Bad Blood (Siren Publishing Allure) by Cherie Denis

Author:Cherie Denis
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance
Published: 2012-05-30T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Four nights later, a black barouche pulled by a beautiful pair of perfectly matched black horses turned off the cobbled driveway onto the wide, graveled road.

Clarissa watched the carriage leave, knowing her handsome husband was ensconced in the corner. A wisp of cigar smoke exited the coach. She waved, and a large hand waved once, and the curtains drew closed. She watched until the barouche was out of sight before returning to warm herself in front of the roaring fire.

Her gown of the finest lace lined with silk floated around her ankles as Clarissa paced. She would walk until her feet were cold then stop and stare into the flames, watching the patterns change until her feet were warm again. Then she would stare out the front windows waiting for Colin to return. The mother-of-pearl fireplace inlays shimmered. The darkness in the corners of the room was relieved by the flicker of several candles.

How long would it take for Colin to do what he’d set out to accomplish?

She pulled the tapestry rope. The door opened, and Clarissa jumped. “Oh, Tremaine, I just rang for you.”

“Yes, madame. I was close and came quickly.”

Clarissa was a bit frightened. Tremaine was always quick to answer her ring, but tonight he had answered so quickly he’d startled her. What did he know? Had Colin told him their secret?

She clenched her hands before her, trying not to show her fear. “Would you mind bringing me a pot of tea, Tremaine. Perhaps the calming tea Lilith recommends sometimes. I’m feeling rather tense this evening.”

“Yes, Madame. I will return momentarily.” He was out the door before she could nod her head.

She pulled a dainty chair and tea table close to the fire, and she had barely sat when Tremaine returned with a tray. He sat the tray on the table. “Anything else, madame?”

She looked over the tray. Lilith had used the prettiest china pot, a cup, a saucer, and a plate of biscuits. “No thank you, Tremaine, everything looks lovely. Tell Lilith thank you.”

“Yes, madame.” In a flash he was gone, and Clarissa was alone again. She was sick to her stomach with fear. The ormolu clock on the mantle said it was after 2:00 a.m. Shouldn’t Colin be home by now?

Hand shaking, Clarissa poured a cup of pale tea, stirred in two teaspoons of sugar, and sipped. She took several more sips and felt some better. She ate two biscuits. Lilith had made her favorite— Scottish shortbreads—and as usual they were delightful.

By 3:00 a.m. Clarissa was exhausted and made her way to bed. Tremaine had placed a large warming pan between the bed linens. It was very thoughtful of him to have realized when she eventually went to bed she would be cold. The room itself was also cozy with a medium-sized fire blazing in the fireplace.

Clarissa took out the warming pan and set it on the hearth before climbing into bed. She curled up in a ball, chilled to the bone with fright. If Colin didn’t return soon, Clarissa was going to freeze to death.

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