Sinful in Satin by Madeline Hunter

Author:Madeline Hunter
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Penguin Group USA, Inc.
Published: 2010-08-02T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

Jonathan turned the last page of the journal he read. As soon as he did, the shadows closed in again.

He did not doubt that Castleford would find a way to put him and Thornridge together. Uncle Edward would be furious, but it was time to settle that matter one way or another.

The expectation of that meeting kept conjuring up memories of the last time he had seen the earl. He had been hungry and tired and chilled to the bone by the time his cousin had agreed to see his mother.

In a library of massive size, Thornridge had listened to his mother’s demands and threats, looking much older than his twenty-one years with his hard expression and cold, dark eyes.

Jonathan set aside the journal and walked to the window. Most of that meeting was a blur now. A few other things remained vivid, however. He remembered all the books in that library, their bindings like so many jewels, row upon row. He recalled the earl agreeing to provide the education his predecessor had promised. And he remembered some of those threats his mother made, which had made no sense until he thought about them years later.

So now he would force his way into another audience with his cousin. He had not decided yet if he would issue his own threats this time.

Weighing that choice occupied him as he stood in the light of the window. It distracted him enough that he barely noted the movement in the garden until Celia was almost at the house. Once he did, all thoughts about the pending meeting with Thornridge flew from his head.

He could not see her without wanting her. Even now, from this distance, memories of her joyous passion made him hard. He was not accustomed to the incomplete sensuality they had shared, and she was driving him mad.

She appeared to be thinking as hard as he had been, and about something just as difficult to decide. He doubted she noticed any of her surroundings as she walked slowly, almost stiffly, down the path toward him.

She stopped, and removed her bonnet as if its bow constricted her. She raised her head and looked at the house, inspecting it with a sad expression.

Then her gaze drifted down. A profound distraction claimed her. She did not move. She just stood there, and, instead of the light finding her, it seemed that the garden’s shadows did.

He watched, waiting for her to reclaim herself, looking for the joy of living that transformed her face even when she did not smile. Instead she remained immobile, looking more like her mother than she had ever looked before.

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