Page 89 of A Rogues & Gentlemen Christmas

Chapter 6

“Wherein the first taste of temptation.”

Grace wondered if her heart could keep beating at the frantic pace it had found, and then Mr Hardy—Ned—asked if he could kiss her. The poor thing was out of control now, racing so fast she felt giddy with it, dizzy with his nearness.

She’d known he was a big man, large and powerful, but now, sitting on his lap with his arms around her, she was surrounded by virile male. He was so warm and so alive and he overwhelmed her senses. If she’d been bold enough, she would have wrapped her arms about him and burrowed into that solid masculinity, pressing her slighter, more delicate frame against him. She wanted to feel him, the weight of him, the strength of him, but she did not know how to ask for such things and so she waited, trembling with anticipation.

“You’re not afraid of me?” he asked, concerned.

As close as they were, she could see flecks of gold, bronze, and green in his brown eyes, and such warmth, such care shone there.

“No, not in the least afraid,” she said, meaning it.

He smiled, and she sighed as his warm palm cupped her face. Oh, how she loved the feel of his hands on her, so gentle, so reverent.

“Have ye ever been kissed?” he asked, something in his voice that caught her attention.

She went to tell him no and then paused, realising she couldn’t. Though could such an assault be called a kiss? Grace stiffened in his arms.

“I’m sorry,” he said, immediately contrite, though for what she wasn’t certain. “I ought not to have asked, it’s none of my business.”

“No, it’s not that,” she said, cross with herself for allowing Mr Carrington to spoil this perfect moment. “There’s been no one. It’s… it’s only… last week. Last week….”

Her voice cracked as she remembered.

“Oh, God,” he said, understanding at once, both hands framing her face now. “Gracie, love, what did he do?”

She shook her head, not wanting to talk about it. Ned held her to him, tucking her head under his chin as he rubbed circles on her back, soothing her like a child.

“Tell me, love,” he said, his voice achingly tender. “Tell me what happened. You’ll feel better once you’ve said it aloud, and ye surely know I’ll not blame ye for anything that bastard did.”

Grace swallowed. “It was nothing much, really. I… I was just so frightened. He’s vile, and I couldn’t stand it when he touched me.”

She was aware of the tension singing through his body and thought she’d best tell him it all before he imagined the worst.

“Mr Carrington came to ask me to marry him and when I refused he was furious. He… he pinned me against the wall and said awful things. He said I’d led him on and that it didn’t matter whether or not I wanted him, I would marry him. He’d bought me from Harold, and so I… I belonged to him.”

Ned let out a curse under his breath and Grace put her arms about his neck, feeling the strange need to comfort him for the distress she knew she was causing him in telling him this.

“He kissed me, though it didn’t feel like a kiss. It… it hurt, his teeth biting at my lips and he forced his tongue….” She paused for a moment and took a deep breath. “He had my wrists pinned above my head with one hand and he was so strong I knew I had to fight. He started to pull up my skirts, and I—”

“I’ll kill him,” Ned growled, such savagery in the words that Grace knew he meant it.

“N-No, no you must not. You cannot,” she said, panicked now, pushing away from his chest to sit back and look at him. “I won’t see you hurt on my behalf. He’s a powerful man, Ned, and besides, what will become of me if you are prosecuted? No. In any case, there is no need. I already punished him for his attentions.”

He stilled at that. “You did?”

Grace nodded. “I was struggling to get away and… and it was instinct really, but I raised my knee, hard, and he… he sort of crumpled.”

Ned stared at her and then let out a breath before hugging her to him again. “Clever girl,” he said, with such obvious pride that she felt her heart swell. “Clever, brave girl, Gracie. Oh, God, love. When I think of the bastard’s hands on ye…. He deserves more than a knee to the bollocks. He deserves to be castrated.”

She gave a shocked little bark of laughter and Ned smiled at her.

“That wasn’t a kiss, Grace, not even close. It was an attack. It doesn’t count and ye must not think on it anymore. Carrington will never trouble ye again. I’ll see to that. If he does, I’ll make him regret it. He’s a vile bully but he’s no fool. He’ll not pursue ye once we are wed. Not in person, at least. Your brother I don’t trust an inch, but he’s easily dealt with. Carrington, though?” He shook his head. “The scandal would not reflect well on such a man, for one thing. He’s vain—a bloody peacock. To be seen to be chasing an unwilling woman would hurt his pride.”

“You think so?” she asked.

“I do. Though if I’m wrong, ye may rest assured I’ll break his fine neck.”