Unmasking Miss Lacey by Isabelle Goddard

Author:Isabelle Goddard
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2012-09-09T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

The earl put his signature to the invitation with a flourish. After the drama of the past few days, it would be a suitably flamboyant way to say goodbye to Lucinda. And say goodbye he must. It was clear that Sir Francis wished him miles away. Since the evening in Steyning, his host had gone into hiding, burying himself in his library and emerging only to take his meals. Jack had sat through a lengthy dinner with him last night in almost complete silence. But for his rigid social code, Sir Francis would have shown him the door long since, for in his host’s mind he was entertaining a dangerous seducer. Jack couldn’t blame him. Since he had come to the Towers it must seem that the world had gone haywire. The proposal Sir Francis so much desired had not materialised; instead he had been shocked to the core by his niece’s conduct at the ball, a grievance compounded by the frightening infection that followed hard on its heels. It was a distressing state of affairs for a man who had invited into his home the biggest catch of the ton. If anyone had been caught, it had been Sir Francis, Jack thought drily.

But there was a more pressing need to say goodbye than the travails of Sir Francis. When Fielding had come this morning with the news that the carriage was at last ready and that they could leave for Lord Merrington’s whenever his master pleased, he had felt sadness and relief in equal measure. He must go for Lucinda’s sake. Her neighbours had been shocked by the brazen waltz they had danced together and there was no doubt gossip aplenty. But her life could get far more disagreeable: the longer he stayed, the more the neighbourhood would expect an announcement of their betrothal and when it did not come, she would be thought a hussy or, even worse, an impure woman.

And if he were honest, he needed to leave for his own sake. The explosion of desire he’d felt that night at the ball still resonated, though he knew well that such passion had no currency beyond the moment. If passion was all, this farewell would be easy. But it wasn’t all. It wasn’t just sensual appetite that she awoke. He had been angry with her for duping him, playing him for a fool, furious that she had been foolhardy enough to attempt another ambush. But when he had looked down at that pale and fragile form, so small in the huge bed, his heart had hurt with tenderness. He had wanted to scoop her into his arms and keep her from all harm; he had wanted to fight the world for her. That was a very, very dangerous feeling. He was on a precipice and close to its edge, close to falling in love with her, and that must not happen.

The years had taught him vigilance and this time he would protect himself from harm.

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