The Chaperon Bride by Nicola Cornick

Author:Nicola Cornick [Cornick, Nicola]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction, Romance, General
ISBN: 9780373292929
Google: nomNAQAACAAJ
Amazon: 0373292929
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2002-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

Later, in the privacy of her bedchamber, Annis removed her turban, unpinned her hair, took off the turkey-red dress and poured herself a generous glass of madeira.

She felt that she deserved a strong drink for saving both Fanny and herself from disaster. The foolish chit had come within an ace of ruining her own betrothal and Annis’s future into the bargain, but all could now run smoothly. Sir Robert Crossley would be making the journey to Yorkshire the following week to take his nieces back to London for the purchase of their trousseaux. Then Annis would be free to go to Starbeck for a space and take a well-deserved rest.

She brushed her hair slowly. The long, lustrous strands fell about her face and down to her waist. She knew that the sensible course of action would be to have it all cut off since she spent so much time hiding it, but some spark of vanity prompted her to keep it long.

Annis paused, hairbrush in hand. Not even the business with Fanny could make her forget what else had happened that evening. She started to think about Adam kissing her, then deliberately forced her mind away and made herself concentrate on the curious scene Adam had had with Woodhouse in the hotel writing-room. Could the man really know something to the discredit of Samuel Ingram—and of Charles? Would Adam keep his word and tell her if he discovered any evidence? Annis shook her head thoughtfully. She was not entirely sure what impulse had prompted her to promise to keep Adam’s dealings a secret. Certainly she deplored Ingram’s behaviour, but anything he did touched Charles too, and she would do nothing to harm her cousin. Annis wriggled uncomfortably. It was odd, but she did trust Adam Ashwick and she did not know why. The same impulse that had prompted her to trust him the night they met in the dark was at work now. And impulses could be so very dangerous…

Annis finished undressing, climbed into bed and reached for her novel, but she did not read it and soon set it aside, staring instead at the candle flame. It had been blissful to be held in Adam’s arms. His kisses had set her senses ablaze. She could not deny it. And it was not just a light flirtation. She knew it had angered him to have their actions cheapened thus. So now she was being honest. She had never wanted a man as she wanted Adam Ashwick. Truth to tell, she had never really wanted—needed—a man at all. She had thought that she never would. She had been naïve.

Annis sighed. As far as she could see, there were three courses of action for a woman in a position like hers. She could continue to work for a living, she could become a shady widow living off the generosity of men in return for her favours, or she could marry respectably again. A small smile curved Annis’s lips. She had never previously considered becoming a courtesan, but now the idea held distinct possibilities.

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