Wild Gypsy Rose by Elise Marion

Author:Elise Marion
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Marion Press
Published: 2013-03-30T06:00:00+00:00

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“You’ve been absent quite a lot this week,” Esmeralda commented over tea that evening in the sitting area adjacent her and Damien’s chamber.

Tatiana froze, her cup halfway to her lips, words caught in her throat. She hadn’t realized when Esmeralda invited her up to her chambers for tea and dessert after dinner that she would be subjected to the third degree. As badly as she wanted to tell her cousin about Adrian and the possible new turn her life was about to take, Tatiana was reluctant. She was not ready yet and knew that if Esmeralda started asking questions she would only be able to withhold the truth for so long.

“The children were quite happy to see me today,” Tatiana hedged as she lowered her eyes to the contents of her teacup. “They send their love and cannot wait to meet baby Alex. Perhaps I should take Leila with me next visit; they always love playing with her.”

Esmeralda nodded, but was studying Tatiana intently over the rim of her mug. “Tatiana, please. Will you not tell me what is going on in your life? You’ve been so secretive lately.”

“There is nothing to tell,” Tatiana replied with forced laughter. “I am certain you only think I’m being secretive because you haven’t seen much of me recently. I merely wanted to give you time to recover from childbirth and become better acquainted with your new son.”

Esmeralda sighed as she reached for her plate of raspberry-topped lemon caked dusted with sugar and topped with cream. She speared a raspberry with her fork and studied it thoughtfully.

“I suppose you are right. I’ve missed you terribly is all. I feel as if we never talk as we used to. I miss you, Tatiana.”

Esmeralda’s eyes were so wide and earnest as she lifted them to look at her that Tatiana felt guilt down to the core of her being. “I’m sorry,” she said, reaching across the space between them to pat Esmeralda on the knee. “It is hard sometimes, being here. You are busy with your husband and family and being queen, and of course Desmond has Lady Abigail now.”

“Ugh,” Esmeralda grunted in a very unladylike manner. “That girl will ruin him. I wish that Damien would intervene but he says it is best for us to stay out of it. Puppy love, he calls it. He says it will pass but I am not so sure.”

Tatiana thought of the large sapphire Desmond planned to present to Abigail at Alex’s christening ball and cringed.

“I would not be so sure of that,” she hinted, caught between not wanting to betray Desmond’s trust and wanting to be honest with her cousin. “He seems quite serious about pursuing her.”

“I know,” Esmeralda mumbled between bites. “I suppose we can only hope that she will lose interest soon. It is a horrible wish, but Desmond’s heart will heal. I have invited several eligible ladies to the ball. Perhaps one of them will catch his eye.”

Not likely, Tatiana thought as she took a bite of her own dessert.

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