The Paid Companion by Amanda Quick

Author:Amanda Quick
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, azw3
Tags: Romance
ISBN: 9780515138641
Publisher: Jove
Published: 2004-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

“Or a man madly in love,” she amended, smiling slightly. “I have heard the story in several variations, my lord, and I must conclude that you did not fit that description. If you had been passionately in love with Juliana, you would have given chase.”

He stretched his arms out full-length on either side along the back of the cushions. His smile was as thin and sharp as the edge of a blade. “Surely by now someone has explained to you that I am a man who is motivated solely by money. People credit me with many attributes, Miss Lodge, but I assure you, strong passions are not among them.”

“Yes, well, I daresay that few people know you well enough to make such a judgment, and that, too, is no doubt your own fault.”

“How the devil can you place the responsibility for that at my doorstep?”

“I do not mean to give offense, sir, but you do not encourage-” She broke off abruptly, aware that the word she had been about to use-intimacy-was not quite the bon mot she was searching for to describe his aloof, self-controlled nature. “Let us say that you do not encourage close personal relationships.”

“And with good reason. Such associations frequently get in the way of sound business decisions.”

“I do not, for one minute, believe that to be your motive for keeping most people at a distance. The truth, I suspect, is that it is your overriding sense of responsibility that makes it difficult for you to let down your guard. You do not feel that you can afford to take the risk of trusting someone else to take control for a while.”

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“You possess an unusual view of my temperament,” he muttered.

“And in my unusual view, I am quite certain that you are a man of strong if tightly controlled passions.” He gave her an odd look, as though she had just provided him with cause to doubt her sanity. “Tell me, Miss Lodge, do you really believe that I would chase after a runaway fiancée under any circumstances?”

“Oh, yes, my lord. If your passionate nature was involved, you would pursue her into the gates of Hell itself”

He grimaced. “A very poetic image.”

“However, sir, you did not pursue Juliana that night last year. Therefore, we are left with the results of your decision.”

“Explain to me again why I should resolve the Burnleys’ financial difficulties,” he said grimly. “I do not seem to be able to grasp the crux of your argument.”

“It is really very simple, sir. If you had pursued the lovers that night, the chances are excellent that Juliana would be your countess today and would, therefore, possess no financial worries of any sort. For his part, Roland would still be in his father’s good graces and no doubt happily spending his plump quarterly allowance on tailors and boot makers.”

He shook his head in wonder. “Your logic leaves me quite speechless, Miss Lodge.”

“But you cannot fault it, can you?”

“Do you know

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