenants on his s--until he’d worn their clothes, attended their celebrations, and eaten at their ta bles--they’d had none for him, an errant lord who paid them no mind and felt no loyalty

His methods had been extreme by any measure, and every tiin the process of building trust and respect anew But it had been healing for his he’d never had before

Now he knew it had been training for this This was his true home And if he could find a way to share it with Isabel, in every way, if he could cool his ardor enough and rein in the base needs that clawed at hioal worth striving for

"She has thrown you over, has she, Lord Hargreaves?" asked a girlish voice beside hiht of Isabel across the ballroom, and bowed to the lovely brunette who spoke to him "Lady Stanhope, a pleasure"

"Grayson has ruined your cozy little arrange his to find Pel "Look how zealously Lord Spencer guards her side You knoell as I that he would not be here if Grayson had not ordered him to be Makes one wonder why he is not here to see to the matter himself"

"I have no wish to discuss Lord Grayson," he said tightly Unable to help himself, he stared at his for could change so drastically in so short a ti restlessness, but their friendship had been strong and the sex as satisfying as always

"Even if discussing him could return Lady Grayson’s attentions to you?"

His head whipped toward her Dressed in blood red satin, Stanhope’s as hard to st the crowd He had noted her several ti, especially since she see hied mouth curved in a portentous smile "I want Grayson You want his wife It would be to both of our benefits to work together"

"I’ve no notion of what you are talking about" But he was intrigued And it showed

"That’s fine, darling," she drawled "You can leave all the notions to me"

"Lady Stanhope--"

"We are allies Call me Barbara"

The determined tilt of her chin and eyes as hard as the jade they reselanced at Pel again and caught her staring back at him with her full bottom lip worried between her teeth His pride smarted

Barbara’s hand slipped around his arm "Let’s walk, and I shall tell you what I have planned…"

Chapter 10

Sitting at her boudoir desk, Isabel addressed the last of her dinner invitations with a flourish that belied the apprehension she felt Grayson had never been the type of man ould brush off such machinations He was devious and lacked the morals that restrainedin others, he did not feel as charitable to those ould try their trickery on hinizant of the fact that she was, in effect, poking a sleeping lion with a stick, she hesitated aat the tidy stack of cream-colored missives at her elbow

"Would you like these sent out i nearby

She hesitated a o for now"

Rising froing the inevitable by failing to set in motion her search for a th to e the task The tension and heated awareness between them was anatheht before Her body, while sore, craved the feel of his If only she knehat had caused their relationship to alter so drastically, perhaps she could find a way to change it back

As Gray had requested earlier, shedoor to speak with hi him She had barely cracked the portal open when the sound of angry voices stilled her

"What concernssocial events, I had no notion of how bad it is It is truly dreadful"

"What is said about htly