Samantha James by Gabriels Bride

Author:Gabriels Bride
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

The evening was almost at an end. Though the dance floor was still filled, the guests were beginning to disperse.

How she had made it through until now, Cassie had no idea. She ate. She smiled. She chatted nonsense about the weather. For the first hour, Gabriel had kept her anchored to his side, to all appearances, the happy, loving couple.

Standing near the terrace doors, Cassie rubbed her aching temples. She longed for the moment they would leave and she could seek her bed—and forget this night had ever happened.

“Alone at last. I’ve been trying to find my way through to you all evening, young lady.”

She spun around to find Christopher standing before her. Only moments earlier he’d been dancing with Evelyn. His eyes wandered admiringly over her.

“You look beautiful, Cassie.” He smiled gently. “But then I expect you know that.”

All at once Cassie felt like weeping. Despite the horrible encounter in her room, it wouldn’t have seemed so terrible…if only Gabriel had noticed her…if only he had given some indication that he saw her as something more than an unpleasant duty.

At some point tonight, her anger had fled, and in its place was a deep, despairing hurt.

Because she had wanted to please Gabriel. She had wanted so much to please him…

Her efforts to smile failed miserably. “A pity my husband has not noticed.” It slipped out before she could stop it.

“Oh, believe me, Cassie, he has. He’s always had an eye for a beauty, you know…”

Cassie made a faint choked sound. “Yes,” she heard herself say. “He does indeed.”

For the first time Christopher noted her distress. She was staring at someone across the width of the ballroom. He turned sharply, following her gaze.

Cassie could not tear her eyes from the couple across the room. A tall, dark-haired beauty stood next to Gabriel. Her figure was full, ripe and earthy. She was reminded how Evelyn had told her some women would dampen their chemise so their gowns might cling to their bodies. Still worse, some wore not a single stitch beneath their gowns. Clearly this woman chose the latter, for even from here, Cassie detected the deeply rouged outline of her nipples.

She wasn’t prepared for the sheer, stark pain that gripped her heart. Their dark heads were nestled together intimately. Gabriel turned his ever so slightly, so that their lips almost brushed. He was smiling—smiling!—something he had never done with her. The woman laughed at something he said, and leaned forward, so close that Cassie had no doubt Gabriel was provided an unimpeded view clear to her waist.

What was it Gabriel had said that long-ago day in Charleston? There are other women who are perfectly willing to satisfy my needs. All at once Cassie had the awful sensation this was one of them.

“Christopher,” she heard herself say, “who is that woman with Gabriel?”

Christopher hesitated. “Cassie—”

“Tell me,” she said through lips that barely moved.

“Her name is Lady Sarah Jane Devon. She is the widow of the earl of Harcourt.”

“She is his mistress, isn’t she?” God, but it hurt to say the words.

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