Lady Isabella's Ogre by Emily Larkin

Author:Emily Larkin [Larkin, Emily]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9780995105003
Publisher: Emily Larkin
Published: 2017-12-04T18:00:00+00:00

They were both flushed and laughing, panting, by the time they pulled up. Lady Isabella’s mount, a lively blood-bay named Firefly, had proved almost as swift as Douro.

“Congratulations, Major,” she said, laughing, catching her breath. “You won!”

“Not by much.”

Gussie and Lucas were no longer beneath the clump of trees. Nicholas glanced around, searching for them. They were further down the avenue, their horses ambling side by side.

Nicholas nudged Douro with his knee, bringing himself and the horse around to face Lady Isabella.

“I wish I could have brought Rufus,” she said. “He would love this.”

“Then let us bring him,” Nicholas said. They were so close that their legs almost brushed. “And Tam, too. And Timothy and Grace. A barouche filled with dogs and children.”

“A splendid idea, Major.”

“But no kittens,” he added.

Lady Isabella made a moue of disappointment. “Don’t you think kittens would add a charming element of chaos to the expedition?”

Her eyes laughed at him and the temptation was suddenly and quite simply too great. Nicholas leaned over and kissed that teasing mouth.

Her hesitation lasted a mere fraction of a second, and then Lady Isabella kissed him back.

Nicholas deepened the kiss, savoring the softness of her lips, the exciting heat of her mouth. Arousal flared in his belly. He could lose himself in this, in the heat, the exquisite pleasure, the—

We’re in Richmond Park.

With a muttered oath he tore his mouth from hers. At the jerk of his hand, Douro stepped back a pace.

He stared at her, steadying his breathing. She looked as she had last night—dark eyes, flushed cheeks, well-kissed mouth—but not aghast, not dismayed.

“Lady Isabella—”

“Isabella.” Her mouth quirked up at one corner in a wry smile. “If we’re to do that, then I think we shouldn’t be so formal with each other.”

Her words made hope rise swiftly in his chest. We’ll do it again, she seemed to be saying.

But not here. Not where we can be seen.

Nicholas cleared his throat. “Very well, Isabella, . . . I think we’d best find Gussie and Lucas.”

“Yes.” The wry smile vanished. “We had better.” She gathered her reins.

Part of him was disappointed. Had he wanted her to protest? To kiss him again?

Yes, he had. But Lady Isabella—Isabella—knew as well as he did what would happen if they were seen kissing in public. They would have to marry. And as much as he enjoyed her company—and her kisses—she was not the bride he wanted.

His thoughts swerved to Clarissa Whedon, the bride he did wish for. She was no beauty, but it was her mildness, her youth, that recommended her to him. She would suit him in ways Lady Isabella never would.

And vice versa, whispered a sly voice in his mind.

Nicholas shook his head, banishing the voice. He pressed his knees against Douro’s warm flanks and encouraged the horse into a trot. Clarissa Whedon, he would marry; Isabella Knox, he would kiss.

But he couldn’t kiss Lady Isabella if he was engaged to another woman.

Douro lengthened his stride into a canter. Lady Isabella kept pace beside them.

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