Chills by Heather Boyd

Author:Heather Boyd
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: LLD Press
Published: 2011-04-30T16:00:00+00:00

~ * ~

So far, so good. The way things were going, Virginia would have Pixie for a sister-in-law in no time at all. Her brother hovered over her friend, so obviously smitten that even a blind man could see how perfectly happy the union would be. Given the way Jack devoured Pixie with his eyes, an announcement of their marriage couldn’t be too far away. She only hoped the potential scandal of his broken betrothal wouldn’t distress Pixie. But Jack was not a patient man and was used to getting his way. Being sued for breach of promise wouldn’t bother him in the face of marrying the woman he wanted.

Although she should be ashamed of her lapse as a chaperone she couldn’t be happier. Between them, she and Bernard had hatched a plan to bring the pair together as often as they could. They had agreed to play to their strengths. Hallam would be blunt about his approval. Virginia would subtly point out her brother’s sterling qualities.

When the doors creaked open to admit Lord Hallam she let out a contented sigh. Now that he was behaving as she wished, she really could find no fault with him. Thank heavens he had acted to protect her brother’s interests this morning and convinced Jack to follow the phaeton. Virginia had not wanted to raise an alarm over a rumor, but it seemed that she should have mentioned Blamey’s appalling driving skills.

Bernard thumped into the seat beside her, his large frame sprawled untidily. He wouldn’t drink tea, but requested ale. He jogged his knee impatiently while waiting for its arrival.

Virginia contemplated educating him on the correct manners of a gentleman, but to be honest, she liked most of his rough edges. Not all of them, of course, but his unapologetic way of living gave her a thrill. That and the words he whispered into her ear when no one paid attention. She knew he was attempting to prepare her for the future, but if he didn’t stop speaking soon she thought she might go up in flames.

She had never considered matters of the bedroom outside of it before, but he forced her to think about them—and to listen to him talk about them. Her only contribution so far was to tell him to be quiet in case they were overheard.

When Bernard shifted position, he brushed his hand over her shoulder, and then slid it down her back, lingering on her bottom. He squeezed.

Before she could stop them, memories rose of pain, of terror, and of humiliation.

Virginia fought them, tried to delay the return, but they proved far too demanding. Fear rolled through her mind of long hours bound in place, the taunting whispers in her ears, and the unrecognizable face of her husband, grinning in exhilaration as she cried out in anguish.

Her ears rang strangely, but she couldn’t see beyond the memories. Voices called, but she couldn’t understand. She gave in to the terror as the flush of wet heat scalded her skin. It was too much.

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