The Daring Miss Darcy (Lost Ladies of London 4)
Page 78
The last few words fell from her lips without thought.
“Unlike my father?” Ross blinked in surprise. “What do you mean?”
Estelle bit back a curse. She had come to tell him everything, purely because she wanted tomorrow to be a new day, a fresh start. Now she was not so sure.
“Just that some men act in their own best interests regardless of the cost.”
“And you think my father one of those men?” His frown conveyed suspicion.
She turned away from him. “I must go. The cab will be waiting.” The hackney had taken Mr Erstwhile back to Whitecombe Street. The gentleman assumed Ross would convey her home. “One lady has kept you from your bed. I should hate to do the same.”
“Then why come?” Ross grabbed her arm to prevent her hasty retreat. “Did leaving Prescott Hall have something to do with my father?”
Estelle tried to tug her arm free, but without warning, Ross grabbed her around the waist and hauled her over his shoulder.
“What on earth are you doing? Put me down.”
“Forgive my masterful approach, but you will come inside, and we will have it out.”
She knew what he meant by the comment, but still, images of them writhing naked in his bed flashed into her mind.
“Then put me down and let me walk.”
“No.” A large hand settled on her buttocks as he held her in place. He strode through the door leading from the mews to the garden. “For eight long, painful years you have left me in the dark. But it stops here, tonight.” He marched through the broken door, fragments of glass crunching beneath his feet. “You will tell me exactly why you ran, why you left me and permitted me to believe you were dead.”
She tried to wriggle free, but one strong arm held her there.
“I think I have been more than patient, Estelle.”
His boots clipped on the marble floor as he stormed through the hall. Estelle expected him to turn into the drawing room, but he headed for the stairs.
The butler appeared, his clothes a touch less than perfect. “Is everything all right, my lord. I heard raised voices.”
“Go to bed, Marley. Everything is in hand.”
“Y-yes. Good night, my lord.”
Ross mounted the stairs with ease, marched into his chamber and locked the door. Four long strides and he was at the bed. He threw her down onto the mattress and stood above her.
“Now,” he began, drawing his shirt over his head. “You will answer my questions. I think after all that has occurred you owe me your cooperation.”
Estelle nodded. She might have formed a reply, but her hungry eyes feasted on the muscular planes of his chest. The rippling muscles in his abdomen made her mouth water. As did the enticing line of dark hair drawing her eyes to a point below the waistband of his breeches.
“Let us get a few quick questions out of the way first. I’m told that is the best way to discover the truth.” He threw his shirt onto the chair behind him. “Did you ever love me?” He reached for her leg, unlaced her boot, tugged it off and let it fall to the floor.
“Yes,” she breathed. “I loved you with all my heart. I swear to you that is the truth.”
Ross removed the other boot. “Did you leave Prescott Hall under duress?”
She hesitated. “Yes.”
From the sudden rise and fall of his chest, his breath came quickly now.
“Did you want to marry me?” He took hold of her foot, his hands venturing up under her dress to undo the ribbon on her stocking.
“Yes,” she whispered as his warm hand settled on her bare thigh and rolled the stocking down to her ankle. As he removed it, he bent his head, kissed and nipped her toes. Heat flooded her body, burned in her core.
“Will you permit me to make love to you again?” He repeated the process with her other stocking, his heated gaze searing into her as he sucked the tip of each toe. “Right here. Right now.”