Brushed by Scandal (28 page)

‘But he wounded you all the same.’

‘Yes, because I was careless,’ Barrington admitted. ‘I lowered my guard. Preoccupied with thoughts of you, I wasn’t expecting the attack. But he only managed to get in one thrust.’

‘One good one,’ she whispered, glancing at his arm, still in its sling. ‘You may never use that arm again.’

‘Not to fight to my previous standard, perhaps, but it is perfectly capable of doing other things. Like holding you close,’ he murmured.

Anna closed her eyes, feeling the warmth of his words pierce her heart. ‘Is this where you tell me again about the risks involved in loving you?’

She opened her eyes and caught his gaze. A minute passed, and then he slowly began to smile. ‘No. It’s probably what I
should
say, but I’m not going to. What I feel for you isn’t rational, Anna, but I’m not willing to fight it any more.’

‘Good, because love isn’t rational,’ Anna said. ‘Elizabeth Paisley did what my brother asked because she loved him and thought he loved her in return. Just as Peregrine lied to me because he thought Lady Yew had deep feelings for him. Love excuses all things and forgives all things.’

‘Do you honestly believe that?’

‘No. It’s a pretty sentiment, but it doesn’t justify lies or deceit. Peregrine’s belief that Lady Yew wasn’t in love with her husband didn’t make it right for him to enter into an affair with her. Just as being in love with my brother didn’t justify Miss Paisley’s stealing Julia’s necklace.’

‘So you’re saying that truth and emotion will always clash,’ Barrington said.

‘Probably. I suspect men will always do bizarre things in the name of love.’

‘Which brings me back to our ongoing conversation.’ At her look of confusion, he said, ‘The one we started the night we met at Lady Montby’s and that we have been having ever since. The one concerning…us.’

Her pulse accelerated. ‘I wasn’t sure there
was
an us.’

‘Oh, there most definitely is an us,’ Barrington replied. ‘I’ve spent the last few weeks trying to deny it, but finally realised I’m fighting a losing battle. And you know why.’

Anna stared down at her hands. ‘You have taken pains to tell me and on more than one occasion. But you must feel there is hope for us or you wouldn’t have sought me out.’

‘You’re right. Because the idea of
not
having you in my life is one I can no longer contemplate. You
are
all I think about, Anna,’ he said quietly. ‘And a man cannot be effective if his mind is constantly engaged upon something or someone he believes…unattainable.’

‘I have always been attainable…for you,’ Anna said, her voice husky. ‘It was
you
who chose to believe otherwise. And I don’t care if being with you involves risk. I would rather take the risks than live without you.’

‘Even if it endangered your life?’

Anna suddenly felt wise beyond her years. ‘You said yourself that life is never entirely without risk and you’re right. But I like to think I demonstrated that I am not some witless female prone to running away at the first sign of danger.’

‘No, you’re not.’ His mouth lifted at one corner. ‘You have proven that most admirably. But would you allow yourself to become intimately involved with a man like me? Knowing that what I do might always put you in danger.’

Anna shook her head. ‘The greatest danger to
both
of
us thus far has been from my own family. I couldn’t be any closer to the source of the danger if I tried.’

‘In that case…’ Barrington dismounted and, crossing to her side, held out his hand. Anna placed hers within it and allowed him to help her down from the saddle. His hands lingered on her waist and they were so close she could feel the warmth of his breath on her face. ‘I haven’t spoken to your father, and if you say you have no desire to
be
my wife, I will not do so. But if you consent to marry me, Anna, I’ll make you a promise here and now that there won’t be any more risks to either of us, because I won’t take on any more assignments.’

Her eyes widened in shock. ‘You would do that for me?’

‘I would do whatever it took to keep you safe,’ Barrington said softly. ‘I love you, Anna. There’s never been a woman in my life for whom I’ve felt a deeper or more powerful passion. I love everything about you. Your enthusiasm for life, your unstinting concern for others, the genuine goodness that is so much a part of you. If you refuse to marry me, I will go on, but only because there won’t be anything else for me to do. If you accept, you’ll never have to worry about your happiness again.’

‘Or yours,’ Anna said. ‘My brother almost killed you, Barrington, and I suspect there are others who would no doubt like to try. A man doesn’t make friends by exposing other men’s deepest, darkest secrets.’

‘That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you.’

‘Nevertheless, someone has to try to stop them, and as I’ve been trying to tell
you,
I don’t want you to give up what you do. I love you. There’s no doubt in my mind about that. And, yes, I’ll be afraid for you, but what you do is part of who you are. I couldn’t ask you to give that up for me.’

‘You don’t have to ask. I’ve given a great deal of thought
to what I would be giving up and it doesn’t compare to what I would be gaining. I want you as my wife, Anna,’ he told her fervently. ‘I want to hold you in my arms and tell you every day how much I love you. I want to cover your body with kisses and hear you cry out my name when we make love. And I want to see your beautiful eyes in the faces of our children. Marry me, sweetheart, and I’ll spend the rest of my life not only telling you how much I love you, but showing you.’

His smile was slow and sensual, filling her with a giddy sense of pleasure. ‘Good, because I
am
saying yes, Barrington, so you’d better be prepared to make good on your promise.’ Uncaring as to who might be watching, Anna walked into his arms and tilted her head back, her eyes glowing. ‘As far as I’m concerned, you can start telling me
and
showing me, just as soon as you like.’

ISBN-13: 9781460349397

BRUSHED BY SCANDAL

© Gail Whitiker 2011

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