A Gentleman's Curse (Avenging Lords 4)

Claudia swallowed deeply as she bent her knees and swished water over her shoulders. “Right about what?” That she would make an excellent second choice?

“You’re perfect, perfect for me.”

Her heart leapt and skipped a joyful dance.

Did he mean it? Or was it part of the act?

“Perfect to play the wife of a scandalous rogue,” he added.

Claudia pursed her lips. Could he not have stopped when he said the word me?

Disappointment came in the form of a hard lump in her throat. Tears welled to prove she was a fraud. She scooped water into her cupped hands and wet her face to wash away any evidence of her sudden distress. Confusion clouded her mind. Oh, she was a jumbled mess of contradictions.

Was this a game? Did it mean more to her than that?

Think of Emily.

Think of paying the debt.

Don’t think about him.

“Passion burns just beneath the surface,” he continued, though she wished he would stop talking. “And yet the innocent woman from Falaura Glen appeals to me just as much as the determined temptress. Why is that?”

“You’re asking me?” She clambered to raise her defences. “Sir, are you not taking your role as husband too seriously?”

“Marriage is a serious affair.”

“Indeed, it is.” Had she not said a similar thing to Mr Thorncroft? “Can you fetch me the towel?” She wiggled her fingers at the chair.

“I can’t. I’m not in any fit state to move from this bed.”

“Oh.” She wasn’t entirely sure what he meant, but she needed to get dressed, needed to leave this room and focus on the job he’d hired her to do.

“I doubt you have ever seen a statue in a state of semi-arousal.”

“No.”

“Would you like to?”

“No!” She shot out of the tub, reached for the robe and wrapped it around her wet body. “Have you sent a note to your parents informing them you’re alive?” she asked, banishing all romantic thoughts of this man.

“There’s no need. Terence will have called, eager to play the doting son. One must pander to my parents if they hope to receive their inheritance.”

“Then at least they’ll have time to deal with the shock.” Normal conversation helped to settle her ragged emotions. “Other than to update them on the news, what is the purpose of our visit?”

“The purpose?” He frowned. “Madam, you know how to dampen a man’s ardour.”

She dismissed all prospect of discussing anything sinful. “I must ask you an unpleasant question.” She paused, gave him time to object.

“Then ask what you will.” He threw back the bedsheets and strolled over to the bathtub. “We agreed to speak plainly.”

Claudia moved to the window and stared at the garden below. She heard the splash as he entered the water.

“Do you believe your parents are innocent of any wrongdoing or do you suspect they played a part in what happened on that fateful night?”

He took a few seconds to answer. “Who wants to believe one’s parents want them dead?”

“And what if the motive was simply to get rid of you?” The villain had committed murder and blamed Mr Lockhart. Perhaps threatening him with the gallows was simply a means to keep him abroad. “Do you not think you should tell me what happened that night?”