Lady Henrietta's Dilemma: Regency Suspense Romance Book 2 (Lords of Sussex) by Katy Walters

Author:Katy Walters [Walters, Katy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Oakwood House Publishing
Published: 2014-03-10T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

Rising from her chair, Esther went to the window, the limp almost gone; she could walk with some elegance once more. Her heart felt heavy, even though the sun sparkled through the windows, casting rainbow hues on crystal ornaments, and gilt chairs. She peered through the glass searching for the viscount, even though she had forbidden him to visit her. However, that did not stop him showering her every day with bouquets of roses, carnations and lilies in dazzling arrangements. Delightful scents pervaded the apartment, much to Lottie’s dismay who suffered from a rare condition, which the medical fraternity recently announced as hay fever. Her moaning and griping extended to changing the water and lopping off wilting flower heads. Yet, Esther could not bear to part with a flower until it discoloured, and even then, she sought to save them. She would admonish her maid, saying flowers are alive, have feelings; they reach for the sun, drawing up life through their stalks, so how could one discard them? Really, they should not be cut at all, but allowed to bloom, and then wilt in their own cycle, not cut off in their beauty.

She ensured the viscount still knew nought of her predicament, for surely he would reject her immediately. He was a man of honour, a man who still mourned his beloved wife, a woman who strongly resembled herself. Was he looking for a copy of his wife, or did he genuinely want her, Esther Taunton? If she did go to him, would he be listening for his wife’s ways of talking, her smile, and her laugh?

Still, her erring heart yearned for him, for his tenderness, his kiss, the way her body responded to his touch. She could not forget the exquisite sensation racing down her spine. Even now, she felt it, as she thought about him. Yet it was impossible; her hands went protectively to her flat stomach. First, she had to tell Vaughan she was increasing. It was her duty to give him the chance to acknowledge or renounce his child. She bit her lip, what would she do if he rejected her? How would Vaughan react to the child? Some men sought a mistress from pure lust or status, casting her off the moment he discovered she was breeding. It was often written into the contract.

Many men fled from the hypocrisy of an arranged marriage, repelled by frigid arms and a cold bed. Rather, they desired the warmth of a mistress, of love; joy in the sexual act, laughter, flattery, flirting, all that gave depth and enriched life, the offspring of such, being treasured as facsimiles of the beloved. The man could hardly divorce his wife who provided the heirs to the estate, but he could remain faithful to the woman he chose for love, his mistress. That way there was no scandalous divorce, for although the ton delighted in tittle-tattle, they punished blatant wrongdoers with exile.

She sighed, retreating to her couch, picking up little Lily.

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