Lady Bess by Conn Claudy

Author:Conn, Claudy [Conn, Claudy]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: FICTION / Romance / Regency
Published: 2013-04-28T13:07:48+00:00

~ Twelve ~

LADY BESS HADN’T slept very much. She had tossed and turned and punched her pillow several times trying to get comfortable, but she couldn’t. She had to wonder if Maddy had saved her from making a terrible mistake.

Was it better to know the kind of lovemaking the earl could give her and then perhaps lose him forever or to go unscathed forward and find another love—would there ever be another love for her?

That was the crux of her concerns. She believed with all her heart that the earl was her one true love.

She believed she would never feel again what she felt now for the big, beautiful Scot. Would his voice, his touch, forever haunt her? Could he want her above all others? Could he take her for wife and remain faithful? She couldn’t live a life with a man who went to other women for his pleasures—would he do that if he married her?

Marriage? She doubted that had even entered his mind.

Oh, faith, what was she to do? She knew what decorum and breeding dictated. But life was never so simple. How could she allow herself to fit into a mold? People thought a woman should be a virgin when she married, but why? She couldn’t find one good reason for it. Just the opposite.

How could a woman know how to please a man, know how to be pleased, if she didn’t enjoy life’s experiences? And being with a man of her choosing—well, wasn’t that part of life’s experiences?

And why should women be held to a standard men rarely held themselves to? Men flitted about from woman to woman, taking kisses and more wherever they chose.

Sighing heavily, she pushed away her coffee, smoothed the skirt of her pretty pale green muslin day gown, and went downstairs to the breakfast room, where she could hear Robby in fine form.

She smiled as she entered and looked about to find that the earl was not present. A part of her immediately deflated to find he wasn’t there, while another part of her was relieved, relieved that she wouldn’t have to look at his face and wonder what he was thinking. Oh, what must he think of her after last night?

A familiar chuckle at her back made her spin around. There stood her father, and for some inexplicable reason she charged into his arms. He would understand. He just would. They always talked about everything. Could she talk to him about his? Oh, no, she didn’t think so.

His voice was merry but held a note of concern. “Ho there, daughter, what is all this?” He set her apart, held her chin to look at her, and said softly, “What is it? Did you not enjoy Mary Russell’s little soiree last night? Did something go amiss?” He looked past the top of her head, and Bess saw him glance at Donna, who raised her brows and shook her head.

Bess found her voice and chided him. “I am just happy to see you, Papa.

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