Chapter 13
Marcus was already feeling a twinge of remorse for sending his ward away in such a fit of terror. He was not by nature a cruel man, but something about her drove the devil into him. He was unused to facing any kind of challenge to his command. Let alone from some chit of a girl, albeit a very ravishing one.
He reasoned, however, that his ruse might serve a dual purpose. Regardless of his strong desire to take her into his bed at the earliest opportunity, her age as well as his urgent business in Spain both called for patience.
The gossip of the ton might have been a third consideration, but Marcus had little regard for public opinion when it came to his personal conduct or affairs. Nonetheless he acknowledged that it would be a source of frenzied discussion in society if the
