The Secrets He Keeps: A Peril & Persuasion Novella by Amy Sandas

Author:Amy Sandas [Sandas, Amy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: regency romance, steamy romance, historical romance, steamy historical, Pendragon, Peril & Persuasion, Secrets, silver fox
Publisher: Amy Sandas
Published: 2021-01-19T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

Dinner was called shortly after their return to the party and they all moved into the dining room. It was a formal, imposing space with a grand table that could easily seat a dozen or more. More richly scented evergreen formed a simple but festive centerpiece. The winter greenery was accented with red ribbons, glossy apples, and bright oranges.

The children remained with them through dinner. Having Frederick and Claire at the table assisted in lightening and enlivening the tone of the evening, giving it a casual feel despite the obvious care that had gone into the exceptional meal consisting of various roasted meats, seasoned vegetables, mincemeat pies, steamy sweet breads, and Christmas puddings soaked in brandy.

The young Duke of Northmoor was exceptionally intelligent and well-versed in various topics of conversation. He contributed to the adult conversation with as much ease and seriousness as he used when he spoke quietly with young Claire. At one point, Lady Katherine explained that the two of them had grown up under rather unusual circumstances. Their mother had died when they were young and their father had been intensely devoted to his work in the field of herbalism and pharmacology, leaving his children to form their own educations and far from the influence most often forced upon aristocratic children to meet a certain molded expectation.

“And I’m damned grateful, for it brought you stumbling through my door,” Hale added as he took his wife’s hand and brought it to his lips.

“Stumbling?” the lady asked with a haughtily raised brow. “I believe you’ve forgotten that our first encounter involved a set of dueling pistols aimed for your person.”

“On the contrary, it’s one of my favorite memories,” he murmured thickly before giving a quick wink that brought a tint of pink to her cheeks.

Erik glanced to Callista with a lifted brow, wondering if she’d concede his earlier point. But she appeared to have missed the interaction between her brother and his wife as she was busy staring at him instead. Her expression was tense and her gaze narrowed as though she were contemplating something intently.

He suspected he knew exactly what was on her mind.

The kiss they’d shared had been everything he’d known it would be—intense and erotic, but also undeniably emotional. He’d hazard a guess to say it might have been a bit more than she’d expected.

There was no hiding from the passion between them. The potential. Only a fool would deny it existed and the woman was no fool. Despite that, Erik was under no delusion that his campaign had been won with a single kiss.

As her gaze flickered with the shadow of something unnamed, he almost wished he could reassure her. But she’d have to come to her own conclusions about what she was feeling and what it meant for the two of them.

Though he chose not to say anything, he did offer a smile.

Her expression tightened in response before she looked away to sip from her wineglass.

After the meal, the party returned to the drawing room.

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