Authors: Madeline Hunter
By Arrangement (44 page)
“We all are enigmas to each other, I suppose.”
“Very few people are to me.”
She gently lifted his hand off her arm. She stepped away and pulled her composure together.
“Lord Easterbrook, since you arranged this unexpected reunion, perhaps you will agree to aid me in my mission. Out of sentiment for our old friendship in Macao, that is.”
He scowled at the way she picked up the threads of their conversation, as if nothing of note had just happened. “That depends on the kind of aid that you request, Leona.”
“I would like to be introduced to your brother, Lord Hayden Rothwell.” “What do you want with Hayden?” “I have been told that he is likely to know the traders and investors whom I came to London to meet.” He shrugged, as if bored by such a simple petition. “I will arrange for you to meet him if you wish.”
“That is kind of you. I am very grateful. Now, while seeing old friends is always pleasant, this unexpected visit has delayed my day's plans. Am I allowed to leave? Are we done?”
His attention sharpened on her. He did not care for the way she dismissed the meeting, and him. “We are nowhere near done, Leona.”
“To my mind we are entirely done, Lord Easterbrook. Please accept my decision about that.”
A tense silence passed, no more than ten seconds, she guessed. In that brief span he appeared to be making a decision. Their intimate surroundings, the bed and pillows and sensual fabrics, ceased being mere background and turned into visual arguments for why it would be pleasant not to be entirely done after all.
She wished that she could summon anger or outrage or pride to shore up her defenses. She wished she could claim that the kiss had not tempted her. In truth, a little whirlwind spun in her heart now, and her body ached from the intense desire pulling between them with tantalizing tugs.
“You were always allowed to leave,” he finally said. “There is no guard outside the door.”
“I will continue with my afternoon's excursion, then. Good day to you, Lord Easterbrook.”
She grabbed her bonnet and strode to the door on legs that barely allowed her to walk.
“Leona.”
His quiet address stopped her after she had opened the door. The resonance of his tone sent a treacherous thrill down the center of her body.
“Leona, it appears that you are no longer so innocent and unawake.”
She looked back at him. He was far too dashing in his shirtsleeves and open collar and high boots. Stronger than she remembered. More arrogant too. There had been poignant moments when Edmund was vulnerable in ways that she suspected Easterbrook never was.
“That is a peculiar farewell, Lord Easterbrook. Maybe I will run and hide like you predicted.”
“I am not worried about that. Your missions will keep you nearby. And this time, Leona, before any ship takes one of us away, I will have you.”
BY ARRANGEMENT
A Bantam Book / June 2000
All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2000 by Madeline Hunter
Front cover art copyright © 2000 by Alan Ayers
Back cover art copyright © 2000 by Franco Accornero
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eISBN: 978-0-307-48261-7
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