The Viscount's Vendetta (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic) by Paige Cameron Page B

father. But even Damon must follow the rules of proper behavior in his aunt and uncle’s home.
    Turning back to Lady Sommerplace, Caroline said, “Lord Royston does not know of my work in the city. I’d rather he not be told.”
    “Why ever not, my dear?”
    “I’m not sure he’d approve. I’d prefer he not know to what extent I’m involved. He saw me helping a young climbing boy one day, but we have not talked about the incident.”
    “I shall respect your privacy. I do believe you would be pleasantly surprised if you told Damon.”
    “Dinner is served, madam.” Their tall, thin butler stood at the door and bowed to Lady Sommerplace.
    She took the Earl of Halsford’s arm and led the way into the dining room. The Earl of Sommerplace escorted Caroline’s mother as Caroline and Hannah followed, each on Damon’s arms.
    Conversation flowed easily as the many dishes were passed and wine flowed frequently into the wine glasses. Caroline had little appetite but drank more than her usual amount of wine. By the end of the meal, her head was spinning.
    Lady Sommerplace stood. “Shall we adjourn to the smaller sitting room while our gentlemen enjoy a smoke and glass of port?”
    “Aunt Elizabeth, would you and Uncle Christopher excuse Lady Caroline and me?” Damon asked. “I’d like to show her your rose gardens. There is a bright moon, and we shan’t be long.”
    His aunt smiled. “If it is all right with her parents, we will not object.”
    Caroline wondered what he was up to. Her parents did not object, and Hannah smiled brightly when Damon escorted Caroline to the side door.
    He wrapped her pelisse around her and put her arm through his. “Fresh air will clear your head, my lady. You drank quite a large amount of wine and ate little.”
    “I did not think you would notice.”
    “When we are alone or with family, call me Damon. I notice everything about you, my dear.” His deep voice had an odd, gentle tone to it.
    Caroline’s awareness of the hard muscle under her hand and against her side made her jittery, but the fresh air did seem to be clearing her head.
    “I am not your dear. Please do not call me by that term.”
    “Shall I call you Caroline?”
    She glared up at him. “I’d rather you not call me anything.”
    “Now you are acting childish. This behavior will get you nowhere and is not productive. We will be married in a few weeks. The banns were posted the day after you accepted my offer of marriage. I sent a rider to your village to take care of seeing they were done. It is time for you to gracefully accept our upcoming nuptials.
    “Perhaps you need some coaxing.” Damon stopped and turned her to him. She stared at him questioningly.
    Suddenly, he pulled her body against his hard frame. Then he grasped her chin firmly in his hand and lowered his lips. Her brain told her to move out of his embrace, but her body didn’t get the message. Damon lightly kissed her cheeks, forehead, and eyes. When she took a soft breath, he covered her mouth with his.
    His tongue slid between her lips and caressed tenderly. While ravishing her mouth, he moved his hand slowly inside her pelisse and touched her throat where her heart pounded against his fingers. He leaned down and licked the spot. Fire raced through her veins, and an exhilaration she hadn’t expected shook her. “You like my touch,” he whispered against the top of her breast just above her low neckline. Then his hand moved inside her gown and cupped her breast. The edge of his thumb rubbed across the peak.
    Caroline was hardly aware of the moaning sound she made or that her body melted into his. He’d brought her untried senses to life and she couldn’t deny the spark of desire flaring in her core. Nothing her mother could have said would have prepared her for this moment.
    Damon pulled back slightly and put his hands on either side of her face. “This is why you will marry me, and why we shall deal well with each other.”
    Caroline tore