His Lady Mistress

176 His Lady Mistresshad done, anger would become outright loathing. How longcould she live with him without confessing the truth? Shelooked away, her cheeks flooded with shame.Three hours after retiring Max was still pretending to readin bed. He had stopped trying to remember the title of thebook some time earlier. The words danced before his eyes ashe finally acknowledged his mistake. He should never havekissed her again. Not in the stillroom and certainly not at herbedchamber door three hours ago. The clock on the chimneypiece chimed in unrelenting correction.All right then! Three and a quarter hours ago! Who waskeeping count?He was. Every aching, yearning minute felt like a life sentencein frustration.Guilt didn’t help. He knew damn well that she had understoodand responded to his desire. That she had every reasonin the world to be waiting for him to walk through thatblasted door and make love to her. At some point he wouldhave to explain to her the truth of their marriage. Not tonight,though. Right now, despite the white-hot desire that heldsleep at bay, he wanted to shake her.Tonight he had finally seen the real Verity. Laughing overnonsense. Actually eating without looking as though everymouthful was an effort. With a pang he realised that he hadnever before seen her completely happy, without the lurkingshadows in her eyes.All the shadows had rushed back with the mere mentionof her father. She was ashamed. Scott had not deserved that.He deserved to be remembered with pride by his daughter,not shame. Somehow he had to help her see that. He’d talkto her tomorrow, make her see, remind her of the sort of manher father had been. Tomorrow.So what was he doing at the door between their roomswith his hand on the doorknob?