The Artful Miss Irvine by Jennifer Malin

Author:Jennifer Malin [Malin, Jennifer]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Regency Romance
Publisher: Belgrave House
Published: 2003-05-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Maeve escaped into the house and shut the door. She slumped back against the oak panels, her heart thumping wildly. Adrian wanted to marry her! He had kissed her and hinted about her gaining a family. Surely he referred to the ready-made daughter she would have if they married.

She put her hands up to her cheeks, still hot with excitement. His kiss had nearly made her swoon with dizzy pleasure. None of the brief kisses Thomas had stolen during their betrothal had ever taken over her senses like this one. And, still, Adrian had maintained control. How mortifying that he, instead of she, had been the one to stop the kiss! She had no illusion that he was in love with her. The marriage he had in mind was more one of convenience—not chaste, apparently, but certainly not a love match.

Stepping away from the door, she sucked in her breath. Perhaps that sort of marriage was what she needed, one without the high expectations of love.

But could she keep from falling in love with Adrian? The way his kiss had affected her made her doubt it.

She mulled over the same thoughts again and again during the next four-and-twenty hours. The prospect of being hurt again frightened her, but she did like the idea of mothering little Eliza and possibly her own children as well. When she had sworn off marriage, letting go of her dreams of having children had been the hardest part.

Still, she was so afraid of her attraction to Adrian. He had deserted poor Belinda while she was pregnant with Eliza.

Will he also leave me stranded just when I most need him? Maeve wondered.

When the time came to dress for the opera, she allowed Miss Grey to talk her into wearing another fine gown. This time they chose a low-cut cream-colored silk confection trimmed with gold filigree. The dress was among the most expensive Maeve owned, but she couldn’t resist the temptation to look her best for Adrian, regardless of her doubts.

“Your cheeks are so pretty and pink tonight, Miss,” the abigail said as she pinned up Maeve’s hair. “You must be keen to see this opera you’re attending.”

In truth she didn’t even know what opera was being staged, but she didn’t want to let Miss Grey know the real reason for her excitement. “I’ve never before attended an opera. Father always said he didn’t enjoy them.”

“Yet you are eager to see one?” Miss Grey asked.

“Yes.” Maeve moistened her lips. “You know how curious I am about new things.”

The maid lifted one eyebrow. “Well, I suppose an opera is similar to a play, only set to music. Knowing how fond you are of plays, I daresay you will enjoy tonight. You loved that story of—of Cressy and her beau.”

“Cressida?” Maeve winced as a hairpin jabbed her ear. The recurring discussions of Cressida were beginning to tire her. “Actually, although the character did intrigue me at first, I have to wonder why she couldn’t have exercised more restraint.

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