Free Tempting a Devil by Samantha Kane Page B

officially entered society, not even country society. You were gone by then, weren’t you? I had very little choice in the matter, you see. I was barely sixteen, father signed the papers, the banns were read, and I was married. It all happened before I really understood what it meant. And that was that.”
    “You could have said no,” Roger argued, but he wasn’t so sure anymore.
    “Could I?” Harry asked calmly. “I suppose so. And then what?” She looked at him expectantly.
    “And then what?” he repeated, not sure what she meant.
    “Exactly,” she said with a decisive nod. “Not too many options for a silly, uneducated girl most likely cut off from her home by an angry family, are there?”
    It was an evasion, a pat excuse, transparent and meaningless. Wasn’t it? “You didn’t do too badly, Harry,” he said, indicating the room and its fine furnishings with a tilt of his chin.
    “No, I didn’t,” she said, looking around. She got up and wandered over to a prettychair near the window, running her hand along the richly covered gold cushion before sitting down. “But I had to earn all of it.” Her face was blank when her gaze met his. “So we’re agreed then? No marriage. And I won’t fall in love with you, either.”
    Roger nodded, relieved, but there was something else, some unsettled emotion rattling around inside him that he refused to pin down. “Agreed. Next rule?”
    “I’m not sure,” she said slowly. “I suppose I’ll have to make them up as unexpected situations arise. I’m not really conversant with this sort of thing, you know.” Harry smiled, and it was the first real, genuine smile he’d seen from her since they’d become reacquainted. “Now, then, you may begin.”
    He frowned in confusion. “Begin?”
    “Our affair,” she said impatiently. “We shall start today, and then make arrangements for our next rendezvous.” She tapped a finger on her cheek as she stared over his shoulder, thinking. “Somewhere public, I think. I want everyone to know.”
    “Public? Everyone?” he asked, astounded.
    She nodded decisively. “Oh, yes. I’ve worked rather hard for it, haven’t I? The least you can do is let everyone know I’ve finally got you.”
    “You haven’t had me yet,” he said as he rose from the sofa and stalked toward her. “But you will, public be damned.”
    * * *
    Harry stiffened her spine, prepared to give Roger his due in return for his finally agreeing to an affair with her. She’d known all along this would have to be a part of it. The reason she’d pursued him so single-mindedly was because she didn’t dislike his attentions. Theywere certainly less offensive than any she’d suffered through during her marriage.
    She noticed his awkward gait as he stalked toward her. “You’re still limping,” she said. “Why are you limping? Is that from last night? Or today?”
    He stopped and looked down at his legs as if he’d never seen them before. “It’s nothing.”
    She jumped up from her chair only to kneel in front of him, feeling his legs for any damage. “Did you hurt yourself when you rescued Mercy?” She looked up at him in concern and he had a pained expression as he regarded her kneeling at his feet. “Does it hurt too terribly?”
    Roger shook his head and laughed weakly. “Not yet, but I have a feeling it’s going to before this day is over.” He smiled, revealing his dimples. “I don’t suppose there’s anything else you’d like to do while you’re down there?”
    “Like what?” she asked, looking around and wondering what on earth he wanted her to do on the floor.
    He sighed. “Nothing. Forget I asked.”
    As he reached down to help her up, she noticed his hand was scraped and bruised. And now that she had him closer to the window, she could see his cheek was bruised as well. “Good heavens. I didn’t see him hit you. When did he hit you?”
    She tried to touch his cheek but he jerked his head back. “Don’t. It hurts.