How to Marry a Marquess by Stacy Reid

Author:Stacy Reid
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC
Published: 2017-08-13T21:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Evie was haunted by Richard’s kisses. It had been several days since she had almost been delightfully debauched, and despite keeping herself busy, memories of his illicit touch and his harsh kiss at the ball tormented her dreams. Her week had been hectic—a musicale on Monday, a carriage ride on Tuesday with a newly minted and wealthy baron whom her mother favored, a picnic on Wednesday with the Mosely sisters, balls on Thursday and Friday, a soiree on Saturday, and thankfully today, Sunday, she was free. Free to torment her thoughts with memories of his touch and his rejection of seductive lessons.

She’d never imagined there were such pleasures to be had with a man. Nor had she envisioned a kiss would have traversed along such a wicked path. There was a part of her that was mortified to have allowed him such intimacies without any understanding, and another part, the rebellious wanton in her, celebrated in the joy she had felt in his arms. She had been so helpless against his kisses. If not for his restraint she would have been thoroughly ravished. In a moving carriage. And then on that dratted balcony.

She felt uncertain, off kilter, and desperately needed to confer with Adel.

Evie’s morning had heralded the same pleadings and threats from her mother to select a beau from the ton, a refined gentleman with at least thirty thousand pounds a year, with acceptable bloodline, connections, and reputation. Now was the opportune time to escape to visit her friend since her mother had taken it upon herself to call upon the new Countess Blade, who, if the rumors were true, was very scandalous indeed. Several weeks ago, Lord Blade had thrown his wife over his shoulder at a ball, creating the stir of the season. Then the society papers reported that Lord Blade was the author of the “In the Service of the Crown” series—delightful, scandalous, and provocative books Evie herself had occasion to read. The scandal that had erupted in the wake of such revelations had Mamma rushing off to visit several neighbors to partake in the gossip.

With a sigh, she opened the letter she had received yesterday and reread.

Dearest Evie,

Edmond and I are traveling to Rosette Park on Sunday. We’ve been away too long from the girls and the twins. Promise me you shall visit soon and spend a week with me. Please ask your dear mamma if she will spare you.

Faithfully, Adel.

Evie had been too mortified to share her intimate encounter with Adel at the ball held in their grand ballroom on Friday. Her friend had recognized she was unsettled, but she had stubbornly held her silence, and now Adel was away from London and might not return for the remainder of the season.

Bloody hell.

It felt so satisfying to curse in such an unladylike manner even if it was only to herself.

With another gusty sigh, she placed the letter on the small writing table in her room, collected her shawl, slipped her feet into slippers and exited.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.