The Courtesan by Elise Marion

Author:Elise Marion
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2013-12-14T00:00:00+00:00

***

The next day, Rafe piled his family into the wagon and drove them into town for the planned shopping trip. Somehow, he’d managed to convince Elizabeth to come along. He was certain it was at the promise of the new boots she wanted, but Rafe accepted it for now.

The younger children were surprisingly docile, staying close to Jane as they moved from shop to shop, keeping their hands to themselves and their voices low. When William seemed on the verge of pitching a fit before they set out on their trip, a sharp and warning look from Davina had stifled it. Rafe was impressed. Whatever had happened in the few days he was gone had certainly worked. The children might not like Davina yet, but they certainly respected her and for Rafe it would do. He knew it would take time for friendship to form between his children and his bride.

Speaking of his bride …

Why had he kissed her? He wondered as he stood near a table displaying men’s driving gloves, pretending to inspect a pair. As he turned the gloves over in his hand, he watched her finger the fringe of a lovely burgundy shawl wistfully. His mouth went dry as her fingers caressed the fabric and he longed to feel those same fingers against his skin. Her lips curved up at the corners as she pressed the shawl to her cheek, seeming to relive some faraway memory brought on by the feel of the cloth. His gaze remained on her mouth, a constant reminder of the stolen kiss and the trouble he’d caused by giving in to the impulse to taste her tempting lips.

Now that he’d gone and kissed her, he wasn’t sure he could stop himself from taking more. If her soft sighs of capitulation and pliant lips were any indication, she would gladly give what he so badly wanted to take.

What’s the worry then? He chastised himself. Davina would be his very soon, his to do with what he pleased. While the thought caused a hot surge of blood to rush straight to his loins, it also caused a fresh wave of trepidation. Davina had everything it would take to entangle his heart, something he had hoped to avoid in a marriage of convenience. It should have been very simple. He needed a mother for his children and a mistress of his household; she needed someone to provide for and protect her.

Yet, it wasn’t simple. In fact, it was the opposite of simple.

Rafe replaced the gloves and sauntered toward her, watching as she carefully folded the scarf and placed it back where she’d found it.

“That’s a lovely shawl,” he said as he came up behind her, resting the urge to press his lips to the very tempting nape of her neck. She turned and smiled sadly.

“Yes, I owned one very similar to it before Edward died.”

Sympathy caused his chest to tighten as he realized what she was saying without words. Like most of her belongings, the scarf had been sold so that she could care for herself after her husband’s death.

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