Author: Nicole Jordan
Category: Historical
Go to read content：https://readnovelfree.com/p/51024_17
“I don’t wish you to show me a thing, Lord Danvers. I only want you to kiss me and be done with it. Would you please just get it over?”
“Very well.”
He bent his head slowly. Arabella froze, bracing herself for the onslaught. She refused to run this time like a coward. It was supposed to be a simple kiss after all…
The trouble was, there was nothing simple about his kiss whatsoever. The caress was a mere brush of lips, true, but his mouth was warm and inviting, and the delicious pressure sent her senses reeling with blazing heat again, made her body shiver with desire. Just like before, when he had left her weak and breathless and helplessly aroused.
Magic, that’s what it was. He was working some sort of fiery spell over her.
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She was inexplicably disappointed when he lifted his head after the briefest of moments. He was staring at her once more, Arabella saw, feeling dazed.
She raised her fingers to her burning lips as she stared back at him. A flame had kindled in the depths of his blue eyes…the same sort of flame that he had ignited deep inside her.
“So it wasn’t an aberration at all,” he murmured, his voice low and husky.
Arabella tried to gather her wits. “What was not an aberration?”
“Never mind.” Satisfaction gleamed in his eyes as he stepped back. “Now, are you ready to return home?”
She shook herself from her daze. “Not yet. I concluded a class at the academy this afternoon and intended to call on Lady Freemantle to make my report. She likes to be kept abreast of every detail.”
“I will accompany you there.”
“That won’t be necessary. Her ladyship’s estate is just over the next hill.”
He glanced in the direction Arabella indicated. “Then I will send a groom to escort you home when you are through. I don’t like the thought of you riding about the countryside alone.”
Arabella’s expression turned ironic. “I have been doing so for years, Lord Danvers. This is not London. Ours is a completely tame neighborhood, with little wickedness or crime.”
“Still, you should have a groom with you. I’m surprised your former guardian was so neglectful.”
Arabella felt herself stiffening. “Paupers cannot afford grooms, my lord.”
“Your step-uncle could have afforded to supply a male servant for your protection.”
Her smile was humorless. “Our step-uncle did not consider us worth the expense.”
Lord Danvers contemplated her expression. “Stings your pride to be that dependent, does it?”
“Of course it stings.”
“I can imagine.”
That made Arabella’s lips quirk with true amusement. “I sincerely doubt it. Very likely you have never been dependent on anyone or anything in your life.”
He inclined his head, acknowledging the truth of her supposition. “Not since I was out of short coats at least. But in the future, when you are not in my company, I would be obliged if you would take one of my grooms with you.”
She cocked her head. “Why should I wish to oblige you?”
“Because I care for your welfare, sweeting.”
His easy answer gave her pause. It was the first time in years that any man had cared for her welfare. Their step-uncle certainly had not.
“I will consider it,” she conceded.
He grinned at her. “Not willing to surrender an inch, are you?”
“No, my lord,” Arabella said sweetly.