A Daring Passion

ful of women is capable of stirring my lust.”

“That is still no compliment. I had nothing to do with the way I was born.”

He gave a sharp laugh. “You wish me to tell you that I am fascinated by your brilliant wit and astonishing intelligence?”

Raine flinched as he struck far too close to the truth. She did possess wit and intelligence. Why should she not be admired for such things?

All too aware of his searching gaze watching the play of emotions that flitted over her face, Raine abruptly turned to study the blazing fire.

“I suppose it does not matter.”

She thought she heard him stifle a sigh before he reached out to lightly stroke her cheek.

“You are very difficult to please, meu amor. Since it is obvious my mere words cannot convince you of my utter bewitchment, perhaps I should express my admiration with a more tangible means.”

Philippe shifted, and without warning Raine discovered that he was pressing the box he had brought back from Paris into her hands.

A chill settled in the pit of her stomach as she studied the elegantly carved box.

“What is this?”

“Open it and discover for yourself,” he softly challenged.

With hesitant motions she pulled the lid off the box and gently tugged aside the black velvet within. She caught a brilliant flash of absurdly large diamonds and what appeared to be a ruby, as well as a golden glint of amber before she was shoving the box back into Philippe’s hand.

“No,” she breathed.

For once she managed to catch him utterly off guard. His brows drew together as he regarded her with a hint of wariness.

“Raine?”

There might have been a measure of satisfaction in Philippe’s uncertainty if Raine had not been battling a sudden flood of tears. As it was, all she could think of was escaping before he could witness her distress.

“Excuse me,” she muttered, sweeping past him to head directly for the door.

Once out of the stifling room, Raine picked up her skirts and dashed up the stairs to her chambers. Within moments she had the door shut and locked behind her.

Still in the drawing room, Philippe paced the cramped space as he struggled to comprehend what had just occurred.

Raine usually managed to surprise him. Which, of course, only added to her fascination. But this…this was completely daft.

He had just offered the chit an entire treasure chest of flawless jewels. The sort of jewels that a mere mistress could rarely hope to acquire. So why was she not overcome with joy? Why was she not tossing herself in his arms and rewarding him as she should?

Hell and damnation.

A wave of fury washed through him as he reached into the box and pulled out the necklaces. Stuffing them into his pocket, he headed for the upstairs chambers. He deserved an explanation.

And then he deserved the hours of sensuous gratitude that he had been anticipating.

His fury was not improved when he reached Raine’s door and discovered she had thrown the lock. Lifting his fist, he hit the oak door with enough force to make the pictures rattle on the hall paneling.

“Dammit, open the door, Raine.”

There was a long silence before Raine’s voice at last floated through the air.

“Can I not have even a few moments of privacy?”

He hit the door again, indifferent to the knowledge that the entire household must be capable of hearing him, and fact that he was not behaving at all like himself.