The Countess and the Casanova: Book Two of the Flower Sisters by Ginny B. Moore

Author:Ginny B. Moore [Moore, Ginny B.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ginny B. Moore, Author
Published: 2023-05-17T18:30:00+00:00

“More wine?” Miles asked, his voice strained.

Alice nodded enthusiastically towards her glass. Ellie shook her head, and Henry lifted his hand to refuse. Miles looked disappointed, clearly hoping the wine would act as a social lubricant to ease some of the tension at the table.

Ever since his conversation with Ellie, Henry could barely string two coherent sentences together. Ellie was just as discomfited. She dropped her utensils and nearly jumped from her seat at the resulting clatter, and her knee had not stopped jumping under the table the entire night.

“Are you well?” Henry whispered, leaning close to Ellie’s ear.

She stared at him like he was a wild animal, ready to pounce. “Of course.” Her voice was shrill. “Why wouldn’t it be?”

When dessert—completely untouched by Henry and Ellie—was finally cleared, the table breathed a collective sigh of relief. “I believe my wife has a headache,” Henry said, taking Ellie’s elbow. “We should turn in for the night.”

“Oh, you poor thing,” Alice gushed. “I wish you had told us earlier.”

Ellie gave a weak smile. “I was attempting to be brave.”

Henry put his hand over hers and heard Ellie’s breath catch. “We shall meet you at breakfast, then?”

The couples wished each other goodnight and Henry led Ellie up the stairs towards their room. His heartbeat was so violent he worried he might expire from the strain. This is a terrible idea, he thought. This will only end in disaster. I should put a stop to it right now—

“Thank you for doing this, Henry,” she whispered, her voice huskier than usual. “I know it’s not the most pleasant of tasks—“

“I would not have said yes if I did not want to.” He refused to hear her denigrate herself any further. He couldn’t put his finger on the exact moment when Ellie had become more to him, evolving from a friend to an object of desire. But as soon as Henry realized he wanted her, he recognized the inevitable truth that he would only cause her pain. How far could he go with this… arrangement before he revealed his feelings? That would only destroy their friendship, and he couldn’t stand to lose her.

Henry still held the dim hope she wanted him in return. She must find him attractive on some level, and his horrid reputation and intellectual ineptitude had not been enough to turn her away, but could she want anything more lasting from him than a diversion while abroad?

When they entered the room, Henry removed his jacket and necktie and hung them in the closet with more care than he usually gave. His rapid breath would not put Ellie at ease; he needed to compose himself for her, and quickly.

Distant thunder rumbled across the piazza and wind rattled the windows. The air hung thick, humid and heavy with electricity. When he turned, Ellie was standing in the center of his chamber like a gazelle on the prairie, wide-eyed and motionless. He gave her a wry smile. “I’m not going to attack you, El.”

She released a bark of laughter.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.