Utterly Devoted by Regina Scott Read Free Book Online Page B

by or even walk in while she told Jareth off. She walked to the door and shut it. Turning, she found Jareth regarding her thoughtfully.
    “I take it our former association is a state secret,” he said.
    “Well, I certainly avoid the topic,” she assured him. Squaring her shoulders for battle, she marched back to face him. “And if you are sincere in this tale of reformation, you will not want it shared either.”
    He immediately brightened. “I am sincere, I assure you. All I ask is your forgiveness.”
    Was it as easy as that? Could she simply lie, say that all was forgiven, and have him disappear from her life? He would not speak to her father. He would not speak to Lady DeGuis. He would not speak to Lord Nathaniel. She could not believe her good fortune. She opened her mouth to grant his request.
    But the words wouldn’t come.
    Jareth was regarding her, and she managed a feeble smile while her mind whirled. What was wrong with her? What was wrong with him , another part of her insisted. Did he truly think a simple apology was all it took to wipe away his past? He claimed to have sent his valet to check on her; it seemed a lie at worst and far too easy at best. He had made her think that he cared, then walked away, leaving her to bear any consequences from their actions. Given that, how could she even consider granting forgiveness so easily?
    He was obviously not so much changed that he thought he had to atone. No, he still thought all he needed was a charming smile and a ready wit. Even now, he smiled at her as if certain she would acquiesce to his request. The injustice was great, but her need for his silence was greater. Too much hung in the balance—her present, her future. She tried to force the words out, but nothing came. Why could she simply not say the words he wanted to hear and send him on his way?
    Perhaps it was the look of supreme confidence in those clear blue eyes.
    “You never required my forgiveness before,” she pointed out. “Why do you want it now?”
    She knew she must have grown wiser then because she saw the change in him. He stood just a little straighter in his black coat and dove gray trousers, and his gaze skittered away from hers. He didn’t want to answer that question. Why?
    “I want your forgiveness now,” he said, “because it would ease my conscience.”
    She felt a laugh bubbling. “Now there’s a lie. You, sir, have no conscience.”
    He shook his head, the sunlight from the window beyond them making golden highlights on his thick wavy hair. “Certainly I have a conscience. Perhaps it just uses a different scale of measurement than yours.”
    “Oh, I am certain that it must. And I am just as certain that it does not motivate you in this instance. What does, I wonder?” She cocked her head and regarded him steadily. He shifted his weight ever so slightly from one foot to the other. She had to hide a grin. This was simply too much fun! The thought that she could actually discompose the infamous Jareth Darby was quite heady.
    “Come now, Mr. Darby,” she challenged. “Out with it. Why are you really here?”
    He shrugged. “Believe me or not, madam. I truly came only for your forgiveness.”
    She felt a jolt of disappointment and put it down to having her fun thwarted. She tried to get him to answer again. “What, no other motivation? Perhaps I can guess. Is it that you have fallen in love and your new lady requires proof that you are a gentleman?”
    He snorted. “Any lady who would accept such feeble proof would not be worthy of my love.”
    She was willing to accept that but frowned at the feeling of satisfaction that curled through her. Some part of her appeared delighted that he was not in love, likely the part that wanted to see him suffer.
    “Then it must be your family who requires it,” she guessed. “Perhaps they will not allow you into their bosom until you prove yourself reformed.”
    “My brother has been kindness itself,” he assured her. “I even