Carnal Deceptions by Scottie Barrett Page B

flustered by the idea of being alone with him.
    “They left early, just before the sun. I had the cook accompany Lady Stadwell in the carriage so that people would think you’d left with her.”
    She eyed him suspiciously. “Why would you do that?” Her voice rose to a hysterical pitch and he immediately pressed his fingers to his temples.
    Though he appeared stone cold sober, he was suffering the aftereffects of a week of imbibing. His skin was paler than usual and in stark contrast to his black hair. “Because people talk. And since we are just beginning this venture, I felt there was no need to stir up rumors.”
    Tess pulled the wool blanket tighter, scratching her bare skin. She had never felt so vulnerable. She blinked up in confusion at the most intimidating man she’d ever known. She was at his mercy. Lady Stadwell had abandoned her.
    “Is there some reason—” With effort, she squelched the urge to rain curses down on him “—why I have nothing to wear?” Her voice vibrated with fury.
    He shrugged. “The dressmaker will have some of your wardrobe completed by the week’s end. In the meantime, you won’t need any clothing.”
    “I suppose I’m to lock myself in my room naked until she arrives?” “No, I expect you to stay in my room naked for the week.”
    She couldn’t have understood him correctly. “Pardon?”

    “If I’m to hire you for my aunt’s dubious scheme, I’d like to see just how capable you are.”
    “Exactly what does that mean?”
    “I intend to fuck you, Miss Calloway.”
    Lord Marcliffe was studying her a little too carefully. She suspected he was expecting she’d lose her nerve. He casually combed back his windblown hair with his fingers. How on earth could someone be that handsome and that cruel? “I detest you!”
    “Yes, you’ve made that clear.”
    “I thought I was to be transformed into a mistress, not a whore.” “To my mind, there is only the finest line between the two.”
    “Don’t you think you are taking this a little too far? I only needed someone to pretend to be my lover.”
    “So you were just going to pretend with Sloan, as well?” With his tinderbox, he began lighting the candles studding the enormous candelabrum on the entrance hall table.
    Tess chose to ignore his barb. She was determined not to think of Sloan until the dreaded moment came. She started up the stairs. “Go away. I will manage this myself.”
    “Ah, then you are prepared to pay the modiste and the rent on the London townhouse?”
    She paused. Her pulse beat in her throat and in the palm of her hand where it clutched the railing. She glanced over her shoulder at him. He already had the candelabrum in hand, clearly intent on illuminating their way to his chambers. His jaw was set in a stubborn, firm line.
    His question, of course, was rhetorical. She had no options but to obey him. Why waste breath on futile arguments? The whole plan would collapse without his aid. “Fine then, we’ll do it your way.”
    She heard him snap his fingers to keep the dogs from following. Her back stiffened as she sensed him behind her. “I know you think to dissuade me with this threat, but it will not work.”
    On unsteady legs she made her way down the hall to his chambers. All she could think after he’d closed them both in the room was that the man had a heart of black ice. He set the candelabrum atop the night table, but the glowing lights did not add cheer.
    She turned to him with a defiant smile.

    His head tilted slightly to the side, an odd, rather boyish expression on his face.
    Clearly, he hadn’t expected her to submit. Wouldn’t he be shocked, she thought, to know that she would have eagerly acceded to his demands if he hadn’t approached it in such a high-handed manner?
    The glint of surprise winked out of his dark blue eyes almost immediately. “Confident little baggage, aren’t you?” he said.
    “I intend to succeed at this, no matter what it entails.” Her body, though,