The Lady Tamed by Boyd, Heather (urban books to read TXT) 📗

she’d learned in the woods again. Everyone had things in their past they didn’t like to talk about. She was no different. Jeremy could keep his secrets, provided they did not impact her own life. “We don’t need to talk about what you did or have done before we met, unless you want to tell me.”

His smile reappeared. “I appreciate that. You probably wouldn’t enjoy the telling unless it were put in a play anyway.”

Fanny gasped. “Don’t you dare put any of that in writing before you tell me. I think we can both agree I made a mistake writing that agreement, and it is a risk we should not take again with our reputations.”

“You’ll have no argument from me, my lady.” He removed his coat and held it over her head. “We’ll just go on the way we were before.”

Relief swept through her but then a rolling boom of thunder shook them both, and Fanny suddenly found herself wrapped tightly in Jeremy’s embrace. She wasn’t sure if she’d moved to him or he’d moved to her. All she knew was that in his arms was where she’d like to stay for a while. A good long while. Jeremy felt very safe, even if he was a thief.

They looked at each other a long moment and then laughed nervously as they parted.

Fanny gathered up her long skirts in both hands. “We’re going to have to make a run for it,” she warned. “Stay close.”

He made sure she was protected by his coat. “Always, my lady. I am completely under your direction.”

Chapter 12

Jeremy tightened his grip around Fanny’s slender waist and hurried her the last few yards to Stapleton Manor through the hard downpour. They collapsed in the shelter of a stone archway but both of them were soaked through and unfit to be seen by anyone. “We’ll have to get you out of those wet clothes.”

“You’re wet, too.”

Jeremy’s appearance hardly mattered in the greater scheme of things. Despite her wearing mourning black from head to toe, there were streaks of mud on Lady Rivers’ skirts at the knees from where she’d slipped and fallen, taking Jeremy down with her. Her once-perfect gown had become a rag.

If they were seen so disheveled, people might imagine she’d been rutting with him in a field. With the contents of their contract known by Thwaite and Wilks, they might all too happily make baseless insinuations.

Jeremy couldn’t allow that.

He had been at Stapleton long enough to have learned the most direct and discreet path to reach his chambers, and Fanny’s chambers weren’t too far along from there. He chivvied her up the first flight of stairs, checking at each turn for servants or a wandering guest.

At first their path was clear but when they reached the upper floor, they heard voices ahead of them. Jeremy pushed Fanny against a wall and held her there with his body. The Duke of Stapleton was talking with one of the servants not too far away.

Fanny stifled a laugh against his shoulder.

“Quiet,” Jeremy warned, seeing nothing amusing in their predicament.

Fanny tried to peek past him, but he held her close and firmly away from the corner.

She wriggled against his body, standing on her tiptoes to loop her arms about his neck. Her breath was warm against his ear. “I haven’t tried to sneak around behind my father’s back since I was a girl,” she whispered.

Her warm breath sent a thrill racing through every part of his body. Jeremy slowly glanced down into her upturned face. “You’re lucky to have a father to sneak around behind,” he murmured, fighting a shiver and something more.

He could see no sign that Fanny was alarmed by their proximity. In fact, she appeared to be cuddling up to him. She had, too, when he’d slept beside her, at odd times during the night. Right now, a droplet of rain was slowly sliding into her cleavage. Jeremy longed to lick that drop away, but not here in the hall where anyone might interrupt.

By God, Fanny was a woman to crave. Pretty and used to getting what she wanted. He didn’t mind that she’d thought he might share her bed one day, but he was surprised that she’d want him there, and a month ago it had been, too.

Her fingers stole into the hair at his nape and her lips parted on a sigh.

He eased away from temptation. “Your current state is entirely my fault.”

“Yes, it is.” A cheeky smile lifted the corners of her lips as her fingers spread over his chest. “What are you going to do about it?”

Jeremy scowled. She was daring him to misbehave, and right here where her father could find them. Here was further proof that this woman didn’t play by society’s rules. But he was trying to.

Jeremy peeked around the corner in time to see Stapleton turn into the stairwell and finally disappear. He waited a moment longer to be sure the duke was really gone and then grabbed Fanny by the hand to pull her out of hiding. He rushed her down the hall, and they reached her chambers without being seen. She produced a key and let herself in.

Jeremy followed and looked around. “Where’s is that bloody maid of yours?”

Fanny chuckled. “My maid is never in my room at this time of day. I’ve no idea where she is, either, or desire to know. I like my privacy.”

He shook his head. “You allow your maid, all your servants, to run roughshod over you.”

Fanny shrugged and moved toward the far windows to look outside and then turned to face him, her eyes alight. “The storm hasn’t abated. It could be like this for hours…and no one will come to disturb us.”

“I’ll ring for your maid,” he decided.

“Oh no, you won’t.” Fanny rushed to get between him and the bell. “All I need is a little help from you again.”

Jeremy froze briefly then shook his head. Last time, he’d undressed her in the dark. He shouldn’t undress Fanny