Bride by Necessity (9781460333907) by Glaz Linda S

Author:Glaz, Linda S.
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin Sales Corp
Published: 2014-08-16T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

Payton received good wishes from her departing guests. When the last well-wisher climbed into a carriage, she closed the door and lifted her chin. Her hands tightened at her sides. If he wanted a battle, she must supply one. Embarrassing her in such a way. She wasted no time but ran directly to the staircase and flew up the steps as if wings lifted her slippers.

She stopped a moment to stare at the gold band on her finger. She would gladly pitch it in his face, but no, that would never do. There remained houseguests who still believed them to be happily married. Fully and wholly married if that kiss were any indication.

When she lingered outside the door to her room, she listened. He was supposed to be staying in the sitting room tonight so their friends would think they were sharing sleeping quarters. He must still be seeing to the cleanup of the hall. She entered, locked her door, slipped into the sitting room and unlocked that door, then returned to her own chamber. The dress fell from her shoulders and she donned a nightgown Mrs. Brewster had left on the bed. She sat in front of the mirror and removed pins from her hair. The full length of it fell onto her arms, the small side curls hidden by the chestnut mass. She hadn’t noticed before how dark her hair was in the winter, but in the candlelight, it shone almost black.

A small rap at the door sent tingles down her back. “Go away. The sitting room’s been prepared. Go away, Jonathan.”

His steps didn’t have a particularly happy ring to them. She held her breath. Soon, there came a rap at the closet. “Go away.”

“Payton, open the door. Now!”

He had agreed to a marriage of convenience, so why was he pursuing her? She stepped to the door timidly and opened it but a crack. His haughty demeanor pushed away any apprehension she might have felt.

“May I come in?”

Her heart thudded, but she pulled the door open wide. “This is your house, Mr. Lambrick. I don’t pretend to be able to keep you out.” She turned and touched her lips with her fingers. If he would kiss her again, the arrangement might change. He had touched her heart so often lately, she imagined a full life with him, but she must never be a beggar and his womanizing ways would no doubt not end merely because of marriage vows.

“Payton, I only wanted to apologize. I seem to be doing that a lot lately. I should not have embarrassed you in front of my friends. Our friends. You were so beautiful, I am afraid I was carried away. I never meant to kiss you in such a manner.” But his gaze said quite the opposite.

Her face flamed with indignation in spite of the strange emotions tingling through her. So, he didn’t really want to kiss her, he just got carried away? Payton moved slowly to the corner table where a vase of the white roses had been set.

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