Intimate Deception by Laura Landon Page B

past him. She reached the hallway, where she was alone, and paused. For some reason she couldn’t explain, she placed a trembling hand on her stomach and held it there. How could she not want there to be a babe inside her? She’d ached her whole life to have a house filled with babes. Been desperate to have a home of her own and a husband who loved her. She’d wanted what each of her sisters had.
    But not like this. Not having forced herself on a man who did not want her. Did not even like her.
    Not living the rest of her life with a man she’d deceived.

Chapter 8

    H e’d just come from spending an afternoon with her. From their ride through Hyde Park. From their first outing together. If their goal had been to surprise and shock the members of society, then the outing had been a rousing success. It seemed nearly everyone was out enjoying the warm day, even though it wasn’t yet spring. And his companion, Lady Grace Warren, was noticed by each and every one of them.
    Raeborn placed his hat and gloves in Carver’s waiting hands and walked across the marble foyer toward his study. He stepped into the quiet room and closed the door behind him.
    Soft rays of sunshine sifted through the windows, casting filtered shadows that stretched out across the floor. They nearly reached from one side of the room to the other. Warmth from the sunlight touched his cheeks, caressed him with the softness of a woman’s hand. As her hand had done when he’d lain with her before he knew who she was.
    He drew his hand across his face, wanting to erase the memory. Yet in contrast, wanting to hold on to the feeling and never forget the emotions she’d awakened. He knew why his emotions were so at war with each other. Knew why the turmoil churning inside him was such a struggle.She had done it. She had given him cause to hope when he’d convinced himself he was long past hoping. Given him cause to believe he’d received another chance to have what he’d always wanted in life. A wife. Children. A reason for existing.
    He pushed his jacket from his shoulders and hung it over the back of the chair, then sat down behind his desk. He leaned his head back against the cushions like a battle-weary soldier and closed his eyes. He needed to block out the stares, the looks of disbelief he’d seen on everyone’s faces, both last night when he’d made a point of paying court to Lady Grace at the Wedgewood musicale, and again this afternoon on their ride through Hyde Park.
    He knew by the time he walked through the Earl of Pendleton’s doors tonight, everyone would have heard of Raeborn’s quest for another bride.
    He gave an angry tug to his cravat and bolted to his feet. Maybe he hadn’t gotten her with child. Maybe in a day or two she’d tell him there was no need to worry. That her errant courses had begun.
    Huge beads of perspiration formed on his forehead. Oh, how he prayed she’d tell him that. How he prayed he wouldn’t have to go through another woman’s pregnancy. Especially Grace Warren’s. She seemed so fragile. So delicate.
    He thought of the woman with whom he’d spent the afternoon. Of course there’d been a certain degree of tension between them, but he couldn’t say he hadn’t enjoyed himself. In fact, the two of them got on quite well. There never seemed to be a lull in their conversation except when he stopped their carriage so they could talk to some curious passerby who wanted to get a closer look at the Dukeof Raeborn and the lady he sought to wed. The way she stiffened at his side told him she was uncomfortable with the attention being with him attracted.
    But when they were alone she held her own. He already knew she was extremely talented. Now he knew she had the intelligence to match. Talking to her was not like talking to some immature, addlebrained ingenue. She was levelheaded as well as up on all the current political events. She had an opinion on every topic they discussed. Raeborn smiled. And she didn’t