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“I didn't intend to embarrass you”
“How clever of you to plan it for an evening when you kneould be visiting ? Itto have such a celebrated tart in your bed—”
“Nothing happened between us”
She laughed skeptically “Really? So she's playing that game I've used that tacticyou to havemakes the victory so much sweeter, doesn't it?”
Until that moment, Damon hadn't been certain of what he wanted froht be She had been an entertaining companion for severalthat wasn't willingly offered…and he had paid handsoh he hadn't co off their relationship, he kne that his liaison with Pauline had grown stale They had never shared anything but physical pleasure No deeper understanding or intimacy had developed beyond that, and it never would
“Why did you send for me?” he asked
She stiffened at the new note in his voice, a cool disinterest he had never shown to her before “I want to discuss your intentions, darling Are you planning to make Jessica Wentworth your new mistress?”
“That isn't your concern”
“You're going to leavebut a new toy, a pretty bauble that you'll soon tire of…and when you do, you'll return to me”
Pauline's arrogance annoyed him He had never allowed anyone to take hiive Pauline that right “If I do visit another woman's bed,” he said softly, “I'll be damned if I require your approval”
“Very well, my lord Am I at least allowed to ask ill become of me?”
Dalance As beautiful and desirable as Pauline was, she would find a new provider within a week He had no illusions that she loved hi their relationship would hardly leave her brokenhearted and destitute
“You'll do very well,” he said “I doubt a , Pauline” He softened slightly as he continued “I've enjoyed being with you these past reeable note, without spoiling the memories I'll make certain all your bills are settled I want to leave you with a parting gift…a new carriage, more jewelry, a house just tell me what you'd like”
Her brown eyes locked with his “You've already leftHer voice contained an edge of irony that he didn't understand Slowly her hand crept to her slightly rounded stoful caress
Uncoers Histo tell him
“What should I ask for?” Paulineher hand clamped protectively over her abdomen “A little extra money, I suppose, and then I should promise not to trouble you about eitiation to theYou're not like most men”
“We took precautions—” he said hoarsely
“Sometimes precautions fail”
“I want you to see a doctor”
“I already have You're welcome to meet him, of course, and have him confirm the news” She paused and added with a sudden flash of vulnerability, “You may disbelieve me, or claim that the baby isn't yours, but at least I've told you the truth”
If it was a bluff, it was a , without the telltale flush or heightened pulse of a wo She was supremely calm and clearheaded
A child…his, and Pauline's Every part of hiainst the idea For his entire adult life, he had never overindulged himself where women were concerned He had chosen his partners carefully, and to his knowledge he hadn't sired bastards by any of the to their pregnant mistresses except financial support for the children This didn't have to be a trap…but for him it was He felt cold all over He turned away fro realization sweep over his face
He couldn't abandon her now, no matter what he felt for her personally He was linked to her forever through this child Pauline knew hih to understand that he couldn't live with himself if he didn't take care of her and the baby From now on his life would be entwined with theirs
He knew that Pauline wanted to become his wife, she expected it of him…and he would have expected it of himself, if not for one obstacle A bitter smile twisted his lips, and he heard himself say aloud, “I can't marry you”
“I understand your reluctance, darling However, there are some facts to consider You have need of an heir, or your brother will have the title after you And there is the welfare of the child—”
“I'm already married” It was the first time Damon had ever admitted it to anyone except his brother He closed his hands into fists, while iing him to this!
Silence descended over the scene, so absolute that he finally turned to look at Pauline She was gray-faced, whether from shock or fury he couldn't tell
“What?” she wheezed “The rumors are true? I never would have believed it—not of a man like you—”
“It happened a long tied it”
“If this is a trick—”
“It's the truth”
The gray left Pauline's complexion, replaced by a rush of crimson “My God…why has it been such a bloody secret? And where have you kept your ife all this time?”
“I haven't seen her since the day ere reed that ould be raised separately, and ‘introduced’ ere of suitable age” Damon took a deep breath and forced himself to continue “But that never came to pass I don't kno the facts of the matter were told to her My father chose to e tied to a wealthy fa a wife for myself I hated him for what he had done, no matter what his reasons were I resisted ether, and Julia—”
“Julia,” Pauline repeated blankly
“—she appeared to be equally reluctant to meet me By the time I had finally decided to take the matter in hand and confront her, she had disappeared That was three years ago I still haven't been able to find her”
“What do you mean, disappeared? Doesn't anyone knohere she is? Her family?”
“If any of her friends or relations know, they're not going to ad I've hired detectives who have searched all through Europe without finding a trace of her”