Brenda Hiatt by A Christmas Bride

Author:A Christmas Bride [Bride, A Christmas]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

“WHY IS IT all the truly breathtaking ladies are married?” asked Sir Gregory Thurston with a dramatic sigh, as he led Holly from the floor of Lord and Lady Bellerby’s imposing ballroom a few evenings later. “My heart is like to break at your unapproachable loveliness.”

Holly chuckled and rapped his knuckles with her fan, as she had seen other ladies do. She had set herself to learn the art of light flirtation, thinking it might be useful both with her husband and in her dealings with Teasdale. She felt her repartee at the ridotto had been woefully inadequate. “Unapproachable? Did I not just grant you a dance, sir?”

“Ah, what is a dance, but a tantalizing moment in your company? It only reminds me of what I am missing when you are not by my side.” He gazed soulfully at her and Holly laughed again.

She had seen him put on this same performance with at least three other ladies, all married, and knew it was but a game.

“La, sir, but you will turn my head with such talk,” she said playfully. If nothing else, such harmless flirting served to distract her from her problems—and her loneliness.

From across the room, Hunt watched as his wife laughed up into the face of a man well known for his pursuit of married ladies. He had been kept late at an extended meeting with two of the undercover agents carrying out his investigation. Perhaps he should have made an effort to get here earlier.

Not since the early days of their marriage had he seen Holly looking so carefree, so…happy. It would seem that spending so much time apart had the opposite effect on her that it had on him. He began to make his way around the edge of the ballroom towards her.

When the crowd shifted a moment later, he found himself face to face with a still-laughing Holly. “Good evening, my lady,” he said with a stiff bow.

“Hunt! You managed to come.” She snatched her hand from Sir Gregory’s sleeve and turned quickly towards him.

Reading dismay into her expression of surprise, Hunt clenched his jaw and flicked a glance at Sir Gregory, who bowed respectfully before melting into the surrounding throng. “I can see you did not expect me, though I told you I would try to attend.”

“You said the same about the Herveys’ card party last night,” she reminded him. “Should I have waited at home on the chance that you would return to escort me?”

“’Twould have been a better choice than simpering after a fellow like Thurston,” he snapped, jealousy and anger suddenly overcoming his judgement. “It appears that you require closer supervision than Camilla can provide.” He had tried so hard, all these months, to convince himself that there was no one else, but now—

Now Holly was angry, as well, her eyes glittering ominously. “I do not require anyone’s supervision, my lord,” she almost spat at him.

People were beginning to glance their way, Hunt realized belatedly. He gripped her arm. “Come, madam, I believe this dance is mine.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.