Chapter Fourteen #2
“Perhaps that is so, but I’m worried about my own.
” That sounded snobbish and was the absolute worst thing to utter aloud if the shock and disappointment in her eyes was any indication.
“Uh, I’d rather not attract too much scandal.
I might not have much, but my reputation is my own, and I’ve tried to rise above the muck my father left. ”
“Ah, and you don’t wish to land in those trenches again with me.” With a huff, she struggled to her feet then tugged her bodice back into place while he did up the buttons of his frontfalls and tucked his flagging length inside. “I’m only good enough to trifle with? Is that what you meant?”
“God, no. You’re putting words in my mouth.” As twin spots of color appeared on her pale cheeks and annoyance snapped in her eyes, he stood. “I simply meant—”
“Oh, I know what you meant, Captain.” She shook her head. “Do you not remember what we did last night?”
“Of course I do.” Heat seeped up the back of his neck and through his chest at the memory, for he’d sneaked into her room, and they’d come together quite frantically.
Once against the wall and the second in the middle of the night where he’d taken her from behind.
Teaching her new ways to enjoy intercourse had given him unexpected pride and had bound them both even more closely in ways he’d hadn’t anticipated.
Her eyelids flickered. Fear shadowed the blue gray depths of her eyes. “Did you lie to me when you said my past didn’t matter?”
“No, I—”
“Did you only say that to manipulate me into your bed?”
“God, no!” When he would have taken her hand, she retreated and put space between them.
“I’m merely wanting to make myself look better for you.
” Clearly, she didn’t believe him, for she narrowed her gaze.
“In the event you haven’t noticed, I’ve been courting you for the past week.
Perhaps I’ve done a shoddy job of it, should have waited to share intimacy with you until things were more established…
” His words trailed off; he was making a muck of things.
Her eyes widened. “You are courting me.” It wasn’t a question.
“Trying and failing. Perhaps I am my father’s son after all, and you’ve decided I’m not worthy of your time.”
“There is nothing wrong with you.” She shook her head. “Don’t try and turn this around to pin it on me. I won’t have it.”
“No, you won’t, and I admire the hell out of you for that.” Words went ‘round his mind like ponies on a loop and became jumbled. “You must admit, though, I have nothing, can’t offer anything to anyone, even you. Which means I’ve compromised you for nothing.”
A snort escaped her. “You can’t compromise a woman who has already been ruined and then ostracized by society by bearing a bastard child.”
“Damn it, Rose, that isn’t the only thing you are!”
“Yet everything comes back to that, doesn’t it?”
“Only because you keep referring to it!” His voice rose in frustration. “If you look beyond that, you’ll see what I do. A lovely young woman who just wants love and acceptance.”
Flustered, she crossed her arms at her chest and glared at him, which meant his words had made an impression on her. “I am not going to answer that, but I know you’re keeping something from me, and that is why you were distracted just now. Not worrying about your reputation.”
Shock slammed into his chest. “How can you know that? I only found out this afternoon.”
“Because you and I have grown close since you landed here, and we are very much alike.”
Another wave of surprise came over him. “Outside of the military, I have never had anyone that close to me, yet you believe we are that?” Wonder wove through his voice.
With a shake of her head, she pointed her gaze to the sky before focusing it on his face again. “Is that so far from believable? That I might admire you, think you are better than your lineage? See that you have such potential?”
“No.” Laurence shook his head. “It seems we’re experiencing our first quarrel.
” When she didn’t appear as if her hackles would go down, he blew out a breath.
“Here is why I’m distracted.” As succinctly as he could, he explained to her about what Mrs. Henderson had told him. “I need to follow that lead, Rose.”
“While I understand that, do you need to do that now?”
“Yes. Why not?” A flash of annoyance went through his chest as he stared her down. “You of all people should know what it will mean to me if I find my sister. We have talked about it at length.”
“I do know, and I applaud your determination, your zeal. You should have a family, that connection.” When her voice broke, it sliced through his chest like a knife, but it was the vulnerability in her eyes that nearly had him on his knees before her. “Go find your sister.”
“Rose…”
She shook her head. “I’ll never have that opportunity, and neither should I after what I did. My babe never knew he was taken from his real family, but your sister might.” Tears sprang into her eyes. A few fell to her cheeks, and he hated each one.