“I was, fiercely. That was the chief reason I was so enraged when you set off for Maidstone. I thought you intended to meet Ackerby for a tryst.”
“I did plan to meet him eventually, but not for the reasons you thought. I was trying to save my brother.”
“I realize that now … but at the time I was too blinded by my own past. I feared history was repeating itself with you. But it was absurd to link you with my first love. You are nothing like her in numerous respects.”
Madeline met his gaze questioningly. “What hurt most was that you mistrusted me enough to think me guilty of infidelity.”
The regret in Rayne’s eyes was unmistakable. “I am sorry, love. But once my suspicions took root, they fed upon each other. And in my own defense, there were a number of other reasons I began to doubt you. Not the least was because you suddenly became a different woman than the one I wed. You were clearly working your feminine wiles on me—exactly the way my former love had done.”
It was Madeline’s turn to look guilty. “You weren’t mistaken, Rayne. I was purposely acting the seductress.”
“Why?
“Because I was madly in love with you, and I wanted you to love me in return.”
His gaze fixed on her, fierce and intent. “You love me?”
She nodded. “I have for a while.”
The brightness in his blue eyes took on an even deeper glow. “Thank God,” he murmured fervently, tightening his hand around hers.
“It was why I agreed to marry you,” Madeline added, “and why I tried so hard to seduce you.” Her lips twisted in a rueful smile. “How ironic. In my attempt to become more alluring, I only drove you further away.”
Rayne laughed softly yet disagreed with her observation. “I wouldn’t say you drove me away. The more seductive you were, the harder I fell.”
“You fooled me completely.”
“I fooled myself as well. It was only when I learned from Daphne what my grandmother planned that the truth hit me about my feelings for you. And then I feared I was too late—that you would accept her offer before I had a chance to dissuade you.”
“I would not have made so crucial a decision on Lady Haviland’s word alone, Rayne. I intended to go to London to see you first, but I didn’t want to interrupt your efforts to save the Regent’s life. I still don’t. Shouldn’t you be in London just now?”
“No. Prinny is safe for the time being.”
“So you broke the ring of potential assassins?”
“Barely an hour ago … and afterward I rode straight here.”
“I never doubted you would succeed in stopping them,” Madeline said admiringly. Then she shuddered upon recalling her painful suspicions. “You can’t imagine how relieved I was to learn why you were avoiding Riverwood and staying in London so often instead. I feared you were keeping a mistress.”
“I am not, Madeline.”
“But you implied as much yesterday.”
“It was cruel of me to mislead you. Can you ever forgive me?” The flash of tenderness in his eyes was so naked and intense, yet so soft, her heart melted.
“Of course.” She could forgive Rayne anything now that she could believe she had captured his heart.
He slid an arm around her shoulders. “I haven’t so much as thought of another woman since I met you.”
“Truly?”
“Yes, truly.”
The expression in Rayne’s eyes, so filled with desire and tenderness, set her heart to thudding. He intended to kiss her at last, Madeline thought with joyous anticipation.
He brought his fingers to the thickly beating pulse at her throat, then cupped and tilted the back of her head. His warm breath caressed her mouth before his lips began to play over hers with delectable pressure. Then slowly, his tongue slid into her mouth, tangling in a sensual dance.
Madeline moaned helplessly and raised her hands to his silky, raven hair. His kiss was tender, magical; the sensations he roused were spellbinding. His tongue stroked provocatively against hers, seducing, while his lips molded, tasted, teased.