Deborah forced out a groan of disgust, even as butterflies erupted in her stomach.
“There is nothing for you to fear, as that will never happen,” she willed herself to say.
Cedric raised a brow as that devilish grin of his remained in place. Slowly, he got out of his chair, his hands slipping into his pockets as he leaned in hip against the edge of the table by Deborah’s left arm, and leaned in; his warm breath tickling her ear and making her heart pound wildly.
“I have heard such words before many times in my life,” he whispered, “Yet no woman has ever kept her word.”
He grazed the tip of his nose against her ear, so very lightly that she barely felt it. Yet even so, the touch had her nerves jolting alive and sparking.
“You are so naive,” he cooed, “So very innocent. I would wager you have no idea what you are denying yourself.”
She hated his words, but the tone in his voice was soft, intimate, as if he were whispering to a lover. It had Deborah’s mind snapping with rage as her body vibrated with desire- a most frustrating combination, and one she’d never before experienced.
“No matter,” Cedric sighed, dropping that seductive tone and reaching for his usual coyness, “You are safe. I have no interest in such innocence. I prefer my partners to have much more…” his eyes raked down her as he smirked, “Experience,” he finished.
“Still,” he added, raising a warning finger as he pushed himself away from the table and walked back to his chair, “I would not attempt to provoke me. I am a man willing to try anything once.”
His taunting tones and vulgar words extinguished any desire she’d once had a moment ago, and she sneered at him as she battled the urge to slap his face and demand he apologize.
“Finish your breakfast,” he ordered condescendingly as he flicked his newspaper open again, “We will leave for London in an hour. You may visit with your family while I work onobtaining a special license. If all goes well, we will by married by midweek.”
“And what of your niece, Adeline?” Deborah asked, barely dampening the rage in her voice.
Cedric looked over his newspaper at her.
“So, you two have met?” He asked.
She gave a stiff nod.
“Last night. She should not be left alone so much.”
Cedric shrugged as he lowered his head to his newspaper again.
“She is used to it,” he replied. “Besides. The servants are here is she should need anything. And when we return as a married couple, you can spend all the time you wish with her. In fact, I expect it. Now, are you going to finish your eggs on your own, or am I going to have to feed them to you? Honest warning, I would not mind that so much.”
An image flashed in Deborah’s mind. One where she picked up her untouched egg and crushed it into his hair, smearing its runny contents until his entire head and face were covered with it. She smirked, liking the thought tremendously, and finished her breakfast.
CHAPTER FIVE
“You had me worried witless!” Frances cried, crushing Deborah to her chest.
Struggling to breathe from the tightness of her mother’s embrace, Deborah had no choice but to push out of her mother’s arms.
“I am so sorry, Mama,” she gasped, then drew in a deep breath. When she caught it, she gave Frances an apologetic look and took her hands into her own.
“I never meant to worry you,” she earnestly replied.
Francis shook her head, her green eyes still shining with worry.
“You have no idea what it was like to find you missing from bed this morning,” her mother scolded. “After Hester disappeared the way she did, I had feared that you had gone next.”
Deborah bit her bottom lip, fearing that she was about to upset her mother even more.
“About that, Mama,” she said hesitantly. She had thought about what she was going to say to her on the ride in and had decided that she would share only the smallest of details.
“I have something to tell you.”
Frances' eyes narrowed, and she crossed her arms. Their mother had once been a kind, patient woman, but their troubles had hardened her. Especially when it came to her children.