No Perfect Magic by Patricia Rice

Author:Patricia Rice [Rice, Patricia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Book View Cafe

Chapter 13

Will actually liked his half-brother, the marquess, when they were working together in the fields—not when surrounded by the glitter of fashion in formal salons. Unfortunately, now that he had a wife, Ash dressed like a gentleman and spent more time in politics than the country, so they had less in common. Will felt like a peacock strutting into the abbey salon in his most formal coat and the wretchedly tight trousers that made sitting down a conundrum.

“Yonder, what light awaits?” Ashford called the instant Will entered.

Will assumed it was one of his brother’s Shakespearian quotes and didn’t even bother glancing his way, not when Lady Aurelia was bearing down on him.

While the others pointed out Ash’s deliberate misquoting of the bard, Will feasted his eyes on the kind of dream he’d never been allowed.

Garbed in a shimmering gold-and-white gown, her white-blond hair stacked to make her look taller, Lady Aurelia had outdone herself this evening. Her gown belled fashionably above her dainty ankles, revealing high-heeled slippers. Will had to physically drag his lascivious gaze from her feet to meet her eyes, but the high globes of her breasts diverted him. He felt like the veriest schoolboy, unable to control his all-encompassing lust.

“You are just in time,” she told him, enveloping him in a luscious scent of roses and leading him toward the grouping near the fireplace while he was too distracted to flee. “We have decided to send Bess north to Bridey’s brother, but Rose is too distinctive. She will have to come with me.”

Will wanted to protest that she was making herself a target, but her cloud of seductive perfume held him enthralled, and the brush of her gown against his damned tight trousers sent what brain he had into hiding. He’d have done better to take his puppy and ride straight to Iveston than to ask Ash for anything.

“Aurelia can ride with us,” the marchioness promised before Will could drag his gaze from the fairy princess to greet his sister-in-law.

Christie, Lady Ashford, was a beautiful, sturdy young woman who could stand up to Ash on his worst days. Childbirth had added a few pounds, but she carried them well. That was the kind of woman Will wanted—one who wouldn’t break in bed. Except he didn’t want one who expected castles and abbeys. Miranda suited—or she had, until he’d been distracted by a fairy princess.

“Rose will ride in the baggage cart,” Bridey continued, as if Will were part of the conversation and not a fencepost. A slavering fencepost. “We’re to have a pretend funeral for Bess and the babe. The abbey has its own graveyard, and they’re digging a hole as we speak. We’ve locked the door of the infirmary and placed a funeral wreath on it.”

“Then it’s all settled,” Will said with relief, finally grasping their charade. “I’ll return to Yatesdale.”

“Not quite, little brother.” Ashford slapped him on the back hard enough to make most men cringe, but Will was used to it. He elbowed his bully of a half-brother to make him back off.

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