A Scandalous Connection by Hayley Ann Solomon

Author:Hayley Ann Solomon
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Zebra Books
Published: 2012-06-12T00:00:00+00:00

Eleven

Meeting his eyes was unavoidable. Mr. Endicott, nursing his cheek with a gloved hand, was curiously silent. Raquel’s heart beat all the faster. She was not so henwitted as to believe him indulgent, for he had already shown himself to be otherwise.

She therefore tilted her chin defiantly, noting with some alarm—and a good deal of satisfaction—that the singularly handsome face was streaked with red, fading, as she watched, to a dull pink. Her pulses raced. She did not feel nearly so icy as her reputation, despite the thrill of shivers that beset her.

Outside, the coachman watched the skies and slowed the horses down to a simple trot. The first flakes of snow brushed gently on the carriage roof before slipping silently to the ground. Neither person inside the gay, well-sprung chaise noticed. Regardless of the telltale signs of winter, both people were decidedly warm.

The carriage was cast in shadow, but Raquel could still see the mark she had produced on that amazingly virile countenance. She could only imagine at the consequences and sank back in her seat. It was hard without the squabs. The silver winked at her from the carpet of red, but she did not pick them up. Instead, as calmly as she could, she folded her arms and waited.

Thomas surprised her. He did not, as she’d half expected, retaliate with a stinging blow of his own. Neither, as she rather feared, did he take her in his arms and kiss her senseless.

She breathed a little sigh, half relief, half maddening disappointment. There was still a silence. Then she noticed the tilting of Mr. Endicott’s lips as though he were fighting back waves of laughter. She glanced quickly at his eyes and noted that they were twinkling with a sudden, quite glorious light. In spite of herself, Lady Raquel found her own graceful bow lips twitching quite infectiously. The next moment, both she and Mr. Endicott were laughing, though neither quite knew why. When they stopped, both were a little self-conscious, but a new understanding seemed forged between them. Thomas did not know whether this was good, or decidedly bad.

“You little vixen! I shall inform Demian to think carefully. He is doubtless marrying a shrew.” But his eyes smiled.

“I am only a shrew when the company is disagreeable.” Raquel flirted with her lashes. Mr. Endicott noticed, but did not succumb.

“I am only disagreeable when the company is a shrew.” He deftly turned the phrase to suit himself. Lady Raquel understood the insult a little quicker this time. “Oh!”

Thomas was alert. Lady Fortesque-Benton’s hand was already raised.

Their newfound amity appeared to evaporate like the mists.

“No you don’t!”

Raquel raised her brows, furious that her hand was being so forcefully held. She refused to allow herself to enjoy the sensation, as the faint, traitorous whisper in her being so tantalizingly demanded.

“Next time, you see fit to slap me, my lady, be warned. I shall answer in kind.”

“It is fortunate I am marrying into the peerage, Mr. Endicott. Gentlemen, I believe, do not slap ladies’ faces.

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