Heiress in Love by Christina Brooke

Author:Christina Brooke [Brooke, Christina]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Historical romance, Fiction
ISBN: 9781429986472
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks
Published: 2011-06-27T21:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

This was indeed a shock. Constantine stood silent a moment, taking it in.

“Oh? What do you find particularly objectionable about it?” he asked conversationally.

What on earth had that dunderhead cousin of his done to the poor girl?

Then he blocked that image, because thinking about Jane in Frederick’s bed was not conducive to keeping a clear head.

Perhaps reassured by his unemotional reaction, she said more calmly, “It is painful for me. The doctor said I am not made the right way. My shape … it is impossible for me to have relations of an intimate nature without pain.”

He frowned. “The doctor said this?” He had no great opinion of doctors, as a breed. At best, they knew their limitations. At worst, they killed more patients than they cured.

She nodded, blinking hard. Poor darling; she was trying desperately not to weep.

He didn’t know what made him do it. “That is a very serious problem, of course.”

Her brow puckered. “I know. I shall never give you an heir, so you see—”

“But it so happens,” he interrupted, “that you have come to the right place.”

She stared at him then, openmouthed with astonishment.

He waved a hand. “Yes. You see, I am something of an expert on the subject…”

Her eyes narrowed.

Grinning, he ignored her forbidding expression. “… and I cannot believe that what that idiot of a doctor said was true.”

“Not true? But every time we…” She faltered, scarlet painting her cheeks. “Oh, this is ridiculous! I might have guessed you’d turn this into a joke. I can’t believe I’m even discussing it with you.”

At that, he crossed the space between them and took her hand in his. “It is not a jest. I pledge you my word it is not a jest.” He cupped her jaw in his hand. “Ah, Jane, I can give you pleasure beyond your wildest dreams, if only you’ll let me.”

Her breathing altered. Her eyelashes fluttered down. “But what if you can’t?” she said sadly. “After we’re married, it would be too late for you to turn back.”

After they were married … “Why not before?”

The more he considered it, the more it made sense to him. “Yes, why not before we get married? We cannot wed until we obtain Montford’s blessing. What if we do our best to, er, get you accustomed to the idea in the meantime? If you still find the notion abhorrent, you can cry off.”

His mouth took on a cynical twist. “Everyone will say you’re well rid of me, so you don’t need to fear damage to your reputation over that.”

She gazed at him in wonder. “You would agree to such a thing?”

“Sweet Jane.” He laughed a little. “Believe me, I’d be getting the better end of the bargain.”

Of course, he didn’t consider himself so damned irresistible that a woman with serious problems would be miraculously cured by his attentions. But he’d never heard of a woman who simply wasn’t made for bed sport.

Jane had been given a rotten time of it by that oaf Frederick,

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