Wicked Christmas by Carole Mortimer

Author:Carole Mortimer
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: 0
Published: 2018-10-11T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

“I trust this is not an imposition for you?”

Monique turned from where she had been contemplating the leaping flames of the newly lit fire as it gave a warm and cheery ambience to the Stonewells’ small family dining room, where she and Martin now sat alone at the dining table.

Perhaps not the most ideal situation to find herself in with the gentleman she already found far too disturbing for comfort.

She gave a shrug. “I do not see why it should be. It is dinnertime, and we both need to eat, after all.”

And that, Martin acknowledged ruefully, put him firmly in his place. Although what that place was, he was not quite sure. Despite his apology—apologies!—there was no denying the fact he and Monique had become lovers earlier today. Maybe not in the fullest sense of the word, but enough as to make no difference. For the two of them to now be dining alone together only intensified his complete physical awareness of her.

He lowered hooded lids. “You would perhaps have preferred to join the other guests in the main dining room?”

Monique smiled tightly. “I am no more comfortable in such exalted company than you are.”

Martin made no answer but instead nodded dismissal of the footman who had just finished pouring the wine and then served the soup course, a rich pheasant broth in keeping with both the season and the cold snow falling heavily outside.

It would have been madness on Martin’s part to refuse the duchess’s invitation either to stay for dinner or to spend the night here. If he had insisted on returning to Rochester House, he might have instead spent the night in one of the deep snow drifts forming outside rather than reaching his home.

“Do you have family to return to in London after the holiday?” he prompted politely before taking a sip of his wine.

Returning to London at all was going to be difficult for Monique, after once again spending several days in the opulence and warmth of two of the Stonewells’ homes. Monique had visited and stayed in all the homes owned by the Duke of Stonewell during her employment with his mother-in-law. The thought of returning to the bare and chilly room that was now her own home was not an inviting one. As for her family…

“You mentioned your mother to me yesterday,” Martin reminded.

She nodded abruptly. “She has been dead for four years.”

He gave a pained frown. “I am sorry.”

“My father, as I have already stated, was never married to my mother. He is dead too now, in any case,” Monique stated flatly.

“Siblings?”

“I…I have a sister.” Her gaze no longer met his. “The two of us are not…emotionally close.”

Martin winced. “I seem to have an unfortunate ability to remind you of subjects that are painful for you.”

“I accepted my lot in life long ago, and for the main part, it has been a happy one.” Her years of living with her mother had not been ones of wealth and comfort, but they had been full of love.

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