Nicholas: The Lords of Satyr by Elizabeth Amber

Author:Elizabeth Amber [Elizabeth Amber]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2007-06-24T07:00:00+00:00

18

A week later Jane linked her gloved fingers, tuning out the sea of guests that clotted her aunt’s grand salon di festa. Something odd was happening, but she didn’t understand its precise nature.

She and Nick had come here to the Villa di Nati, which her family currently rented in Florence, to attend this elaborate party of Izabel’s. Jane’s visit with her sister had been brief before their aunt had decreed it time for Emma to retire.

Now the festivities were well underway in the villa’s salon, and Jane stood among her aunt’s friends. Their covert whispers and sidelong glances had grown pointed enough to snag her attention. Jane followed the direction of their gazes and found her husband across the room.

Eveningwear suited him. Though his brand of it was slightly unusual, as always. The cut of his jacket was severe, but the fabric had an iridescent sheen under certain light and was patterned with supernatural beings. It was soft, she knew. They’d had two dances together already, and she’d rested her hand at his shoulder during both.

Watching Nick blend in with society tonight, it was hard to credit that this was the same man who pressed his naked body against her each night while engaging in that unspoken-of activity sanctioned between a husband and wife. It pleased her, this notion of being needed and wanted for a personal service only she could provide for him.

All in all, they’d been rubbing along well together in recent days. She grimaced at her private, unintended pun.

Two attractive young ladies held Nick’s attention now. Their feminine cheeks were flushed as they smiled up at him. Many other women here watched him, too, found him handsome.

She couldn’t help wondering why he hadn’t married one of them. Why had he chosen her when it was obvious other unmarried ladies of his station would have welcomed him?

Beside her, Signora Nesta fluttered her fan in haughty disgust. “Look at those harlots, flaunting themselves. They seek to remind your husband of their existence lest he forget them and remain too long in his marriage bed.”

Jane blinked at her, not understanding. “Of whom are you speaking?”

“Those—how do the English say?” She looked at her companions.

“Doxy,” supplied Signora Natoli.

“No—mistress,” said Izabel.

“Grazie. Mistress,” echoed Signora Nesta.

Jane studied the exotic women who stood on either side of her husband. One of them pressed her full bosom against his arm with unsubtle familiarity. He didn’t push her away. The other tugged his head down to whisper something, her lips caressing his ear.

Annoyance swept her.

She sensed the two women were aware of her interest and were flaunting their claim on Nick’s attention. She followed the direction of her husband’s gaze and found it on her aunt. Some indefinable emotion passed between them, and her aunt’s eyes turned cruel.

Izabel placed a consoling hand on Jane’s arm. “Poor dear. How can you bear knowing he goes to them?”

Realization struck with the suddenness of a lightning bolt striking her heart. Those women and her husband—

Jane blushed and then paled.

Signora Bich was like a hawk pouncing on the juicy morsel of her ignorance.

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