Reluctant Captive by Helen Bianchin

Author:Helen Bianchin [Bianchin, Helen]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction, Romance, General, Australia, Marriage
ISBN: 9780373116010
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 1992-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIX

Saturday proved to be a typical mid-winter day, with strong blustery showers that lashed the house and showed little sign of abating as the afternoon progressed.

Esther had insisted they arrive early, and shortly after four Kate entered the en suite for a leisurely shower, then she slipped into a robe before tending to her hair.

There was no question of leaving it loose, and she lifted its length high on to her head, tilting it this way and that before twisting it into an elaborate pleat at her nape. Sophistication was the key, she decided as she set about achieving just that image.

All day she had been beset by a nervous tension that seemed to intensify with every passing hour, until it seemed that every nerve-end was on edge, each separate thread tautened to its furthest limitation.

It was crazy to feel so overwrought, she determined grimly as she began a second attempt with eyeshadow, eye-liner and mascara. Subtle, understated was the look she contrived. Her fingers shook, and she cursed afresh.

Twenty minutes later she slipped into the exquisite layered rose-petal gauze dress in delicate merging shades of pink, mauve, lavender and grey. Essentially feminine, it was a dream to wear and accentuated her petite frame.

Matching pink high-heeled shoes completed the outfit, and she stood back from the mirror, reasonably satisfied with her image.

'Ready?'

Nicolas's silky drawl intruded, and she turned to face him, her gaze wide and direct and depicting a determined gleam of intended self-preservation.

His tall frame exuded muscular litheness beneath its sheath of expensive suiting, and she could only envy his projected air of self-assurance. Nothing appeared to ruffle his composure, and she doubted if there had ever been a time when he'd lacked the dramatic mesh of power and elusive sexual alchemy he managed to exude without any effort at all.

For as long as she could remember, he'd stood apart from anyone she'd ever known, possessing the strangest ability to affect her senses. To such an extent that she had assumed the instinctive wariness of a vulnerable doe in the presence of a lazily prowling predator.

Four years ago he'd captured her as prey, holding her for a year before allowing her to slip free. Now he'd permit no such concession. It was there in the darkness of his eyes, the determined set of his jaw, almost as if he sensed her inner struggle and was intent on issuing a silent warning against such folly.

'Yes.' Assertiveness had to be an advantage, Kate decided as she met and matched his level scrutiny. Anything less meant treading a path towards total conflagration.

Conscious of his appraisal, she collected her evening bag, only to pause mid-step as Nicolas held out a coat.

'Slip this on. It's cold outside.'

This was a silver-grey fur in soft luxuriant mink, exquisitely designed and reaching mid-calf.

The movement of her hand was entirely involuntary as she reached out and tentatively trailed her fingers across the beautiful pelt, then she withdrew as if from flame.

Her eyes lifted to encompass his, their depths wide and luminescent beneath the soft overhead light.

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