Devil's Desire by Laurie McBain

Author:Laurie McBain [McBain, Laurie]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
ISBN: 1402242417
Amazon: B004BA57J4
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Published: 1975-01-02T05:00:00+00:00

Elysia rolled onto her back and stared up into the blackness of the canopy over her bed. She had been tossing and turning for hours. It was no use, she could not get to sleep. She sat up hugging her knees, resting her chin on her crossed forearms, and thought about another endless dinner she had suffered through, unaware of what she had been eating as dish after dish, course after course, had been removed and replaced by another. She was glad of the long length of the great dining table between her and the marquis, who sat glaring at her from his end of the table. She doubted whether they had ever enjoyed a meal together. Poor Antoine, his lordship’s temperamental French chef, must be near to tears at the thought of his unappreciated culinary triumphs being served to the footmen and maids.

How long could either of them hold out in this continuous atmosphere of warfare? It seemed to Elysia’s tired eyes that Trevegne thrived upon it. She, on the other hand, felt tense and nervous, wondering when the next remark would come and how she would parry it, her mental faculties put to their utmost in defense.

She felt uneasy—as if on the edge of a precipice and one false step would send her plunging into depths from which she would not be able to escape. Although she was not too well-versed in his lordship’s character, Elysia knew instinctively that he was seething, and seemed to turn more demoniacal with each passing hour. She apparently had the power to try his patience beyond what he was accustomed to. Well, the arrogant marquis had indeed met his match in her, Elysia smiled to herself in satisfaction, thoroughly enjoying being the thorn in his side; she would play her cards carefully—and the marquis would see who held the winning hand in this game of wits. But she certainly had no intention of endangering her own and rather precarious position, by taunting him too far, once too often. She had certainly caused his blood to boil today—and she had received a glimpse of those tightly leashed passions which he usually held in rein. Yes, she had cause to fear. So now she would tread lightly. She valued her skin too much to play recklessly with the marquis.

Elysia threw back the covers and slipped from the bed, her feet searching for the dainty turquoise-blue slippers that matched her velvet robe. She welcomed its warmth as she slipped it over the thin lawn nightdress with its high gathered waist held up by two thin velvet ribbons.

She tied the sash at her waist snugly, and lit a candle from the fire that was burning low in the fireplace, and then made her way down the corridor that was quiet except for the muffled sound of the sea in the distance. Elysia walked slowly, trying not to glance into the dark corners and alcoves as her candle spread a wavering light ahead of her. She protected the flame carefully with her cupped hand, from the drafts that would have carelessly snuffed it out.

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