The Bachelor's Bargain by Catherine Palmer

Author:Catherine Palmer [Palmer, Catherine]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: ebook, book
ISBN: urn|isbn|9781414329239
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
Published: 2010-11-24T20:00:00+00:00

Ten

Ruel studied Anne’s face as he walked toward her. Her almond eyes, tilted up at the corners, glittered like onyx in a pool of clear water. Enchanting, delectable creature. Pale and velvety, her fair skin begged for his touch. Her hair, loose from its pins, tumbled around her shoulders like a cascade of dark syrup. Her lips beckoned.

“There is no need for your theatrics here, sir,” she said, pursing those pretty lips. “This is not a public room, and Miss Watson is privy to our secrets.”

He glanced at the slender young lady, recalling she had been Anne’s friend at Slocombe. Prudence Watson had been the one to run to Tiverton for help when they had been shot at on the road, had she not? Flushing bright pink, Miss Watson had backed so far into the settee it was a wonder she did not vanish into it altogether.

Nothing to worry about from that one, he decided. She would not have the temerity to use the secrets of the high- born to her advantage. It was his wife he needed to keep a close eye on.

As he had climbed the stairs to his rooms that evening after the gathering, it occurred to him that he might use Anne’s innocence to his advantage. Were she truly a trollop, as his brother had implied, she would never succumb to a severe case of infatuation. Were she accustomed to the easy dalliances of his society, she would not likely believe herself—or him—to be in love.

But his wife was a minister’s daughter. Shy. Untouched. Pure. It should be a fairly simple matter to convince Anne that she had fallen deeply in love with her husband. Regardless of his personal feelings for her—which, he wryly admitted, he did not choose to examine too closely—such a development would clearly be to his advantage. A woman in the throes of romantic passion, he had been given to understand, would do anything for her beloved. He could take her wherever he liked and count on her to labor at his lace venture for as long as he wanted. And he would never have to fear her betrayal.

As he approached Anne, a stain of color spread from her neck into her cheeks. It would be more than a little enjoyable to make this woman his. Despite her heartfelt avowals to the contrary, she did admire him. And he admired her.

“You may go,” he said, dismissing Miss Watson with a wave.

“Stay, Prudence,” Anne countered, holding out a hand to stop her. “We have not concluded our conversation.”

The young woman’s eyes grew round and frightened as she glanced from her friend to the marquess. Ruel squared his shoulders. “You may go,” he repeated. Then he lowered his voice. “Should you wish to retain rooms in my house for yourself and your sister, Miss Watson, I suggest you comply with my wishes.”

“Yes, my lord. Of course.” Eyes darting to Anne one last time, Prudence grabbed her skirts and fled. As she shut the sitting-room door behind her, Ruel tugged the knot from his cravat.

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