For the First Time by Smith Kathryn

Author:Smith, Kathryn [Smith, Kathryn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance
ISBN: 9780060527419
Publisher: Avon
Published: 2003-01-01T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

The morning after the ball, Blythe sat at the small, round breakfast table chewing thoughtfully on a piece of toast with jam and sipping a cup of strong, hot tea. What had she been thinking when she accepted that absurd challenge of Devlin’s? Make him fall in love with her indeed! As if she could.

He proclaimed it a winning situation for both of them, but what if one fell in love and the other didn’t? How could that be a victory? It would be hollow at best, and potentially painful for the besotted party—which she greatly feared would be she.

She couldn’t go through loving and not having that love returned. Not again. At least if they were lovers and he lost interest, he could walk away from her. Marriage would bind them forever.

“These just came for you,” Varya announced, as she swept into the room in a morning gown of garnet muslin. She carried a Wedgwood vase filled with lilies.

“Oh, how pretty.” She preferred roses. “Who are they from?”

Varya set the vase on a table next to the morning’s other offerings. Oddly enough, she was suddenly quite popular among London bachelors, or so it seemed. “These are from Montrose.”

“Ahh, the young viscount. Good height. Too skinny, though.” Blythe sipped her tea.

Her sister-in-law regarded her with her hands on her full hips. Her pregnancy was becoming increasingly more noticeable. It wouldn’t be long before she would be forced to give up appearing in public. “You have found fault with every man who has sent you flowers this morning.”

Blythe shrugged. “I cannot help it.” Was it her fault that these men were flawed in some major way? Certainly if she noticed, then their flaws had to be large indeed.

Varya looked dubious. “Well, if you bother to start a list of their virtues, please add the fact that they were considerate enough to send flowers. The size of a man’s waist is nothing compared to the size of his heart.”

She was right, of course, and Blythe was duly chastised. “I am certain they are all the best of men.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t go that far.” Varya seated herself at the table and poured a cup of tea from the silver pot. “Although I am certain they are each fine in their own way. I think in your estimation there is only one man who deserves to be called ‘the best.’”

An uncomfortable heat seeped into Blythe’s cheeks. “Is it that obvious?”

Varya dropped two lumps of sugar in her cup. “Dearest, it was that obvious the night we found you in the maze. You are not the type of woman to be easily swept off your feet.”

“No,” she replied with a bitter chuckle. “I am too large for that.”

The other woman pinned her with a penetrating gaze. “I meant too sensible, but do not let me stop you from belittling yourself. It is such an attractive trait, after all.”

What else was there for Blythe to do but laugh? She picked at her toast. “Do you

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