His Lady Mistress

64 His Lady Mistresswe could have together would be very different from whatFaringdon has forced on you.’She believed him, and did not bother to correct his assumptionthat Godfrey had already stripped her of her innocence.In a way he had. As had all the Faringdons. She hadvery few illusions left as to how the world viewed a girl inher situation. A drudge. A source of unpaid labour and aconvenient victim for bullying. He had offered her escape.Not love.She had to refuse him. But her whole being cried out inprotest at being denied the tenderness he offered. Surely shecould have just one last, tiny taste of heaven, one small joyto cherish in the years ahead?‘I must refuse you, my lord,’ she said quietly, praying thatthe lump in her throat wouldn’t choke her.‘Must you?’She could only nod.‘Very well.’He rose from the chest and picked up his lantern and sherealised that he was leaving. That if she didn’t speak now hewould be gone. With all her dreams.‘But, if you do not mind, my lord...I...I should like to kissyou again.’He turned very slowly. ‘Why? If you do not wish—’She interrupted. ‘I cannot be your mistress, my lord, but itis not because you frightened me, or that I do not trust you.’His mouth twisted ruefully. ‘If you will offer to kiss meafter what I said to you earlier, then your trust is self-evident.Are you sure, Selina? Be warned: I have every intention ofusing this kiss to change your mind. It will start with a kiss,but if you want it to stop there, you are the one who willhave to say so.’She swallowed. He had warned her, that was fair. The riskwas hers, to take or reject. She took it. Trembling, she heldout her hand.His smile deepened and he came to her.