Games of Pleasure Read Online Free PDF

cloaked back and the dark waterfall of her hair.
    â€œPainful?” she asked. “Why?”
    â€œBecause Lancelot’s weakness haunted his conscience. It made him less than he had wanted to be.”
    â€œHe was still a perfect knight.”
    â€œNot in his own eyes. He had believed he was perfect only as long as he remained chaste.”
    â€œThen he was in thrall to obsolete teachings about chastity and sin,” she said.
    â€œObsolete?”
    â€œYou don’t think so?” She turned to face him and smiled pointedly at his obvious discomfort. However much he tried to behave as a gentleman, he was alone in a room with a woman who was naked except for a cloak. Her nipples rose against the soft lining. “Are you also sworn to chastity, my lord?”
    â€œI’m not a member of the Round Table.”
    â€œNo, you St. Georges enjoy a quite different reputation: one of duty and power and privilege, just like the knights of King Arthur’s court, but it’s also one of self-indulgence, as typified by your brother. Lord Jonathan is notorious for sin, I believe?”
    His eyes burned as if she had just lit a fuse in his heart. “Who the devil says such nonsense?”
    â€œAh,” she said. “So your little brother has not adventured all over the world?”
    â€œJack’s not the heir. He can do as he likes.”
    â€œGoodness!” She poured open scorn into her voice. “And Lord Ryderbourne cannot?”
    â€œYou think I’m doing exactly as I want right now? Maybe. But with power comes the responsibility to use it wisely. I’m not without conscience.”
    â€œNo, my lord, I believe your conscience is very fine!”
    He stood in silence for a moment, as if digesting this, then he pushed away from the door to pace across the room.
    â€œDo you want me to flee? It would seem that I’m not quite such a coward, after all.” He stopped, his head bent, then he flung up his chin and inhaled. “I would like you to trust me. Is that unreasonable?”
    â€œI don’t know. Perhaps it’s not a matter of reason?”
    â€œFor God’s sake! Any gentleman would rescue a dog from drowning without expecting anything in return.”
    â€œThen why insist on keeping me here against my will?”
    â€œBecause a great deal lies within my authority, and I have judged it best that you eat and sleep before you make any further decisions. I brought clothes. There! On the bed. Something should fit.” Intensity streamed from him as light streams from a lamp. “No one from outside will find you here—not even your husband.”
    Miracle swallowed. “I have no husband.”
    â€œNot in your heart, perhaps, not after what he’s done. If you wish it, I can make that a reality in the world, as well.”
    It was a statement of raw power. Very possibly it was true. Yet he could not, of course, help her. Stifling her reaction to the absurdity of her predicament, Miracle walked across to the bed. Dresses, petticoats, underwear lay on the covers. She formed a double drape in the cloak so that she was entirely modest, and turned back to face him.
    â€œHow can you be so sure that I’m married, my lord?”
    â€œOnly a husband could possibly have sufficient hold over you to create this much fear. You were wearing several rings until recently. Any single lady beaten by a stranger or mere acquaintance would run straight to her family for protection. Or has a foolhardy elopement estranged you from your family?”
    She raised a brow. “And if it had, you can order Parliament? You can dissolve marriages simply through the power of your name? Or perhaps you would challenge any wife-beater to a duel, so that you could kill him? Is that your solution?”
    The ocean wave turned in the depths of his eyes, as if her words were deadly serious, which perhaps they were. “Which would you prefer?”
    â€œI