Betrothal (Time Enough To Love) by Jenna Jaxon Read Free Book Online Page A

back against the wall and crossed his arms over his broad chest, his eyes mere slits. He had not spoken a word to her since her exchange with Lord Braeton. That did not bode well, considering his current surly attitude.
    She glanced around, unnerved to discover they were all but alone together. Shaken at the thought, she looked to him for reassurance but instead found his smoldering eyes staring straight into hers. Unmistakable desire had replaced the menace in his face. Alyse gasped at the power of that look and a wave of panic washed through her. She tried to rise, to flee, but he shot out a hand and gripped her arm, forcing her to sit once more.
    “You would leave me so soon, my lady?” Geoffrey’s silken voice carried danger in it. “You have declared I am to know you better, Lady Alyse.” His eyes gleamed wickedly in the candlelight. “I think you must make good on that promise.”
     

Chapter 6
     
    “How so, sir?” Her voice trembled, though her face remained composed.
    “Why, with conversation, my lady. How else?”
    Alyse released a sigh of relief and Geoffrey chuckled, for he had guessed the bent of her mind. Would that that knowledge could be gained tonight. An image flashed through his mind of Alyse, in his bed, licking…tasting…touching those red lips to his… He shook himself and suppressed the pleasant daydream.
    “I presume from your sharp repartee with Thomas that you are both a scholar and a wit?” His mocking tone surprised him—a reaction, he supposed, to the unexpected skill she had shown in her use of language. He scowled. Unbidden, jealousy roiled in him at the memory of Thomas’s kiss on her hand. Such feelings were madness. His friend’s attentions were the courtly fashion—a game Geoffrey knew he played exceedingly well.
    “Lady Alyse?” She had taken so long to reply Geoffrey had to ask again. “Do you attend me, my lady?”
    The maid seemed to shake herself from a reverie and turned cautious eyes toward him. “Aye, my lord. I beg your pardon. My mind had… I am sorry, my lord.” She peered at him, pitiful and confused. “What did you ask of me?”
    Geoffrey snorted. “I think I have my answer, lady, yet I will ask again. Are you both a scholar and a wit?”
    She ventured a small smile. “’Tis hard to answer yea, my lord, having just proved my lack of wits to you. Yet I have some pretense to both charges when I am hard pressed, as you heard before with Lord Braeton.”
    “Yes, you did acquit yourself admirably with Thomas.” Too well for his taste. “But do you not care to trade banter with me, lady? Our conversations so far have not shown me your great skills in wordplay. Would you deny me this pleasure with you?”
    “Nay, my lord, I would deny you no pleasure.” Alyse stopped and clapped her hand over her mouth, her eyes widening in horror. Her face deepened to a brilliant shade of scarlet.
    Geoffrey’s bench thumped down on the rush-strewn floor, his blood heating at the import of her words. “Indeed, my lady! Shall we retire at once to my chamber?” He tried to restrain a lecherous grin as he watched her fight to recall those words. She was proving excellent sport in her attempts to placate him.
    “My lord, I did not mean…”
    “Did you not, my sweet?” He leaned toward her, tempted to try to steal a kiss in the confusion. Not a prudent move, perhaps, but oh so enticing.
    “Nay, my lord.” Alyse seemed to have recovered, for she sat straighter and gave herself a little shake. “As you see, my skills at wordplay do not seem to include banter with you. I know not why, but my wits scatter and the most unfortunate sentiments fly from my lips whenever I speak with you.” She refused to look at him, stared instead at the hands clenched tight in her lap. “I am sorry, my lord, if this displeases you.”
    Restored to good humor, Geoffrey unclenched her hands and drew one into his. “Pay this no mind, sweet. Perhaps upon further acquaintance your wits