A Lady in Disguise by Cynthia Bailey Pratt

Author:Cynthia Bailey Pratt [Pratt, Cynthia Bailey]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Regency Romance
Publisher: Belgrave House
Published: 1993-09-15T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

“I’d prefer to ring for a maid, Mr. Everard.”

“I’m sure you would, but as you can see, the bellpull is all the way across the room.”

“Are you flirting with me, sir?” she demanded in a glacial tone. Dimly, she recalled this tactic working with importunate London gentlemen. They would instantly deny any such intention. But they had not a smile that would melt the most arctic woman.

“Yes. Yes, I believe I am. I can understand your asking. I’m not very good at it. You’ll have to teach me to improve my skills in that area. You are a governess, are you not?”

“Not yours,” Lillian said, retreating further. She felt the chill of the mirror against her back. If she could have turned to look at her face, what expression would she see now? Why, a mentally deficient cow, her baser self answered, laughing.

“I wasn’t playing a game when I said that you are lovely in that dress. It reminds me of the first day you were here. When you were up in that little room my grandmother first said was yours.” The laughter in his green eyes was not at all hidden by his lazy eyelids.

“I—I don’t know what you mean!” she said, knowing it was a stupid thing to say, but she could think of nothing safer. For she recalled all too clearly the shattering thoughts that had filled her when he’d seen her half clothed in her room, with only a cloth between them. Now she was protected by another cloth, but this one was transparent.

“Shall I remind you?” He lifted his hand, his forefinger extended. But he touched nothing save her cheek, drawing his touch along its curve. Lillian felt her lower limbs weaken and tremble. She could not keep her head from dropping back as he slowly drew a line to her mouth. He murmured her name and she felt his breath stir on her lips. This could not be kindness!

At the memory of his other attentions to her, Lillian stiffened and pulled back. She caught a fleeting impression of his face, changed by some ardent power. That expression made her breath come short, even as had his touch. But regaining her self-control, she said, “Please... I don’t want you to. Let me go.”

Lillian pushed past him. He caught her arm and said her name in a low chuckle. Fire seemed to flash through the material of the sleeve to her skin, staying her steps and leaving her gasping at the overwhelming fever. She dared not lift her eyes to meet his, for she knew he’d see into her heart. Thorpe said her name again, lower, more intently, without laughter.

In the single instant that remained before Lillian felt she could no longer resist his enchantment, Burrows pushed open the door to pop her head around. Her eyes went big to see the master and the governess suspended in a most suspicious stance. The door closed. Guffaws came from behind it.

Lillian found herself abandoned. Thorpe released her arm and walked to the other side of the room, by the windows.

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