My Reckless Surrender

Odd to think they’d started this affair at her invitation. No question he was now the one in pursuit. Even when she lay in his arms, she was still so damned elusive.

The volatile encounter in the museum had provided him with much food for thought. Her melting surrender. The information she’d provided, however unwillingly. The fact that Miss Smith was undoubtedly the Gypsy companion Diana had mentioned. Perhaps that ramshackle tale about arcane potions might actually have some basis in truth.

He hoped to hell it did.

He prowled toward her, careful to stay under the trees while she remained on the path. Wearing shirt and breeches, he felt wonderfully cool. Or at least he had until Diana arrived to send heat crawling inexorably over his skin.

Moonlight illuminated her face now she’d thrown back the concealing hood of her cape. She looked guarded, and her body was tight with wariness.

Definitely elusive.

For hours, he’d waited in the garden, as sultry afternoon turned to dusk, turned to night. For all his confidence now, he hadn’t been sure of her. With each minute, his doubts had grown, devil take her.

His voice remained neutral. “You’re later than you said.”

She sighed with impatience and peered through the darkness. “Lord above, Ashcroft, you do go on. I may be a bit late. It hardly matters. I’m here now. You’re turning into an old woman.”

He laughed softly, recognizing her tactic from previous skirmishes. She liked to use offense as a defense. “I’m not accustomed to being uncertain of a lover.”

Her tension increased. He wondered what he’d said to perturb her. So many secrets. So many mysteries. What did she hide?

He burned to grab her, continue the afternoon’s delightful explorations. He held back. Partly to build anticipation. Although after five days without her, anticipation was nearly killing him. Partly because he knew once he touched her, any chance of discussion vanished.

And he badly wanted to talk to her.

When she’d disappeared so effectively, he’d experienced his first genuine fear in years. His dream lover had deserted him after one explosive encounter. He had no idea how to find her. It was all his fault. When she came to him, he could have delayed and found out about her.

Who was he fooling? From the moment he’d dragged her into the carriage, he couldn’t hold back.

He’d promised himself tonight would be different. Tonight, he’d act the civilized man and not the barbarian. Tonight, he’d unravel some of those secrets.

At least he’d damn well try.

“What did your aunt say?”

“She rang a peal over me.”

“I’m sorry.”

He shrugged, before realizing she couldn’t see him. “It doesn’t matter.”

“I don’t want to cause trouble with the people who love you.”

He gave a dismissive snort and answered before he thought to stop himself. “Believe me, that’s not anyone in my family.”

He felt her sudden stillness like a physical blow. Her voice sounded studiedly calm. ?

?Why do you say that?”

What the hell had got into him? He never talked about these things. “It’s true,” he said curtly.

“Perhaps she doesn’t approve of your way of life.”

Diana wasn’t taking the hint that this subject wasn’t welcome. “Oh, that’s true too.”

“Your aunt brought you up?”

Every muscle tensed in repudiation of her questions. How had this conversation become about him? He wanted to reveal Diana’s secrets, not plumb years of painful family background. “Mostly. Now, let’s talk about you.”