A Highland Conquest by Sandra Heath

Author:Sandra Heath [Heath, Sandra]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Regency Romance
Publisher: Belgrave House
Published: 1994-08-25T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

Lauren was overtaken by a sensuousness she never dreamed she possessed. Her lips softened and parted, and her body moved to meet his, molding to him as if it had been fashioned for just this moment. Kissing him was the most natural thing in the world, and the most exciting. Innocence slipped away from her fingertips and an instinctive knowledge took its place. The world spun, lifting her out of her hitherto chaste existence and carrying her toward a luxurious fulfillment. Consummation beckoned, promising all manner of sensual delights, but a cool voice whispered a warning. “Fool if you trust him, fool if you trust him…”

“No!” With a gasp she drew sharply away, and got up hastily from the bank. Her skirts brushed the ferns, and a slender branch from the oak tree overhead caught briefly in her hair, dislodging it from its pins so that it tumbled in confusion about her shoulders.

“Lauren—”

“I don’t trust you, Lord Glenvane. I have no reason to, you see, because I know what fate you and your brother have plotted for me.” Her voice shook as she struggled to gather her scattered senses.

He stared at her. “You what?”

“I overheard you last night, when you agreed to help him settle his gaming debts.”

For a moment he was too thunderstruck to say anything, but then he ran his ringers slowly through his hair. “How much did you hear?”

“Enough to see through you now.”

“Oh? And what exactly do you think you see now?”

“I see…” She faltered, for what did she see? How could it further his brother’s cause if he himself made love to her?

His gray eyes were bright and intense. “It seems you cannot explain, for to follow your reasoning leads to a puzzle. What logic can there possibly be in my actions now?” he said softly.

Still she tried to fight the compelling sensuality which he had stirred within her. “I don’t begin to know what passes for logic where you are concerned, Lord Glenvane.”

“No, but I begin to understand you a little better. Suddenly I see the reason for your trickery before dinner, why you managed to prevent Jamie from escorting you, and then contrived to be seated next to me.”

“A dextrous turning of the tables, you will agree,” she replied defiantly.

“Oh, poetic justice, no less.”

“I trust you also understand more what I meant when we rode back to the castle this morning?”

“About being pursued for your fortune? Yes, I understand.”

“I also trust that you will convey my displeasure to your brother?”

“I will see to it that he desists forthwith; you have my word upon it.”

“And your word is to be trusted, sir?”

“Yes. Lauren, you will never know how much I regret my equivocation where Jamie’s plan was concerned. I didn’t want to have any part in it, but at the same time I was trying to convince myself I didn’t want you. It was impossible, for I want you too much.”

Her breath caught, and she whirled about to face him properly. Was he

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