“And it will be on that man’s conscience. Not mine”
“You would let me give myself to someone else?” she asked. “Some stranger who might treat me badly? Do you want to see me hurt?”
“You know I don’t.”
“Then do this one little thing for me, Patrick.” Linley reached out to him. “Show me how good it can be.”
“Why are you acting like this? It isn’t like you,” he asked. “This is not the Linley I knew in London. Or Morocco, for that matter.”
“That girl was a fool,” she said. “I never should have given you up. I should have taken you while I had the chance.” She wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned against his chest.
Patrick pulled away from her embrace. “Don’t do this to me, Linley. It isn’t fair,” he said. “If you only understood what you are asking, if only you knew how much you have to lose, then you would never...” He took a deep, bracing breath and added, “I’m sorry, Linley, but I won’t do that to us.”
***
Patrick tripped down the stairs leading to the courtyard outside. He had to get away from her. One more second in that room with her and he would have lost his composure. Linley did not understand how hard it was for him to walk out of there. He would have a devil of a time sleeping that night.
Not unlike many other nights, but he didn’t want to think about that.
Patrick needed fresh air. He needed to get a hold of himself.
He paced around the courtyard staring at his feet. Linley Talbot-Martin was a dangerous adversary. Patrick hadn’t expected her to come at him like that. She had groped him. She had reached down and grabbed herself a handful, and Patrick had no doubt that she would’ve done a great deal more if he had pulled it out and told her what to do with it.
That only proved to him that Linley meant what she said. She would climb in the bed with someone, whether it was him or not. It was only a matter of time. God, he hated to see such a beautiful girl do something like that to herself. She’d be ruined. No telling what sort of chap she’d fall in with. Probably the wrong sort if he was willing to take her up on her offer. Any number of terrible things could happen to Linley if she put herself in a man like that’s hands. She could end up on the streets!
Patrick couldn’t live with something like that on his conscience.
He just couldn’t.
Sucking in a deep breath, Patrick thought about what he was going to do. But his mind was made up and, if truth be told, it had been for quite some time. There was nothing he could do but accept it.
He’d just turned to head back toward the monastery when Linley came bounding out the door.
“You wanted me in London,” she cried, panting. “But not now. What changed?”
“Everything has changed. The only constant has been my feelings for you.”
Linley blinked. “What?”
“Foolish girl,” he pulled her into his arms and whispered, “You think I don’t want you? I’d have you against that wall if I could.”
Her eyes went wide. “Do it.”
“So your father could walk out and catch us?”
“Where then? My bedroom?”
“My bedroom. Tonight,” Patrick said. “That way you can still back out. If you decide not to show, then no harm done.”
Linley pulled away from him, shaking her head. “You could change your mind. What if I go to your room and you’re not there?”
“I’ll be there.”
“Give me your word. As a gentleman.”
“As a gentleman?” He grinned. “I don’t think that term is applicable, just now.”
Linley grinned, too. “The Marquess of Kyre behaving ungentlemanly? Oh this is going to be fun!”
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
Linley fumbled down the corridor in the dark. She counted the curtains along the wall, making sure the room she went in was Patrick’s. When she felt certain she came to the right one, she poked her head in.
He sat cross-legged on his pallet spread out on the floor.
She slipped through the curtain without a sound. Not that she thought anyone else would hear—they had all been asleep for hours. Linley took a seat on the blanket in front of him.
“What have you been thinking about all evening?” Patrick asked.
“This,” Linley said.
“Are you nervous?”
She shook her head. “No. This is what I want.”
Linley meant it. Patrick knew that without question. She wanted this.
She wanted him.
“Then let’s not keep you waiting any longer,” he said. Patrick motioned for her to take his place on the blanket, and to lay back onto the pillow. As she did so, he moved aside, unbuttoning his shirt while she situated herself.
Linley looked up at him as he peeled his shirt over his head. The moon was dim through the clouds, making a pale square of light across the bedroom floor. Patrick’s body was hidden in shadow, but she could just see the outline of his frame against the moonlight.
She took a ragged breath as he placed both arms on either side of her shoulders and positioned himself above her.