Harlequin Historical August 2017, Box Set 1 of 2 by Louise Allen

Author:Louise Allen
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781488021633
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2017-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

‘Venice is such a smelly city,’ Mrs Peterson said, waving a dismissive hand out of the carriage window.

‘You’ve been before?’ Rosa asked, trying to keep the irritation from her voice.

‘No, but everyone says so.’

Rosa managed to restrain herself from rolling her eyes and leaned forward further to try to catch all of the sights of the city they were entering.

‘I think it sounds fascinating. A city built on water.’

‘If you like that sort of thing.’

‘I do,’ Rosa said, a little more abruptly than she’d meant to. Six hours she’d been cooped up in the carriage with the annoying woman and her patience was starting to wear thin.

‘So tell me,’ Mrs Peterson said, a sly look crossing her face, ‘what is the enigmatic Lord Hunter really like?’

Rosa sat back and regarded her companion warily. Over the last few days she’d noticed the sidelong looks, the fluttering of her eyelashes, the pouting lips and seductive smiles Mrs Peterson employed whenever Thomas was around. She didn’t flirt overtly, not enough for poor Mr Peterson to complain, but Rosa had noticed how she changed when Thomas was close.

At first she’d felt some unexpected pangs of jealousy. Thomas wasn’t hers to be jealous about, not really, but when Mrs Peterson stroked his arm or tilted her face up so the sun made her eyes sparkle Rosa had felt jealous all the same. As time had gone on and Thomas had not reacted even slightly to Mrs Peterson’s flirtations Rosa had started to find the other woman’s behaviour a little amusing.

‘What do you mean?’

‘Well is he a kind husband? Is he a bore? Is he wild in the bedroom? Come, Lady Hunter, we’re friends and this is what friends talk about.’

The carriage was beginning to slow and Rosa wondered if she could delay enough to avoid having to answer any of Mrs Peterson’s questions, but as the silence dragged out Rosa sighed and started talking.

‘He is kind, the kindest man I’ve ever known. Generous, too, although he will not accept thanks for his generosity. He holds everyone to very exacting standards, most especially himself, and I don’t think anyone could describe him as a bore.’

‘You’re ignoring one of my questions, Lady Hunter,’ Mrs Peterson teased. ‘Perhaps I am to assume therefore Lord Hunter is only mediocre in the bedroom.’

‘Assume what you will, Mrs Peterson, but Lord Hunter is not mediocre at anything he turns his hand to.’ Rosa said it without blushing, trying to hide her smile as Mrs Peterson’s eyes widened.

‘You mean...’

‘Ladies,’ Thomas said, throwing the carriage door open. ‘Welcome to Venice.’

Rosa almost leapt into Thomas’s arms she was so eager to escape the carriage. She regretted assuring Thomas she would be perfectly happy if he chose to ride into the city, he’d been such an attentive travelling companion sitting in the carriage with her day after day that he deserved one morning of freedom. What she hadn’t been prepared for was Mrs Peterson’s insistence she travel with her instead.

‘Smelly,’ Mrs Peterson said, nodding her head in satisfaction.

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