A Convenient Bride for the Soldier by Christine Merrill

Author:Christine Merrill
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2017-11-11T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

The next morning, George came downstairs to find the breakfast table set for one. It was not a surprise as much as a confirmation of what she already knew. She had been awake most of the night, alternately crying into her pillow and listening for a step on the stair that had had never come.

When it came time to rise, Polly fussed over her red-rimmed eyes offering cool cloths, powdering her nose and allowing her to pretend that it was the beginning of a cold and not the end of an argument with a man she had never meant to care about. If Mr Challenger worried so much about the opinions of the servants, he should not have behaved in a way that informed the household, from stable groom to scullery maid, that he hated his wife and refused to stay in the same house with her.

His prolonged absence and the lack of explanation for it was precisely the sort of marriage she’d expected to have. If he had given her the life she had asked for on their wedding day, she would not have shed a single tear over him. She might have retreated from London entirely. In the country, with no ton to gossip about her, there would be no need to worry about social missteps and ruined reputations. Nor would she have to care about what her husband did when he was not at home. He could have spent every night of his life at Vitium et Virtus and she would have neither known nor cared.

Instead, he had tried to seduce her. At least, she assumed that was what had been happening. His behaviour had been very confusing. When she had come down the stairs, he’d acted as if he liked her, smiling and giving her gifts. Then, they’d arrived at the ball and he’d been purposely difficult, refusing to have fun. Then he’d changed his mind and agreed to dance.

The waltz had been magical. He had murmured apologies while holding her in his arms and gazing into her eyes. She had never wanted it to end. Then, they’d gone to the terrace.

Her heart beat quicker at the memory. She could still feel his kiss on her breast. It had been scandalous, but he had been the one to suggest it. Nay, he had insisted. He had been reckless as she tried to be the responsible one. It was not a role she was good at and she had never been so happy to fail.

Once they got home, she had been sure that there would at least be more kissing. Quite possibly, there would be other, even better things, but she had no idea what they would be. He had admitted that he had been wrong about her and was showing signs of becoming less strict. It was as if she had suddenly discovered she had married a handsome, loving gentleman and not Frederick Challenger at all.

But when they’d set out for home, he been worse than his usual, disapproving self.

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