A Lady's Rules for Ruin by Jennifer Haymore

Author:Jennifer Haymore
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: historical romance;regency;found family;adoption;planned ruination;rowing;annoyance to lovers;opposites;siblings;Earl;lions and lilies;duke;duchess;lake house;country;London;brothers;Historical Romances;Victorian Historical Romance;Regency Historical Romance;Women's Historical Fiction;Historical British Fiction;Historical Fiction;Genre Fiction;Entangled publishing;Amara;new romance book;popular romance book;single title romance;stand alone romance book;2022 Romance book;books with a Happy ending;HEA;The Duke’s Rules of Engagement;Jennifer Haymore;Beach Reads;New Beach Reach 2023;Books like Bridgerton;Bridgerton type book;Sexy Historical books;Sexy Regency book;Regency book with Sex;Historical book with sex;Bridgerton;earl;Lady’s Rules for Ruin;Sexy Regency;Books like Queen Charlotte;Mass Market Paperback romance;smart romance;series romance
Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC
Published: 2023-08-16T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

Evan gathered Frances close and pulled the blanket over them. There, in the cozy comfort of his arms, Frances felt boneless and light as air. After a while, he shifted his weight.

“Mmm,” she said, her eyes fluttering open.

He was sitting up and gazing down at her, his expression full of soft warmth, a genuine affection that made her insides melt. “Are you all right?” he asked her.

“I am,” she replied. “More than all right.” She felt languid, relaxed. Comfortable, like she didn’t want to move ever again.

He reached over to the basket and brought out a napkin, which he used to gently clean her. She smiled, studying the divot between his brows as he focused on the job. He was so thoughtful.

He glanced at her, his own smile playing at the edge of his lips. “Are you laughing at me?”

“No,” she said. “Not at all.”

He dropped a kiss on her lips and continued his ministrations to her body. When he finished, he refilled her cup of wine. “Do you want to eat?”

“Honestly, I don’t want to move.”

He looked back down at her. “Moving is completely unnecessary.” He pulled the basket closer and withdrew three wrapped packages.

Telling her she needed her strength after all that exertion, he fed her a bite of roast chicken.

“Mm.” Her stomach growled in agreement, and he fed her more chicken and bits of cheese and bread. Then he helped her sit up to drink wine. She leaned against him, his arm wrapped around her. He tucked the blanket over both their shoulders. Frances looked out over the moonlit water and sighed happily. She wondered when she’d ever felt so content in body and spirit.

Never, that’s when.

“I never thought it would be that good,” she murmured, laying her head against his shoulder.

“Why not?” he asked, his fingers playing in the wavy ends of her hair.

“Mary calls it a ‘wifely duty.’ Throughout my life, Mary has made me understand that if it is a duty, it is something to be endured, not enjoyed.”

“Poor Mary,” Evan said.

She laughed. “Yes. Poor Mary.” She gave him a critical look. “Honestly, before these last few weeks, not only did I never believe I’d enjoy the act, but I was certain I’d never want to try it.”

“And what happened in the last few weeks?”

She pushed against his shoulder with her own. “You happened.”

“I’m glad I happened,” he said with a grin.

She sighed. “So am I.” She tucked herself to him again. “So…what now?”

He didn’t respond for a moment. Then he said, “What do you want, Frances? Because right now, I’m willing for this to go however you want it. And I hope to God it’s not something that entails us never seeing each other again.”

“Oh no,” she said quickly. “Not that.”

“What would you like, then?” Pulling away from her a little, he pushed his knuckles gently under her chin, forcing her to look him in the eyes. “What do you want?”

Frances would be a fool if she didn’t understand this for what it was.

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