the edge of her jaw. Her breathing escalated as she jerked away from his touch.
“I doubt Lady Effington thinks any such thing,” he said with laughter in his voice.
“Don’t underestimate the woman.” Ivy glared at him but when he refused to look repentant, she looked away. “The Countess is far more astute than most people give her credit.”
“I’m sure she is, but Lady Effington’s literary tastes don’t interest me. I’d much rather discuss your personal reading preferences.”
“Why must you insist on teasing me this way? Reading that book was a mistake.”
He laughed and the sound sent desire spiraling through her. Ivy turned her head to meet his gaze directly. The close proximity of her mouth to his made her draw in a quick breath. Appalled at the way he was weakening her defenses, she immediately reminded herself that he was of the nobility and couldn’t be trusted. Determined to prevent his obvious intent to seduce her, Ivy returned her gaze to the landscape outside the window. Silence filled the carriage for a long moment, and Ivy felt Simon retreat from her.
“Curiosity is never a mistake, Ivy.”
“Perhaps not, but in this instance I should never have brought that book home. I should have left it in the obscure spot it had been placed.”
“But then you would never have known its contents. You would never understand what it can be like between a man and a woman.”
“I am all too aware of what it’s like to be with a man. It brings nothing but pain and disappointment,” she snapped. Simon’s sharp intake of air made her realize she’d spoken her thoughts out loud. Dear lord what had she been thinking to reveal something so intimate. She froze as she waited for his scorn to wash over her.
“Tell me his name, Ivy. I’ll have the man horse whipped,” Simon’s snarled.
Startled by his unexpected reaction and the ferocity of his words she turned her head to look at him. There was a fiercely protective expression on his face, and the sight of it sent warmth spiraling through her. The way he appeared ready to do battle on her behalf made Ivy swallow hard. She quickly looked away, her body rigid with tension.
“It was a long time ago,” she said stiffly. “It would be dishonorable to lay all the blame at his feet.” Ivy winced at the admission. It was true. She’d given herself to Whitby freely. A strong hand captured hers.
“Whoever he was, the man was a fool to let you go.”
Ivy glanced down at the large hand holding hers before she looked up to see the sincerity in his gray eyes. The man was a conundrum. He’d declared her unfit for his nephew, but suitable for a liaison with him. And yet, here he was attempting to reassure her she was worthy of something better than Whitby’s treatment of her.
“You surprise me, my lord. I thought as a commoner I was unworthy of anything but disdain.” She winced slightly at her icy words.
“I confess my assumptions about you may have been misguided,” he said in a rueful manner. “Tonight you illustrated why breeding is not always a good indicator of grace and respectability.”
This time Ivy was more than surprised, she was astounded, and she stared at him with her mouth open. The chagrin on his handsome features made her believe he meant every word. Uncertainty swept through her. Maybe she was simply seeing what she wanted to see. Perhaps she needed to believe he’d changed his mind if only to validate her belief that she was worthy of the same respect a member of the peerage was. When she didn’t say anything, frustration darkened his features.
“Damn it to hell, Ivy. I practically threw myself on the fire just now and you have nothing to say. Even something scathing?” he muttered. His reaction to her silence made her want to laugh, but she refrained from bruising his pride further.
“I take it that apologies are not your strong suit,” she said with restrained amusement.
“No,” he said with a
“I doubt Lady Effington thinks any such thing,” he said with laughter in his voice.
“Don’t underestimate the woman.” Ivy glared at him but when he refused to look repentant, she looked away. “The Countess is far more astute than most people give her credit.”
“I’m sure she is, but Lady Effington’s literary tastes don’t interest me. I’d much rather discuss your personal reading preferences.”
“Why must you insist on teasing me this way? Reading that book was a mistake.”
He laughed and the sound sent desire spiraling through her. Ivy turned her head to meet his gaze directly. The close proximity of her mouth to his made her draw in a quick breath. Appalled at the way he was weakening her defenses, she immediately reminded herself that he was of the nobility and couldn’t be trusted. Determined to prevent his obvious intent to seduce her, Ivy returned her gaze to the landscape outside the window. Silence filled the carriage for a long moment, and Ivy felt Simon retreat from her.
“Curiosity is never a mistake, Ivy.”
“Perhaps not, but in this instance I should never have brought that book home. I should have left it in the obscure spot it had been placed.”
“But then you would never have known its contents. You would never understand what it can be like between a man and a woman.”
“I am all too aware of what it’s like to be with a man. It brings nothing but pain and disappointment,” she snapped. Simon’s sharp intake of air made her realize she’d spoken her thoughts out loud. Dear lord what had she been thinking to reveal something so intimate. She froze as she waited for his scorn to wash over her.
“Tell me his name, Ivy. I’ll have the man horse whipped,” Simon’s snarled.
Startled by his unexpected reaction and the ferocity of his words she turned her head to look at him. There was a fiercely protective expression on his face, and the sight of it sent warmth spiraling through her. The way he appeared ready to do battle on her behalf made Ivy swallow hard. She quickly looked away, her body rigid with tension.
“It was a long time ago,” she said stiffly. “It would be dishonorable to lay all the blame at his feet.” Ivy winced at the admission. It was true. She’d given herself to Whitby freely. A strong hand captured hers.
“Whoever he was, the man was a fool to let you go.”
Ivy glanced down at the large hand holding hers before she looked up to see the sincerity in his gray eyes. The man was a conundrum. He’d declared her unfit for his nephew, but suitable for a liaison with him. And yet, here he was attempting to reassure her she was worthy of something better than Whitby’s treatment of her.
“You surprise me, my lord. I thought as a commoner I was unworthy of anything but disdain.” She winced slightly at her icy words.
“I confess my assumptions about you may have been misguided,” he said in a rueful manner. “Tonight you illustrated why breeding is not always a good indicator of grace and respectability.”
This time Ivy was more than surprised, she was astounded, and she stared at him with her mouth open. The chagrin on his handsome features made her believe he meant every word. Uncertainty swept through her. Maybe she was simply seeing what she wanted to see. Perhaps she needed to believe he’d changed his mind if only to validate her belief that she was worthy of the same respect a member of the peerage was. When she didn’t say anything, frustration darkened his features.
“Damn it to hell, Ivy. I practically threw myself on the fire just now and you have nothing to say. Even something scathing?” he muttered. His reaction to her silence made her want to laugh, but she refrained from bruising his pride further.
“I take it that apologies are not your strong suit,” she said with restrained amusement.
“No,” he said with a
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