The Wager by Raven McAllan

Author:Raven McAllan [McAllan, Raven]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Published: 2013-04-22T22:00:21+00:00

Chapter Six

Brook turned the final corner out of the maze and the house came into view. The gasp he heard from Catherine well satisfied him. Small, only four bedrooms, and three reception rooms, he had bought it when he first met her all those years ago. It was to have been their getaway. Their place to be alone and escape from duties. When she had refused him, he had to his surprise used the house in the way he had intended. There was a skeleton staff, and everything was very modest.

His first intention had been to take Catherine to the fought-over hunting lodge, to show her what she had sold herself for, but logic had dictated the implausibility of that, and it was too far from the city to make it feasible. Instead he had hit on Barde House.

In silence he rode into a small courtyard at the side of the house, and dismounted. He led his horse to the water trough, and turned to find Catherine had followed him, and was ready to slide down into his arms. For one brief second, he allowed himself the pleasure of feeling her body close to his, before he set her on her feet. That would have to wait until later if ever.

Catherine followed his actions, and he smiled. If only were such small words, but the meanings were not.

"Scott will be here any moment to take the horses," he said. "You have met him, he is discrete, and will not talk about us being here. Nor will anyone else. I have only a housekeeper and her husband. You will have to accept me as lady's maid."

She gasped and paled.

"You chose to ruin me, my lord? To have me here and not chaperoned? What about my maid?"

Brook wished he could reassure her, but he had no intention of doing so. Also, he reasoned, to put her off balance was but a small pleasure for him in retaliation for his perpetual state of arousal, and his inability to do what he wanted about it.

"You and your brother ruined you, Catherine. As for your maid, she believes you to be in the same house as her, but indisposed, and under doctor's orders to let no one attend you except the housekeeper. I think of the proprieties, even though it seems you do not. Ah, Scott." The groom approached, and to spare Catherine, he made sure she was behind him. "Thank you, once they are tended to you will not be required any more today. The horses will not be needed until I send word."

She waited until the groom had led the horses away before turning on him.

"What do you mean he won't be needed, and neither will the horses?" she pulled his sleeve. "Brook, what is happening?"

"I told you." He tucked her hand under his. "I have a proposition. Once we are bathed and fed, I will put it to you. Then you must decide whether you accept the proposition or pay the debt. Now let me show you around.

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