Tempting Bella by Diana Quincy

Author:Diana Quincy
Language: ara
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC
Published: 2013-09-09T00:00:00+00:00

Bella paused outside the breakfast room and took a fortifying breath to steel herself against seeing her husband following last night’s debacle.

He’d left the house again after departing her bedchamber, slipping out under the cover of darkness, moving quickly and with purpose. From her window, she’d watched her husband fade into the inky shadows and wondered if he’d gone to seek comfort in the body of Camryn’s young maid.

A quick look around the sunny breakfast room confirmed Sebastian’s absence. She exhaled, but shock immediately replaced relief when her gaze landed on Orford. His darkened left eye was swollen almost shut, his lower lip split. The injuries appeared even more pronounced against the canvas of his handsome face.

Bella’s hand flew to cover her mouth. “Gad, what happened to you?”

Monty turned from where he stood filling his plate at the sideboard. “It turns out your husband is a skilled pugilist.”

“No!” exclaimed Bella. “Sebastian did that to you?”

Orford’s answering smile froze when he winced in pain, touching his hand to his split lip. “It’s nothing.”

“It is not nothing.” She ran a light finger over his swollen eye. “Are you all right? I can’t believe Sebastian did this.”

Josette nibbled on a roll. “He is full of surprises that husband of yours.” She gave Bella a knowing look. “As I guessed, Monsieur Sebastian is very manly.”

Tabby shuddered delicately. “Gentleman should not fight. It is uncivilized.”

“Apparently, he is quite renowned at Gentleman Jackson’s,” Monty said, slipping into the seat beside Tabby.

“You went along as well?” Bella asked him.

“Purely as a spectator. I’m not one to pass up a good bout.” Monty chuckled. “I learned few gentlemen care to face your husband. He is considered quite fearsome.”

Orford’s face darkened with displeasure. “Blood will tell, I suppose.”

The two footmen attending them stiffened. Reaching for her chocolate, Bella surreptitiously observed the servants’ reaction. “What do you mean?”

Orford shot her a sympathetic gaze. “Of course, you will have heard the rumors.”

This time there was no doubt the two footmen exchanged a quick disapproving glance. She noted, not for the first time, that even the male staff members displayed an uncommon devotion to the master of the house. Nodding to them, she said, “Thank you. You may go.”

Once they’d exited and closed the door behind them, she returned her attention to Orford. “What rumor is that?”

“That Stanhope is not really the marquess’s brother at all.”

“What matter of nonsense is this?” An unexpected surge of protectiveness welled in her. “Of course Camryn is Sebastian’s brother.”

Orford put a comforting hand over Bella’s. “They say your husband is a natural.”

“What is that?”

“It is understood among the ton that he was merry-begotten.”

Bella’s blood froze. Sebastian a bastard? “How can that be?”

Nothing made Josette’s eyes sparkle more than salacious gossip. Leaning forward, she spoke in hushed tones. “They say the mother enjoyed a liaison.”

Bella’s eyes widened. “His mother and another man?” She couldn’t imagine the gentle woman she’d met last evening cuckolding her husband.

Josette laughed at her friend’s obvious shock. “Mon cheri, it is nothing. She had already given her husband two sons.

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