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Why weren’t any of them even a fraction as curious about her as he was? Why had Marks deliberately made herself unattractive for so long? What the devil was she hiding from?
Without making a conscious decision, Leo approached her slowly. He wasn’t certain how he was going to treat her, or what he was going to say. It depended on which impulse leaped out most strongly the moment he reached her. It was entirely possible that he would throttle her. It was equally likely that he would pull her to the sun-warmed grass and ravish her.
“You can’t run from your problems, you know.” His mouth twisted in annoyance. “Why do people always say that? Of course you can run from your problems. I do it all the time, and it never fails.”
His sister knew better than to start a conversation with him so early. He preferred to ease his way into the day, whereas Amelia liked to fling herself at it full tilt.
“Just as well, since no rational woman would have you.” Leo took up the challenge without hesitation. “A rational woman…” he mused aloud. “I don’t believe I’ve ever met one of those.”
“I like that idea,” Amelia said. “A bride-hunting ball.” “It would be more accurate,” Cam pointed out dryly, “to call it a groom-hunting ball. Since Leo will be the item of prey.”
He remembered happiness from a long time ago. He didn’t want to feel it. And yet the giddy warmth kept washing over him for no reason whatsoever.
“Beatrix and her animals.” They exchanged a grin. “Many people talk to their pets,” Catherine said. “Yes, but very few understand the replies.”
“I’m not going to argue with you, my lord. I need to save my breath for”—she paused to heft another block—“stacking rocks.”
“I’m sorry,” she said softly, when he fell silent. She covered his good hand with her own. “Truly sorry. I … oh, what an inadequate thing to say.” “It’s all right,” Leo said. “There are some experiences in life they haven’t invented the right words for.”
I have an extraordinary fondness for her memory. But it was a lifetime ago. And I can’t ever go through that again. I love like a madman.” “It might not be like that again.” “No, it would be worse. Because I was only a boy then. And now who I am, what I need … it’s too damned much for anyone to manage.” A sardonic laugh rustled in his throat. “I overwhelm even myself, Marks.”
“Take him to the house. I’ll meet you there.” Before she could reply, he had already begun to run to the house with smooth, ground-eating speed. By the time Catherine had guided the horse to the front entrance, Merripen was there.
“Leo…” She saw him blink in surprise. It was the first time she had ever used his name. “Take the laudanum,” she said. “I won’t let you fall. I won’t let you turn into a degenerate.” His mouth twisted. “You’re offering to take me on as your responsibility.” “Yes.” “I’m too much for you to manage.” “No,” Catherine said decisively, “you’re not.”
“Trust me,” she urged. “Give me one good reason.” “Because you can.”
He handed a piece of leather strap to Leo. “Put this between your teeth. And try not to make too much noise while we’re working on you. My son is napping.”
He had tried it once, letting himself fall madly in love, nearly losing everything as a result. And there were some risks a man couldn’t take twice.
Cantankerous, stubborn, fascinating creature … completely unlike his past lovers. And at times like this, she had all the cuddlesome appeal of a feral hedgehog. But she challenged him, met him as an equal, in a way that no other woman ever had. He wanted her beyond reason.
“Does no one find it odd that we have a servant who insists on disguising herself?” Leo asked. “Is this family so bloody eccentric that we accept any manner of strangeness without even asking questions?”
“Who is it?” Leo called out brusquely. “Rohan.” “If you open that door, I will kill you.” The statement was uttered with the vicious sincerity of a man who had been pushed to his limits. Apparently it was enough to give even Cam Rohan pause. After a long moment, Cam said, “I want a word with you.” “Now?” “Definitely now,” came the inexorable reply.
“This is the worst thing you’ve ever done to me,” he told Amelia. “Oh, not at all. I’m sure I’ve done worse things to you.” Leo considered that, running through a long list of remembered offenses in his mind. “Never mind, you’re right. But to be clear … I’m only tolerating this to humor you.”
“You consider the Irish inferior?” Leo asked idly. “Don’t you?” “Yes, I’ve always found it so crass when people refuse to be English.”
“I wouldn’t claim to be accomplished in the bedroom,” he said. “Merely competent. And women usually don’t recognize the difference.”
“No,” Leo said grimly. “I’m going alone. When I catch up with Marks, you won’t want to be there.” “Leo,” Amelia asked suspiciously, “what are you planning to do to her?” “Why do you always insist on asking questions when you know you won’t like the answers?” “Because, being an optimist,” she said tartly, “I always hope I’m wrong.”
Dodger streaked up around Cat’s neck and hung limply, playing dead. Like a scarf, Cat thought, struggling to repress a burst of demented giggles.
Spread Eagle Inn. What a fortuitous name.”
I’m not a blueblood any more than you are. I inherited the title purely by happenstance.” “That doesn’t matter. If you married me, it would be scandalous and inappropriate, and doors would be closed to you.” “Good God, woman, I let two of my sisters marry Roma. Those doors have already been closed, bolted, and nailed shut.”
“The trick is for me to find out what you like best, and then let you have only a little of it. I’ll torment you until you’re absolutely miserable.”
“I’m afraid.” “I know, darling,” Leo said gently. “But you’ll have to trust me.” “Why?” “Because you can.”
Although you really should discard your inhibitions,” he said. “They could get in the way of yielding to temptation.”
Harry was a man of extensive influence. As well as his hotel dealings, he had access to a great quantity of highly confidential and valuable information. What Harry kept in his head could probably have been used to start wars, fell kingdoms, destroy families, and dismantle the British financial system.
one isn’t improved by being at the top of the mountain, one is improved by the climb.”
“Well, I’m glad you didn’t hurt each other,” Poppy said cheerfully, “since there’s a distinct possibility that you may soon be brothers-in-law.” “We’re already brothers-in-law.” “Brothers-in-law squared, then.”
“You’ll be like the proverbial butterfly emerging from the cocoon.” Catherine tried to respond with humor, although her nerves were strung tight with anxiety. “I was really quite comfortable as a caterpillar.”
And if anyone asks about Marks, say something about the vapours.” “Don’t tell anyone I had vapours,” Catherine whispered sharply. “Then say I had them,” Leo told Harry. That seemed to rouse Catherine from her numbness. Leo was relieved to see a flicker of her usual spirit as she said, “Men can’t have vapours. It’s a female condition.” “Nevertheless, I do,” Leo said. “I may even swoon.”
“My lord, I don’t believe that you sincerely want to marry me as much as you want to have your way.” “I want you to marry me so that I don’t have my way all the time,” he said, which was the truth. “It’s not good for me to be indulged. And you tell me no quite frequently.”
He brought his mouth to her ear, his lips toying with the soft lobe before he whispered, “Cat. I’m going to kiss all the way down your body and up again. And I want you to lie perfectly still and let me do as I please. You can do that, can’t you?” “No,” she said earnestly, “I really don’t think so.” Leo averted his face for a moment. When he looked back at her, his eyes were sparkling with amusement. “That was actually a rhetorical question.”
“Think of it this way,” he said. “Marriage would change hardly anything between us, except that we would end our arguments in a much more satisfying way. And of course I would have extensive legal rights over your body, your property, and all your individual freedoms, but I don’t see what’s so alarming about that.”
“Leo,” Poppy exclaimed with a laugh, “how wet you are! Didn’t you take an umbrella?” “Umbrellas are of little use when it’s raining sideways,”
“You walked?” she asked, her gaze sweeping from the sodden hems of his trouser legs to his rain-dappled features. She reached up to dry his face with wifely solicitude. “I very nearly swam,” Harry told her, seeming to enjoy her ministrations.
“It’s exactly what I would do in his position. Of course I don’t approve.”
“I beg your pardon, I did not ask to be husked like an ear of corn!”
“You would have me in the same position as Miss Darvin,” she said. “Pregnant and pleading for you to marry me.” “God, yes, I would love that.”
“I have never said this to anyone before.” Leo’s voice was like ragged velvet. “But the idea of you with child is the most insanely arousing thing I’ve ever imagined. Your belly all swollen, your breasts heavy, the funny little way you would walk … I would worship you. I would take care of your every need. And everyone would know that I’d made you that way, that you belonged to me.”
“To be an architect, you have to accept the environment around you, no matter what its conditions. Then, in full awareness, you take your ideals and form them into structure.” “Can I do it without ideals?” Leo had asked, only half joking. “I’ve learned I can’t live up to them.” Professor Joseph had smiled at him. “Neither can you reach the stars. But you still need their light. You need them to navigate, n’est-ce pas?”
Too bloody drunk to see a hole in a ladder.
“I love you, Marks. My heart is completely and utterly yours. And unfortunately for you, the rest of me comes with it.”
“I know I’m a bad bargain. But I’m begging you to have me anyway. Because I want the chance to make you as happy as you make me. I want to build a life with you.” He fought to steady his voice. “Please come to me, Cat, because there’s no surviving you. You don’t have to love me back. You don’t have to be mine. Just let me be yours.”
