“Your absence has been noticed.” The words floated across the grass, wiping away in an instant the last of the pleasure trembling from her body.
Granby’s fingers stilled, his breath coming in short bursts.
“You wandered off to enjoy a cheroot some time ago. I joined you over the hill by a strand of trees. You didn’t wish to offend the ladies,” Haven said before moving off.
Granby abruptly pulled his hand from beneath her skirts and rolled away, a thick sheaf of ebony hair falling over his eyes.
Another tremor shook her, the shock at being discovered by Haven overriding the intimacy she’d just shared with Granby. What had possessed her to allow such a thing?
I think I might be in—Romy refused to finish the thought.
“This must cease,” he stated calmly, as if they’d only been sitting together discussing the weather.
She was still on her back, tugging her skirts down. “Because of Beatrice?”
“No. Because ofyou.” He shook his head. “You are everything Ido notwant.”
Romy flinched, letting the pain of his words settle deep in her chest. “I see.” She sat up, miserable and sick to the very core of her being. “Why?” They were fortunate it had been Haven who’d come across them and not someone else.
“I have taken care of Silas. He has a lovely cottage near his daughter and a fortune to spend.”
“Answer me,” she snapped. “I deserve to know why I am so offensive to you, considering what has just occurred.”
“Will you cry ruination then?”
“I refuse to make things so easy for you, Your Grace.”
“There are rules, Andromeda. Dictates that must be followed. There are elements I cannot allow the Duke of Granby to be associated with.” He still wouldn’t look at her; he only tugged at his collar.
“I see.” Except, she didn’t, really. It was not the first time Granby had implied she was somehow lacking in suitability by some stupid measurement only he was privy to. She was the daughter of a bloody duke. “You are the only one who feels I am deficient in some way.”
“Not the only one,” he said, barely above a whisper.
“Estwood certainly doesn’t find me wanting,” she said, lashing out at him. “He finds meincrediblysuitable.” She drew her knees up to stop the trembling of her legs.
“Stay away from Estwood.”
“I’ll listen to Estwood and his stories anytime I wish. If I choose to sketch Blythe’s backside, as I should have done at Lady Masterson’s, I will.” Her words turned snide. Raw. “The service you’ve just provided me doesn’t bestow upon you any right to dictate the company I keep.”
“Service?” The word cracked across her coldly, like the snap of a whip.
“What would you call it, Your Grace? It certainly wasn’t an act done with an ounce of affection. I’ve already determined you aren’t capable of such emotion.”
An ugly, wounded sound came from him. “None of this is easy.”
“Haven is waiting for you. I will take my time and return to the picnic area from the opposite direction.” Romy stayed perfectly still, her eyes focused on the view before her, and refused to look at him. Her insides felt torn and damaged. As if he’d ripped out the seed of something before allowing it to take root.
The grass rustled around her as he stood.
Romy struggled to keep the moisture gathering behind her eyes at bay. He was right. This situationmustcease. Her emotions were in disarray, overriding all caution when it came to Granby. The last hour was proof of that.
Finally daring a look behind her, she saw that Granby was gone.
* * *
David strodeto the small grouping of trees at the edge of the field Haven had directed him to, reaching into his pocket for a cheroot to complete the charade. Andromeda’s scent lingered in his nostrils. Her sweetness clung to his fingers. If Haven hadn’t come upon them, David would quite possibly have taken her virtue. The loss of control he’d shown was nothing short of shocking.
Andromeda was a terrible weakness. Bits of him unraveled whenever she was near, and he couldn’t stop it.
