The Merry Widows Boxed Set by Candice Hern

Author:Candice Hern [Hern, Candice]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical Romance
Publisher: Candice Hern
Published: 2014-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

"This is where the new clock will stand," Thayne said, "against the wall behind the scaffolding." He was still a bit unsteady on his pins after what had taken place in the carriage. But Beatrice was as composed as ever, looking elegant and refined and not at all the sort of woman who would pleasure a man while driving through Holborn, or tell him afterward that he need not have resorted to the handkerchief. That was one of the things he liked best about her. Not only that she knew how to pleasure a man and did not shrink from doing so, but that she was so full of surprises.

She certainly was not what he'd expected, though he could not say precisely what that was. Beauty and refinement, he supposed. But there was so much more to her than that. He loved her self-possession, how she knew who she was and what she wanted from life. Once again, it might have been simply a matter of maturity. He really needed to stop comparing her with all the young women he was supposed to be courting, but he could not help himself. Any one of them — Lady Emmeline Standish, Miss Fancourt, Lady Catherine Villiers, any of them — might in time mature into the kind of woman Beatrice was. But how was he to predict such a future, and would he be willing to wait?

One thing was becoming more and more clear to him. He wanted more from Lady Somerfield than an uncomplicated affair.

"It's lovely, Gabriel." She studied every corner of the room, which was rather grand in size for an entry — not as imposing as Doncaster House, but more so than the average town house.

He smiled. "How can you possibly tell when everything is in such disarray?"

"Oh, it's easy enough to see the potential of the space. I like the openness of this hall. There is so much light. It is very welcoming, while still retaining an impressive grandeur."

"I like open spaces," he said. "I had two walls torn down — here and here. It was too dark and small before. This way, we take advantage of the windows, which were doing little good in the smaller anterooms. You will see that throughout the house I have had several walls torn down and rooms combined. I despise cramped spaces and lots of little rooms heading this way and that, like a rabbit warren. I prefer to spread out a bit. Fewer rooms, but each one more spacious. I hate to feel ..."

"Confined."

"Yes." He studied her face, astonished again by her insight. "Exactly."

"From the time we first met," she said, "I sensed that you were not a man who could be bound to a place, constrained from reaching farther. You have such a large presence, Gabriel. A small house or even a small room would never suit you. It would be too insulating, and you would be bursting to get free. I am not surprised that you have been consolidating rooms here.

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