Captured by a Gentleman (Regency Unlaced 6) by Carole Mortimer Page A

discussed the possibility of turning the carriage around and returning to London rather than continuing on to Scotland,” he added grimly.
    Darcy breathed in sharply. “You would return me to my uncle because I dared to question the fairness of the terms of our arrangement?”
    Ranulf shot her an irritated glance. “I said nothing of returning you to your uncle. Nor does my suggestion have anything to do with whether or not, or in what manner, you surrender yourself to me.” His gaze was icy cold. “How typical of a woman to believe a gentleman’s actions must always be because of her.”
    Darcy stared at him wordlessly for several seconds before answering. “I do not care to be lumped in with your other ‘women,’ nor am I in the least like Millicent.”
    “So you have said,” he dismissed.
    “Because it is the truth,” she snapped. “My cousin was a very stupid woman if she could not appreciate the gentleman she married. I am not so stupid as not to appreciate all that my…that you are.”
    Ranulf quirked a mocking brow. “And what am I?”
    Darcy’s gaze remained unwaveringly on his. “At the moment, you are deeply wounded, changed by the actions of the shallow and ungrateful woman to whom you were married. A year ago, you were an honorable gentleman and, I believe, a warm and loving one.”
    Ranulf was taken aback for several seconds. Until common sense returned and he could dismiss Darcy’s original opinion of him. He was no longer that Ranulf Montgomery. Would never be that naïve fool ever again.
    His mouth twisted derisively. “Unfortunately for you, the former is the man you chose to accept as your lover.”
    Was Ranulf her lover? She had baulked a few seconds ago at calling him such.
    Last night, Ranulf would accept nothing less than her complete surrender to his will. Their lovemaking had been…incredibly sensual and arousing. It was only this morning, when she woke up in the clear light of day, that she had nervously begun to question the rightness of their new arrangement. A disquiet not assuaged by Ranulf’s instruction to leave off her undergarments, as if she were no better than a woman whose company he had bought.
    She was in love with Ranulf.
    He was not in love with her.
    He had made it clear he would never allow himself to love another woman.
    She had reasoned, when she accepted his terms last night, that if this was all she could have of Ranulf, then something was better than nothing. This morning, Darcy questioned the validity of that argument. Something was not better than nothing if she lost all pride in the accepting.
    Her pride was one of the few things she had left.
    Her parents were gone.
    Her home was sold.
    Having run away from her uncle’s house, she had also forgone her place in Society. And along with it, any chance she might have had of ever making a suitable marriage.
    “You are at liberty to end our arrangement whenever you wish.”
    She glanced quickly at Ranulf, knowing by the coldness of his expression and in his eyes as he looked down the length of his nose at her, he knew exactly what she was thinking. That he expected, even wished, for her to bring an end to the intimate side of their association.
    She straightened her shoulders. “I am not ready to do that just yet.”
    His expression was only marginally less stern as he gave an acknowledging inclination of his head.
    “I am, however,” Darcy continued firmly, “of the opinion we should continue on to Scotland rather than return to London.”
    “Your reason being…?”
    “That I have no wish to return to London. Now or at any other time.”
    “And I am to consider that in my decision?”
    Temper burned in her cheeks at his mocking tone. “Yes.”
    “Why?”
    “When you are done amusing yourself with me, you may leave me wherever you wish along the way, and then decide for yourself whether you wish to continue to Scotland or return to London.”
    Ranulf’s eyes narrowed. “And if I am not done