No Brighter Dream: The Pascal Trilogy - Book 3 by Kingsley Katherine

Author:Kingsley, Katherine [Kingsley, Katherine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FICTION/Romance/Historical
Publisher: Diversion Books
Published: 2013-10-07T13:00:00+00:00

Andre summoned every reserve of control to behave politely throughout the drinks before dinner. He managed to remain civil throughout all three courses of the meal, answering questions about his work and his travels, although his attention wasn’t fully on the job. He knew that Ali was listening closely, although she feigned disinterest, the brat, behaving as if she had no idea of what he was talking about.

Her gaze remained demurely fixed on her plate and she pushed her food around exactly like every other silly miss he’d ever come across, as if she were too delicate to eat. That was a joke in itself.

She also behaved as if she had no idea that Matthew was staring her down, or that there were subtle but intense undercurrents running between himself and her, charged with the force of a hundred unspoken things. And she certainly did not behave like a woman in love with the man sitting next to her.

Ali. What had happened to her? Where had his sweet, funny child gone? What had happened to all that innocence, her lack of artifice? It had vanished beneath a swirl of skirts, an arrangement of lush dark hair.

His gaze traced the lines of her cheekbones, the square angle of her jaw, and the long sweep of her neck. Now that he had a chance to observe her at leisure without the gaze of most of the polite world upon them, he could also assess the other changes, the curves and swells that he’d never thought to see.

His fork slowed on the way to his mouth. She was still gamine in her own way, but he wondered how he could ever have so easily thought her to be a boy, for there was nothing boyish about her. She was … feminine. Very feminine, her ripe mouth begging to be kissed.

Andre fumbled and dropped his fork. “I beg your pardon,” he said, appalled with himself. What was he thinking, for God’s sake?

“No, there’s no need to fetch another,” he said to the footman who scurried to retrieve the fallen object and replace it. “I’ve had enough. Forgive me, Georgia. The meal was delicious, but I think the heat has affected my appetite.”

“Yes,” Nicholas said gravely. “I believe we are all feeling the heat this evening. Perhaps it would be best to retire early.”

“What a good idea,” Georgia said. “Both Matthew and Andre must be tired from their journeys as well.” She rose, giving the signal that the meal was over. “But, Matthew, dearest, would you first come upstairs with me? I have a letter to write that must go in the morning post, but my eyes are tired. I hoped you might let me dictate it to you.”

Andre silently applauded Georgia as Matthew opened his mouth to object, then closed it again.

“Very well, Grandmama,” Matthew said reluctantly as Georgia tucked her hand in the crook of his elbow. “Good night,” he said. “I’ll speak with you in the morning, Alexis.”

Ali glanced up at him and nodded, her color heightening.

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