To Bed a Beauty by Nicole Jordan

Author:Nicole Jordan [Jordan, Nicole]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9780345504739
Google: L9UZu3wlqpMC
Barnesnoble:
Goodreads: 6998153
Publisher: Thorndike Press
Published: 2007-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

My dearest Fanny, disaster has struck and I fear it is very much my own fault! I am now betrothed to the Duke of Arden.

—Roslyn to Fanny

Roslyn stared speechlessly at Arden, wondering frantically how they could escape this wretched catastrophe.

To her surprise, he didn’t seem nearly as dismayed as she was. Indeed, his expression seemed almost nonchalant as he crossed to where her clothing hung. His tone was just as bland when he declared, “We need to dress. The Goodey carriage will be returning for us shortly.”

“That is all you have to say?” she demanded in disbelief. “We are facing utter calamity and all you care about is getting dressed?”

He lifted an amused eyebrow at her. “Would you rather remain half naked?”

“No, of course not—”

“Then put on your clothes, love. This is hardly the calamity you think it,” he added as he retrieved her still-damp corset and held it out to her. When Roslyn made no move to take the undergarment, he tugged the quilt from around her shoulders. “Don’t be so missish,” he ordered, tossing the quilt on the chair. “We are betrothed now.”

“We are not betrothed. You only said that to blunt the disgrace of our being discovered together.”

“No, I said it because I have every intention of wedding you. Now turn around so I can hook you up.”

“I can dress myself!”

He wasn’t listening, however. His hands clasping her upper arms, he spun her so that her back faced him. Roslyn had no desire to don the cold, clammy corset, yet she could hardly leave her lingerie there in the cottage or carry it with her, so she raised her arms and allowed Arden to slide the garment around her torso. She shivered when moisture seeped through her thin chemise, and squirmed when he fitted the bustle beneath her breasts.

“Hold still.”

Although gritting her teeth, she dutifully stood as he fastened the hooks, but when she felt his lips caress the bare curve of her shoulder, she whirled and glared at him mutinously. “Will you please leave off your lechery long enough to discuss this predicament seriously?”

“What is there to discuss?”

“Our betrothal, what else! You are purposefully being obtuse.”

“No, I fully comprehend your problem. You do also, or you would have refuted my announcement in front of our unexpected guests instead of waiting until we were alone to argue with me.”

“It is your problem as well as mine!” Roslyn exclaimed.

“So it is. But I intend to accept my fate gracefully.”

She wanted to hit him. When he would have helped her on with her gown, she snatched it from him and struggled into it, wincing when the damp sleeves chilled her arms.

As he started putting on his own clothing, Roslyn clenched her teeth, disgruntled and frustrated that she had landed herself in such a fix. She was furious at herself. She had vowed to keep away from the duke, not to melt in his arms like a perfect wanton.

She was just as angry at him for making her lose her head, for enchanting her so that she’d eagerly abandoned any semblance of common sense.

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