Mistress by Marriage

Author:Robinson, Maggie [Robinson, Maggie]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Kensington Books
Published: 2011-08-29T16:00:00+00:00

Things had improved for Edward, at least in terms of his physical comfort. The ubiquitous Cameron had found a camp bed for him, and it was set up near the threshold of Caroline’s bedroom door. No longer could she feel his warm breath or feel the waves of desire emanating from him throughout the night. He was at a safe, if dissatisfying, distance. They were scrupulously polite to each other as their days intersected and circled. Caroline had even stopped flirting, as it didn’t seem to be effective. Edward was determined to be valiant and chivalrous and too damned good.

After several days stuck indoors, Caroline was going mad. Cameron was hovering as usual. He took his duties far too seriously, steadfast in Edward’s absence. She had tried without success to sic Lizzie on him as a distraction, but her maid was far too besotted with Garrett Marburn to bother flirting with Edward’s valet, no matter how handsome he was.

Even Caroline, who was resistant to the allure of most men thanks to her unfortunate past, thought Cameron was a prime specimen, if a bit humorless. Nearly as tall as Edward, she could imagine him in a scarlet coat tramping through Europe with his musket shooting at the French without a blink. At present, he had a wicked little pistol strapped to his chest and a frown on his face. She had been arguing with him the past quarter hour trying to leave the house. There was a game of loo that afternoon at Victorina’s. There was always delicious Spanish wine, Caroline nearly always won, plus she needed to return her borrowed nightgowns and obtain more. Despite the fact that Edward didn’t seem to notice her dishabille, she had her Parker pride to contend with. Each night she looked ready to be ravished, not that Edward had laid a finger on her. Yet.

“You can stand guard right outside the house,” Caroline suggested for the fourth time. “Or wait inside. I’m sure the girls won’t mind a bit.”

Cameron colored. “’Tain’t proper. Baron Christie would have my hide if he thought I was hanging about with a house full of loose ladies. Beggin’ your pardon, Lady Christie. I know they’re your friends and all—the baron did explain—but he wants you to stay inside for now. His instructions were very clear.”

“So I’m to be kept a prisoner in my own home?” Caroline flared. Really, this was going too far. Whatever amorphous threat had been uttered at a drunken party, surely she was safe on her own street. It wasn’t as if she could be snatched away without incident. After Pope’s assault on Lizzie, she had helped train the girls in rudimentary self-defense skills, and each of them would be armed with hatpins, fingernails, and a judiciously placed knee at the very least.

Cameron folded his arms, looking stalwart. “Sorry. My mind’s made up. You’re to stay put, my lady.”

Caroline subdued her desire to fly into a frenzy and attack the man. He was a war hero, after all, and her hands would only wind up bruising against his broad chest.

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