Seeing her struggle, Rayne said casually, “Come sit beside me, love, so that I may help make you presentable.”

She hesitated a moment, then obeyed.

“I confess relief that you haven’t taken to wearing caps yet,” he murmured as his fingers searched for the pins. “Your hair is too lovely to keep it covered.”

Madeline shifted uneasily in her seat, certain he was offering her false flattery again. The mention of caps made her uncomfortable as well. She hadn’t yet resorted to donning the lace caps that signified spinsterhood, since it would be too final an admission of her passing years and her waning hopes for love and marriage.

Thankfully, Rayne dropped the subject and worked in silence. Madeline was keenly aware of his gentle touch, though. Stiffening her spine, she braced herself against the beguiling effect, but her task was made more difficult by the rocking of the coach.

It was several minutes before he removed the bandeau and combs from her hair and pronounced her fit to be seen by the Danvers staff.

“You will do,” Rayne said, surveying her.

“Thank you,” Madeline murmured, easing away from him.

He smiled slightly, as if understanding the reason for her defensiveness. “We aren’t quite finished, love. Let me take your shawl.”

When she held out her arms, he lifted the garment from around her shoulders and tucked it inside the satchel along with the combs and bandeau.

Without the added layer of fabric, Madeline was hard-pressed to explain why she was suddenly overly warm. No doubt it was Rayne’s close proximity that affected her temperature so profoundly, along with the contemplative way he was looking at her.

When she started to return to her own seat, however, he stopped her by lightly touching her arm. “You still have the letter pouch attached to your garter, remember?”

“I can manage to remove it on my own,” she said in a breathless voice.

“A pity,” was his mild reply.

Reaching down, Madeline fumbled beneath her skirts for the clip that hooked to her stocking garter. Retrieving the pouch, she slipped it into the satchel and smoothed her gown down again. But even then Rayne would not let her return to her former seat.

Instead, he drew her back against the squabs and made her look at him.

Madeline caught her breath, wondering if he had decided to take advantage of their enforced intimacy to spur her surrender, and if he would use his potent masculine appeal and devastating charm to do it.

Her suspicion was confirmed with his next words.

“We still are not finished, sweetheart,” Rayne murmured. “I want to show you why you should give my marriage proposal serious consideration.”

Weakly, Madeline shook her head. “I already agreed to give it serious consideration.”

“But I doubt you truly meant it.”

He lifted his hand to run a finger over her lips in a sensual caress, sending a spark of heat rippling through her. Then he leaned toward her, until he was so close she could feel the warmth of his breath.

The air was abruptly charged with electric currents as Madeline comprehended that he meant to kiss her. She tried to steady her racing heartbeat and pull back from him, yet she couldn’t seem to move as he lowered his head the final distance.

Without haste, he licked her bottom lip, making her open for him. Then he slid his tongue inside, a hot, leisurely stroke that stole her willpower even further. His mouth moving slowly over hers, he kissed her with lingering thoroughness—until she finally found the strength to press her hands against his chest.

“I know what you are about,” she complained in a shaky voice. “You are bent on lowering my defenses.”

He flashed her an easy smile, the one that was so effective at winning female hearts. “Certainly I am. And I give you fair warning, lovely Madeline. I am not a man to give up easily.”

She most definitely did not need any warning. She already knew how dangerous Rayne was. Dear heaven, he was lethal with his beautiful face so close to hers, with his seductive mouth a mere breath away. His nearness was even more hazardous with her body still vibrating with aftershocks from his kisses and her traitorous senses urging her to give in.

Yet she made another effort to foil his intentions. “I thought you were a white knight who put great store in chivalry. It is not the least chivalrous of you to try to seduce me.”

“Ah, but I have your best interests at heart, darling. I intend to bring out all that hidden passion you have inside you.”

Madeline swallowed. “What hidden passion?”

Tags: Nicole Jordan Courtship Wars Historical
Source: readsnovelonline.net