Secrets of a Scandalous Marriage by Valerie Bowman

Author:Valerie Bowman [Bowman, Valerie]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781466813212
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Published: 2013-09-29T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 23

Wearing a spring-green gown, Kate slid into the chair next to James at the dinner table that night. He’d left earlier. Stalked out of the library just after he’d made that amazing statement about knowing what it was like to be innocent and accused of killing someone. He hadn’t given her a chance to ask any questions. The accusation couldn’t have been public knowledge. She would have read about it in the papers. There’d be whispers. Rumors. Lady Mary would have mentioned it. His reputation wouldn’t have been so pristine—well, prior to his association with her at least. No, there hadn’t been a hint of scandal around the man. He was obviously harboring a secret, however. What was it?

She took a sip from her wine glass and cast her glance over the beautifully set table. She traded the solitude of her room for his company at dinner. Their meals together had become the bright spots of her day. She’d been enjoying their interludes, looking forward to them. That thought scared her more than she cared to examine. But she refused to leave here tonight without learning what James had meant by his cryptic statement in the library earlier.

A toasty fire crackled in the hearth while the cold wind whistled against the windows outside. The smell of the burning logs and roasted meat permeated the air. It was positively cozy in the dining room tonight. Would it be the last time she’d ever feel cozy?

Kate salivated when the footmen served roasted beef with watercress. The dinners James’s French chef cooked were absolutely delightful, so much better than the meals at her husband’s estate. She took up her fork and knife and began with relish.

James glanced at her. “How did the writing go today?”

Kate bit her lip. Apparently, they would begin with innocuous conversation. Very well. But she was loath to tell him that she was nearly finished with the pamphlet. She would never be so sneaky as to lie and tell him it wasn’t done when it was, but she had to admit, despite her vow to finish as quickly as possible, she’d been procrastinating and daydreaming a bit when she should have been writing. She glanced away. She’d been dreaming of him, actually. But she wasn’t about to tell him so. Her heart ached. James was the sort of man she might have fallen in love with ten years ago, had circumstances been entirely different. Of course the circumstances were not different, but it didn’t hurt to daydream, did it?

“Very well, actually,” she answered noncommittally, taking a bite of the delectable beef from the plate in front of her.

“I’m pleased to hear it.” He smiled at her.

Oh God, if only he knew what she’d been thinking. She glanced down at her plate and stabbed her fork into her watercress.

Two hours later when the dinner plates had been cleared, Kate pushed out her chair and stood to go. She dropped her napkin onto her chair. Somehow they’d managed to spend

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.