The Inconvenient Elmswood Marriage (Penniless Brides 0f Convenience Book 4) by Marguerite Kaye

Author:Marguerite Kaye [Kaye, Marguerite]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Penniless Brides 0f Convenience Series, Historical Romance, Women's Fiction, Regency & Victorian Romance, London Society, England & Britain, 19th Century, Forever Love, Bachelor, Single Woman, Love Possibility, Hearts Desire, Life-Changes, Second Chance Reunion, Honesty & Trust, Home & Family, Lifetime Love, Romantic Schemes, Beautiful & Feisty, Love-Family & Forever, Action & Adventure, Sensual Story Theme, Marriage of Convenience, Lived Separate Lives, Injuries & Almost Death
Publisher: Harlequin Historical; Original Edition
Published: 2020-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

The billiard room faced out to the working gardens of Elmswood, with a view to the stables, the kitchen garden and the outhouses, behind which lay the Estate Office. Daniel pulled the shutters over, having no desire to have Kate’s precious gardener witness their actions. The man was doubtless a green-fingered genius, but he had the irritating habit of being a constant presence, appearing on the lawn every morning at precisely the time that Daniel was either preparing to swim or finishing his swim.

There was enough sunlight filtering in through the shutters to make the room dim, but not dark. Estelle’s pianoforte stood against one wall, with a circle of chairs around it for her audience. She was shy about her music, he remembered Kate saying in one of her letters, and never played for strangers, though she could occasionally be tempted to play the organ in the church.

The chairs he now moved aside were an odd assortment, chosen for comfort. Aside from the oak panelling, there was none of the gentleman’s club type of furnishings he vaguely recalled from his father’s day, and not a trace of that distinctive smell of snuff and brandy which lingered after he had enjoyed a game of billiards with friends. The room smelled of roses—a scent he traced to an onyx dish of dried petals on the mantelpiece. He picked up a handful, inhaling the heady fragrance, reminded of a hamam he had once visited and the scented oils they’d used there.

The door closed gently. He let the petals fall and turned round. Kate was standing just inside the room, her arms wrapped protectively around herself. She had rolled and pinned his white silk trouser legs, revealing her bare ankles and dainty feet. She had tied a wide blue sash around her waist and rolled up the sleeves of his tunic to her elbows, making his austere clothing look absurdly feminine and Kate herself, with her hair down and tied back, distractingly alluring, as if she were dressed for bed.

‘I managed to avoid being seen,’ she said, still hovering at the door.

Realising that any compliment would make her even more self-conscious than she already was, Daniel concentrated on making her feel at ease. ‘Lock the door, just to be on the safe side,’ he said, ‘then come over and join me. I’m glad you dispensed with your shoes. You can find your balance better without them.’

‘I feel odd. I’m not used to wearing so little, or to being so unconstrained.’

Manfully, he refused to allow his eyes to wander to her un-corseted bosom. ‘Forget about what you’re wearing. Concentrate on being able to move freely. Now, stand very still, shoulders back, arms at your side, and we’ll start with some simple breathing exercises.’

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