“I can’t return you to your family, looking like something the cat dragged in.”
“Your brother dragged in, you mean.”
“Perhaps, but I’m still not convinced you’re the victim in this case.”
“Your opinion is entirely beside the point.”
“Even so, you’ll remain here for the time being.”
“Why, so you can molest me again?”
“Molest you, Miss Kendrick?” Kell eyed her measuringly. “That is all the gratitude I get for my trouble last night?”
Her cheeks flushed at the reminder. “I hardly think I owe you gratitude.”
“No? I seem to recall you begging me to soothe your needs.”
“I was clearly not in my right mind.”
He flashed her a mocking smile, now intent on drawing her fire. If she was angry at him, she would be less likely to focus her outrage on his brother. “Well, have no fear. I don’t mean to touch you again. Does that disappoint you?”
He was deliberately provoking her, and she rose to the bait. Her eyes flashed with revolt. “If I were a man…”
Kell raised an eyebrow. “What would you do?”
“I would challenge you on a field of honor.”
“You would lose.”
She rose to her feet, passionate fury in every line of her body. “You cannot keep me here!”
“I think I can. You obviously need time for your hot temper to cool.”
It was a measure of how raw her nerves were that Raven reacted to his arrogant tone as irrationally as she did-drawi
ng back her arm to slap the mockery off his handsome face. He caught her hand before she could do any damage, his grasp a velvet manacle on her wrist.
Raven winced reflexively at the pressure on her bruised flesh. Instantly she saw a softening in the hard intensity of his eyes. She was suddenly aware of a new tension that charged the air. His gaze felt unbearably intimate, while his touch seemed to burn her bare skin.
She drew a sharp breath. How could he remind her so much of her pirate lover? Her gaze dropped to his sensual, hard-looking mouth. How could she be feeling this yearning to have him kiss her again?
Forcibly she dragged her gaze from his mouth. She wanted to hate him, not to feel a powerful surge of desire.
As if he could see the sudden flare of need in her eyes, he released her hand abruptly and turned away.
Without speaking, he went to the side door and locked it, then pocketed the key. Moving to the other door, he paused. “Finish your breakfast and have a bath first. Then we’ll talk.” When he had let himself from the room, she heard the key turn as he locked that door as well.
Raven stared after him, wanting to scream with frustration while at the same time fighting down rising panic. She was trapped here, at the mercy of a blackguard. Perhaps he had saved her from his brother, but there was a very real sense of danger about Kell Lasseter. She didn’t believe he would simply release her to return to her family unscathed.
And once she did return?
She raised a hand to her temple as the disastrous events of the past hours struck her anew. Even if her ailing grandfather hadn’t expired from shock, the consequences of last night would be unavoidable. She had been thoroughly compromised, her sterling reputation destroyed. Halford would doubtless shun her. Indeed, any chance of marrying well had been totally shattered. Her life was ruined, as were her mother’s dreams for her.
Unbidden, a sob rose to her throat. She felt cold, sick inside-
Shaking herself fiercely, Raven lifted her chin and steeled her spine. She couldn’t afford to indulge in despair. Her first priority was to escape. She would not remain here as Kell Lasseter’s prisoner.
She went to one of the windows and peered down. Two stories was not too far a drop if she fashioned a rope out of the bedsheets. But then what? She had no clothing or shoes or money to pay a hackney. And she could hardly traipse through Mayfair dressed as she was and totally defenseless…