Sinful Pleasures by Kristi Jun

Author:Kristi Jun [Jun, Kristi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-03-24T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

THEY WERE BOTH ensconced in the parlor that faced the driveway.

Amelia was quiet, too quiet.

Blackthorn walked over to the fireplace and jabbed at the logs with an iron poker, then watched the growing flames. He felt her gaze on him. Oh, yes, he felt it all right.

He looked over his shoulder and saw her sitting, shoulders slumped, on the dark green settee. Suddenly, he found himself rushing to get the fire going for her. “It’ll get warm soon enough,” he said, walking over to her. He pulled off his coat and wrapped her in it.

“Thank you.”

Years of spying had taught him to pay attention to details. What was she not telling him? Or was he reading too much into this? Was this the permanent consequence of spying for nearly a decade? To never truly trust anyone?

“What’s the matter?” she said suspiciously.

“Why do you ask?”

“You look at me as though I were prey to be devoured.”

He chuckled. “A hard habit to break. My occupation didn’t allow me the comfort of allowing my guard down. It’s been years since I’ve been home.”

“From the war?” she said, interest in her eyes.

“Yes and no.” He turned away. He didn’t want to talk about spying or the dehumanizing part of his former profession with this woman, or anyone for that matter. He needed to change the subject quickly. “There is something I need to warn you about.”

“Oh?” she said, frowning and pulling the coat close to her as if to ward off the cold.

The start of this morning had been bad enough with his mother back in London, ordering his servants about frantically as if she were the Queen of England. Then she had congratulated him on the engagement and how much Amelia’s inheritance would mean for them. What she had meant was how much she would enjoy spending the money.

He intended to put her on a budget so that she didn’t squander the entire inheritance. He may not care to be the earl, but that didn’t mean he wanted to hand over a ruin to the next in line either. He was not his father and didn’t plan to burden the next in line with the worries of debt.

“My mother may approach you, to befriend you.” He knew his mother would corner Amelia eventually, but he didn’t want her to be frightened of his conniving mother. Better that he be with her most of the days to come until they would go their separate ways. “I insist you keep your distance from her.”

“If you like, I will do as you wish,” she said. “But do you mind telling me why?”

His mouth thinned. He didn’t want to get into this, but she did deserve to know at least what she was getting herself into. What was he going to say? Giving it some thought, he said, “Let’s just say she has ulterior motives, and more often than not, they involve her own selfish schemes. Do not promise her anything or agree to anything until you discuss it with me first.

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