A Matter of Duty Read Online Free PDF

gets.’
    A light passed through his eyes. ‘Thank you.’
    ‘I didn’t mean—’
    ‘It doesn’t matter if you did or didn’t, the fact remains that if anyone deserves to have to face your husband, it’s my good self. However, I’m not the one in question, poor Tom Cherington is, and I intend to offer him whatever support I can. He hasn’t any family – they’re all dead – and so he needs me.’
    ‘I need you too,’ she said quickly, wanting to persuade him to stay. She didn’t care a fig for Tom Cherington, who disliked her as much as she disliked him.
    ‘Thea, in this particular instance he needs me much more.’
    She tossed her lovely head again, her anger still simmering. ‘Am I to hope you’ll deign to return within a few days? Maybe you’ve forgotten the race with Lord Grantham?’
    ‘I’d hardly forget that.’
    ‘And while you’re away I suppose I’m expected to amuse myself with my embroidery?’
    He smiled, allowing his glance to move lazily over her. Thea, Lady Rowe, was fashioned for pastimes much more stimulating than embroidery. He found her totally fascinating, totally adorable, and he needed to have her as his wife, nothing less would do anymore. And that was what he needed to broach before the Spindrift set sail.
    The warmth of his glance affected her, as it always did, and suddenly she found herself setting her anger aside to go to him. She slipped her slender arms around his waist, pressing close as she reached up to kiss him on the lips. She lingered over the kiss, moving her body sensuously against his and savoring the beguiling warmth that began to steal deliciously through her, as always happened with this man.
    For a long, long moment he responded, folding her in his arms and almost crushing her, but then he drew back, cupping her face in his hands and looking deep into her eyes. ‘My darling,’ he said softly, ‘much as I’d like to take you right here and now, I fear I must resist the temptation, for I really do have to leave in a minute or so.’ He hesitated. ‘Thea, you don’t have to stay here, you could come with me.’
    She stared at him, caught completely off guard. ‘Are you moonstruck? Go with you and have the world – and Rowe – know the truth about us?’
    ‘Yes. Thea, I want you to be my wife.’
    She was at a Ioss for words, for she’d just been enjoying the illicit excitement of an affair with someone whose lovemaking turned her whole being to fire. She’d always known that he loved her, but although she was infatuated with him, she didn’t feel any deep and lasting love for him, and leaving Rowe on his account had never figured in her plans. Deserting her husband for Kit, of all men, would mean certain ruin, for Rowe would move heaven and earth to destroy her reputation. Her character would be tainted forever, because Rowe wouldn’t rest in his vendetta against her. She shrank from such notoriety and didn’t intend to risk it, not even for a lover like this and not even for the prospect of becoming the Countess of Redway.
    She lowered her eyes. ‘Kit, can’t things remain as they are?’
    One of the crew was at the hatch. ‘Begging your pardon, my lord, but the tide’s up.’
    ‘Very well.’ Kit continued to look at her. ‘No, Thea, things can’t remain as they are.’
    ‘But there’s no need to change. …’
    ‘I’m afraid there is. It’s no longer enough that you’re my mistress; my love demands more, and so does my honor.’ His eyes were incredibly blue and piercing as she looked unwillingly into them again. ‘Thea, you could leave him if you really wanted to.’’
    She didn’t reply.
    Slowly he released her. ‘I don’t think there’s anything more to be said; your decision is only too clear.’
    She stared at him then. ‘What are you saying?’
    ‘That it’s over.’
    ‘You can’t possibly mean that! Kit, it’s nonsense, there’s no need to end anything!’
    ‘There’s every need. I may not like Rowe, but I