The Blue-Eyed Black-Hearted Duke by Sandra Masters

Author:Sandra Masters [Masters, Sandra]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance, fantasy
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: 2018-09-17T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirty-Four

The Half-Truths

Jaclyn moved away from Radolf, conscious of his stark gaze upon her, and touched her fingers to her lips to see if they were as molten as they felt. Her maiden fears were scorched away by the constant hunger that pooled at the juncture of her legs. All else became unimportant except for the fire that stole her breath. “Why do you deny your goodness? You have protected me all my life.”

A bark of mock laughter escaped his lips.

Scoundrel, indeed he was scandalous, dangerous, and marvelous. His footsteps ricocheted off the floor, echoed louder on the marble corridor and then faded. He was gone without an answer to her.

Jaclyn tried to hide her tears. For one heady moment, she had flirted with a heat tinged of elusive desire. Then the emotion cooled into annoyance, perhaps even anger. She removed the counterpane, slipped to the side of the bed, and placed her feet into slippers. On the side of the canopied bed, she rang for Sedona. At the dress armoire, she selected a light periwinkle silk gown and placed it on a woven chair.

Sedona made her presence known. “Mistress, should you be out of bed?”

“I’ve decided I am well enough to participate in dinner this evening. Kindly assist. The dress is on the chair. Please find the matching stockings and the shoes I purchased from the cordwainer.”

Jaclyn surmised Sedona’s caution came from instructions from the family, but she was determined to have her way. If she was well enough to be kissed—and sweet heaven, kissed well—she was certainly able to attend dinner.

After a half-hour of Sedona dressing her hair high into ringlets, intertwined with small braids, Jaclyn reviewed her form in the mirror and nodded.

“Which jewelry do you wish to wear?” her maid asked.

“My mother’s black opal pendant.”

Sedona stopped in her tracks. “You rarely wear it, mistress. I thought you didn’t like it.”

“I don’t have a particular fondness for it, quite true. Nor do I have pleasant memories of the woman who birthed me.” She fussed with a dark comb in her hair and slid it in place.

“You usually wear your cross,” opening the small jewelry box, Sedona returned the cross to is place.

“I don’t need my father’s guidance tonight, or any religious protection.”

“Mistress, don’t blaspheme. There are consequences for sacrilege.”

“Sedona, stop your admonition. I am not a sinner and do not intend to become one. You may leave.” Jaclyn slammed her hand mirror on the vanity, grateful it did not shatter.

It was wrong to take out her anger and frustration on her maid and she chastised herself. She was fortunate at her young age to have one. Jaclyn made a mental note to purchase something special for Sedona.

Halifax’s letter caught her eye. The contents would disturb Radolf. She smiled at the easy way his name slipped from her thoughts as if he had no other name before. She retrieved the missive and went to her vanity to read the contents.

Dear Miss Moreux:

I do hope this finds you at the country estate and not whisked away by your overprotective guardian.

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