Simply Forbidden (House of Pleasure) by Pearce Kate

Author:Pearce, Kate [Pearce, Kate]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
ISBN: 9780758268181
Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corp
Published: 2011-02-01T05:00:00+00:00

Lisette gave her brother a cool glance. “I would prefer to talk to Maman by myself.”

On her father’s advice, she’d come back to the pleasure house to speak to Helene, only to find Christian ensconced in her mother’s office as well.

“I know that, but I’d like to stay.”

“Why? So that you can tell me that I deserve everything that has happened to me?”

Christian sighed. “Lis, I know we’re not getting along at the moment, but you are my twin and I care about you. If I promise not to interfere in the conversation unless I feel it is absolutely necessary, will you let me stay?”

Lisette glanced at her mother, who nodded encouragingly. “All right, then, but please let me tell you everything before either of you say a word.”

Briefly Lisette outlined what had happened that morning at Philip’s house, Lord Swanfield’s insistence of marrying her, and her reluctance to agree. Helene listened quietly, her expression calm, her hands folded together on the desk in front of her.

“So what do you think I should do, Maman?”

“You are considering his proposal then?”

Lisette felt herself flush. “I am trying to consider all my options.”

“You know that even if you are pregnant, your father and I will always support you?”

“Yes.”

“Then obviously, at least on your side, you feel there is more to this proposal from Lord Swanfield than just duty.”

Lisette shifted uncomfortably in her chair. “Lord Swanfield has some very deep personal reasons for wishing any child of his to be born in wedlock.”

“And you agree with his reasons?”

Lisette bit her lip. “I’m not sure if I agree with them, but I certainly understand them.”

“Would he be willing to wait to see if you really are pregnant before pursuing his suit?”

“I suggested that and he didn’t take it very well.” Lisette tried to smile. “Even when I mentioned that neither of us might be capable of having children, he wouldn’t be shaken off.”

Helene rose from her chair and paced the carpet, her brow crinkled in thought. Then she stopped, sat opposite Lisette, and took her hand. “But if he married you, and you proved to be barren, he’d have no heir.”

“He told me once that he didn’t want an heir, that he hoped the title would die out with him or pass to another branch of the family.”

“And yet he wants to marry you.”

Lisette looked into her mother’s sympathetic eyes. “You know why he comes here, Maman, and you know what he does to avoid having a full sexual relationship with a woman.”

“But he now has that relationship with you.”

Lisette shrugged. “There were reasons for his behavior last night; he wasn’t quite himself….”

“Are you making excuses for him raping you?” Christian asked softly, his tone so full of menace that both Helene and Lisette spun around to stare at him. “Have you started to believe that is all you deserve from a man?”

“Lord Swanfield didn’t rape me. I was more than happy to be his bed partner. In truth, I’m the one who is responsible for him being anywhere near my bed last night.

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