“I did as you asked,” she told him. “I was all charm and politeness to Deering, even though it made my skin crawl.”
Ash nodded in approval. “Your sacrifice was worthwhile, since you paved the way for my success. When I told Deering I wanted a chance to win the deed for your wedding gift, he leapt at the chance to play me, and he agreed to meet me evening after next. I allowed him his choice of locations, and not surprisingly, he chose Sutter’s. Jack has played there before and says it’s a fairly reputable club, so I doubt the proprietor or employees were involved in marking the cards when Deering played against your father.”
Distracted by the first part of his announcement, Maura gave a small frown. “That is only two days from now.”
“Is that a problem?”
“No, not at all. It is just that … matters are coming to a head more quickly than I anticipated.”
“The sooner we expose Deering’s cheating, the sooner your father can be exonerated.”
She would be thrilled to have her father’s good name restored, but Maura suddenly realized how short time was growing. If their plan succeeded, in a few more days it could all be over and her betrothal to Ash would end—which meant she would have to decide quickly about the terms of their parting.
She said nothing to Ash just then, for she hadn’t fully resolved the conflicting forces warring inside her, a struggle between desire and prudence. But later, after they returned home, she committed to her momentous decision when she managed another private moment with him.
“Will you come to my room tonight?” she murmured.
His gaze was searching as it swept her face. “Why?”
“Because I want to be your lover.”
A flicker of fire lit his eyes, yet he didn’t instantly leap to accept her invitation as she’d expected.
“You said the choice to become lovers was mine,” Maura pressed at his hesitation, “and I have chosen. I don’t want to be seen wandering the halls of your house, however, and your apartments are closer to your sister’s than is comfortable. So you will have to come to me.”
When still Ash didn’t reply, Maura eyed him uncertainly. “Isn’t your offer to show me passion still open?”
His taut mouth relaxed in a smile. “Yes, if that is what you want.”
“I do. I want to make the most of our remaining time together.”
“Very well, I will come to you tonight, a half hour after we retire.”
His tame response puzzled Maura, for despite his words, Ash seemed reluctant somehow, as if he wasn’t as eager to fully consummate their intimacy as she was. Yet time had taken on a new urgency for her, since they had so little of it left to be together.
She had no chance to discuss his reticence further, though, because Lady Isabella claimed his attention by asking him to pour her a glass of sherry.
Maura was left wondering if Ash’s latent scruples were coming to the fore. From the very first, he had claimed his honor wouldn’t allow him to seduce her, and it would hardly be the act of a gentleman to take her virginity. Or perhaps he just didn’t believe that she was truly serious about wanting to be his lover in full.
If so, she would simply have to convince him, Maura concluded, beset by conflicting feelings of nervousness and anticipation about the night to come.
Ash could not have explained his hesitation to Maura, for he wasn’t certain he understood it himself. There was no question that he wanted to make love to her; he did, badly. Yet he wasn’t pleased with her reasons for deciding to become his lover.
Maura wasn’t committing herself to a future with him or planning for their betrothal to result in marriage. In fact, it seemed evident that she meant to bolt as soon as her need for him was over.
When she admitted him to her bedchamber an hour later, the fleeting smile Maura gave him only confirmed his suspicions. She was tense and on edge, he realized as she quietly closed the door behind him and backed away. Not precisely the reception he wanted.
Ash remained standing by the door as he took stock of her appearance. Maura wore a simple batiste nightgown, and he could see shadows of womanly curves through the delicate fabric. The room was dim, lit only by a low-burning lamp and the hearth fire, but the golden flames lent an ethereal glow to her ivory skin and gilded the fair hair that flowed down her back.
In return, Maura noted his brocade dressing gown, which he wore over his trousers, and clasped her hands together as if to bolster her courage.
“I see this was a mistake,” Ash murmured. “You are having second thoughts.”
“No, not at all.”
“Then why do you look as if you fear my ravishment?”
“I don’t fear it.… It is just that … well, you seemed so reluctant to accept my invitation that I knew I would have to take the initiative and seduce you, but I am not experienced at seduction, and I worry that I may botch the whole thing.”