Reform of the Rake by George Catherine

Author:George, Catherine [George, Catherine]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Harlequin Enterprises
Published: 2011-07-14T22:00:00+00:00

Afterwards Lowri could never look back on what followed without shuddering. From the moment she broke the unwelcome news Adam changed from a laughing, demanding lover into a humourless, businesslike stranger who condemned her insistence on utter secrecy as both juvenile and irritating.

‘Nevertheless I insist,’ Lowri said obdurately. ‘We can get it over with while your mother and father are away on their cruise.’

‘Your father’s not on a cruise,’ Adam pointed out curtly. ‘Won’t he think it a touch odd when you present me as a fait accompli after the deed is done?’

‘Dad’s very much taken up with his own affairs at the moment,’ said Lowri flatly. ‘Holly’s not too well. No point in adding to his worries.’

Adam eyed her morosely. ‘I trust you’ll tell him it wasn’t my idea when the time comes.’

‘Don’t worry, I’ll take the blame.’ Lowri smiled at him disdainfully. ‘I’ll make sure he knows none of this was your idea.’

Their relationship changed so completely it was hard sometimes for Lowri to remember Adam as someone she once had fun with, let alone as a demanding lover. To keep the change from Sarah and Rupert, Lowri asked Adam to avoid St John’s Wood for the time being.

‘Let’s keep to neutral ground until—until afterwards,’ she said firmly. ‘Restaurants will do.’

‘Bloody waste of money.’ Adam eyed her barely touched dinner grimly. ‘You hardly eat anything. We might as well stay at home and have a sandwich—I could save money for my approaching commitments.’

‘Perhaps it might be better if we don’t meet at all until the wedding,’ she said stonily.

‘Don’t be—’ Adam caught himself up in time.

‘Look, Lowri, why won’t you come back to my place? I promise not to lay a finger on you until after we’re married if that’s what you want.’

What utter idiots men could be, thought Lowri bitterly. Adam’s obvious distaste for laying a finger on her was precisely why she preferred to give his flat a wide berth. News of forthcoming fatherhood had been the kiss of death to his famed libido as far as she was concerned. He gave her impersonal goodnight kisses, it was true, but they were perfunctory gestures unworthy of the word caress. They spent less and less time together as the date of their nuptials approached.

‘Might as well get as much work in beforehand as possible,’ said Adam in extenuation. ‘My parents leave next week, remember. And while we’re on the subject I still think you should meet them before they go.’

‘No!’ Lowri was adamant. ‘Let’s leave it until they get back.’

One evening, shortly before the date set for the secret wedding, Sarah surprised Lowri in tears, and proceeded to extract the entire story from her, then took her over to the house to repeat it to Rupert. Lowri talked with them into the small hours, glad at last to confide in someone, and feeling it was only fair that they, at least, should know the truth. Her gratitude was boundless when they hugged her close and reiterated their pledge of help and support as they walked her back to the flat through the starlit garden.

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