Slightly Noble by Lilly Gayle

Author:Lilly Gayle [Gayle, Lilly]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Victorian, Historical
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: 2015-06-30T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty

Abby touched her straw hat, which was scarcely more than a diadem fastened with a pink ribbon around the chignon of curls at her nape. Her carriage dress of coral and white foulard had a trailing skirt trimmed with two deep scalloped flounces of coral silk that sloped in front to make room for several flounces and a striped foulard underskirt. Lacy rose gloves, a pink silk parasol, and wrought gold jewelry from the cache Jack had given her topped off her smart ensemble.

Besides the new clothes he had purchased for his family, Jack had also hired Nora Gabb’s sister, Gladys Smythe, to be her lady’s maid and another young woman from Seile to act as Will’s nursemaid. Yet, Mr. Stanley was acting as coachmen.

Was Jack running low on funds?

He smiled as he helped her down from the crested carriage Mr. Stanley had delivered from Ridge Point the day before. Then he raised her gloved hand to his lips, but rather than kiss the back of her fingers as any other gentleman would have done, he turned her hand palm upward and kissed the small patch of bare skin just above the lace edge of her glove. “You are as graceful as you are beautiful.”

His flattery should have set off warning bells. Simon had paid her similar compliments while campaigning to compromise her. A month ago, she would have suspected Jack’s motives as well, but his sincere smile and hot gaze made her pulse race. Could he feel it? Did he know the shocking thrill that raced up her arm when his lips touched her bare skin? Would that thrill eventually turn to fear?

She had felt a titillating tingle the first time Simon kissed her hand through the lace of her gloves, but the moment his bare lips touched her throat, she had felt sick with fear. It had only gotten worse when he shoved his hands up her skirts. But Jack’s lips on her bare flesh made her heart pound with something far more dangerous than fear. It beat with anticipation.

Would he be patient? Would he wait until she was ready before demanding his husbandly rights?

As if sensing her thoughts and fears, he squeezed her fingers. Then in a serious tone, he said, “Just remember to let me do the talking. My family can be ruthless, and I want them to address me with their barbs and not you.”

She nodded and smiled, despite the sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. She was a viscountess now, and she must act with the utmost decorum.

Jack turned back to the carriage, took Will from the nursemaid’s arms, and handed the baby to Abby before helping Miss Parsons alight from the carriage. The moment the nursemaid’s feet touched the cobblestone drive, she reached for Will. Abby felt vulnerable and exposed without her son’s warm body nestled in her arms, but society expected a viscountess to leave the task of childrearing to nursemaids and nannies. Still, relinquishing her son left her feeling as gray as the overcast sky.

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