"You might as well make yourself comfortable," Dare said in response to her unspoken question. "We have a long drive ahead of us."
Julienne's gaze flew to his. She could read grim determination there, but for a moment she was too surprised to speak.
"Is this an abduction?" she asked finally.
He didn't give her a direct answer. "There are five days left of our week. I don't intend to share any of them with Ivers."
"Nor do I." By willpower alone she fixed a cool smile on her face. "Does Solange know what you've planned?"
"I told her last night. In fact she gave me her blessing. I had your bags packed and loaded while you were breakfasting."
Solange had acted oddly this morning, almost apologetically. Julienne had thought it was because the Frenchwoman hadn't wanted to spend the day touring stables. "She actually agreed to let you carry me off?"
"I convinced her you were in danger from a madman who was stalking you-which, after your poisoning, she had no trouble believing. She thought you would be safer with me."
"Where are you taking me?
"I have a house in Berkshire. A very private house."
"A love nest for your paramours, I presume."
"Precisely."
Julienne pressed her lips together. She should be furious at Dare's high-handedness, but the truth was, she would be glad to leave Newmarket. She couldn't bear the thought of encountering Ivers again. Thus she made no protest other than to say, "You are taking a great deal for granted."
She almost flinched at the jewel-hard clarity of Dare's gaze.
"I want you all to myself. Alone. And I don't want there to be any mistake about who your lover is."
His implication burned her. Defensively she crossed her arms over her chest, shielding herself against his mockery. "I don't intend to discuss Ivers with you."
"Good. I don't intend for you to. I don't even want you thinking about him. During the next few days I mean to make you forget him entirely."
His tone was dispassionate, Julienne observed, but she knew he was deadly serious.
"And if I refuse to accompany you? Do you mean to hold me prisoner?"
"I don't think you will refuse. You want the same thing I do."
She arched an eyebrow. "And what is that?"
"Pleasure." His faint smile held a predatory edge, even as his voice dropped to a seductive murmur. "Four days and nights of intense, mind-numbing pleasure. Carnal delights so hot, so raw, so wild, it will make you scream."
Against her will Julienne felt the muscles of her inner thighs contract at his sensual promise. Four days of intimacy with Dare. Something they had never had together, even during their tender summer of being lovers.
It would be torment.
It would be ecstasy.
"The decision is yours," he said.
So he wouldn't hold her captive, Julienne reflected. Dare would let her go if she demanded it. He was making the choice hers.
Without answering, she turned her head to stare out the window, unwilling to give him the satisfaction of knowing how much she wanted to accept his proposition.
It was indeed a long drive. They spoke little for the next several hours, even when they stopped to change horses and eat a light luncheon.
Julienne fell asleep afterward. Dare watched her, feeling a strange mix of regret and tension. It bothered him to see her withdraw so totally after the progress they'd recently seemed to be making in their relationship. But he wasn't about to turn away from his chosen course.