The Spy's Fake Bride by Jackie Barbosa

Author:Jackie Barbosa [Barbosa, Jackie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780984965083
Publisher: Circe Press

“And you are sure you would tell me if he were…taking liberties?” Bernard Joubert asked earnestly. For the third time since he had clambered into the coach for their promised private conversation. “I swear upon my mother’s grave that I will think no less of you if he is.”

Good Lord, if only he would think less of her, Sabine thought. Or think of her less. She really did not care which. “I assure you, Monsieur Pearce has never touched me in any unwelcome manner.” True. “He has behaved in a completely respectful and honorable fashion throughout our entire acquaintance.” Also true, as much as she might wish otherwise. “And if he were doing anything I considered untoward or offensive, I would not simply tell you about it, I would shout it from the damn rooftop.”

Bernard’s far too thick-lashed brown eyes widened at her use of the word foutu. “You should not say such things, mademoiselle. Someone might overhear you and think you are of easy virtue.”

Sabine planted her hands on her hips. She was done with this maddening conversation.

Having eschewed wine with last night’s dinner for fear of experiencing another bout of unpleasant reprisals, she had slept fitfully, constantly aware of Thomas’s strong, warm body next to hers. Although he had slept fully clothed in his shirt and breeches atop all but one of the blankets so there was no chance of skin-to-skin contact, his proximity had made her restless and achy with unfulfilled longing. To make matters worse, he had seemed to have no trouble sleeping at all. But then, he had gone down to the public house and consumed at least one brandy before retiring. As cranky and out of sorts as she felt this morning, she was reconsidering the wisdom of skipping the wine. Maybe the reprisals were worth it.

“If I were a woman of easy virtue, Monsieur Joubert, we would not be having this private conversation, because you would not be worried about my reputation. But as we are having it—privately, inside this carriage where no one can hear us!—my choice of words need not concern you beyond the fact that it indicates how impatient with you I have become. How many times must I assure you that all is well before you accept what I am saying?”

His cheeks colored at the reprimand, but he straightened himself to his full height—which was several inches taller than Thomas—and gave her a stern look. “I would better believe it if I did not see how he looks at you. He has designs on you. No matter how honorably he has behaved thus far, he will give into his baser nature at some point, and you will suffer the consequences.”

Sabine closed her eyes and massaged her temples. The problem was that Bernard was not wrong. At least not about the way Thomas looked at her…or she at Thomas, though she noticed Bernard had missed her side of things entirely. But there was no way she was going to explain to him why nothing would ever come of those looks.

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