“I
would be grateful if you stayed away from the Viscount d’Arque,”
Godric said as he led his wife onto the dance floor. He mentally
winced at his own stiff tone, but in this matter he could not seem to
see reason.
She was his wife and he’d damn well
not take her straying lying down.
She cocked her head, looking more
curious than outraged. “Is that an order?”
He immediately felt a fool. “No, of
course not.”
The music began, the movement of the
dance drawing them apart before he could explain further. Godric
inhaled deeply as he paced, trying to subdue the incredible wrath
that had overtaken him at the sight of Margaret with d’Arque.
When the dance brought them together
again, he murmured low so the other dancers could not overhear, “I
know it’s hard for you, wanting a child, but this isn’t the way.”
“What way do you mean?” she asked
carefully. Too carefully.
Nonetheless, he could do naught but
answer truthfully. “With d’Arque as your lover.”
For a second her eyes flashed with wild
hurt before she could shield the emotion, and he realized he’d just
dug himself into a hole.
“You think I’m a whore,” she
said.
A very deep hole.
“No, of—”
But she whirled away, caught in the
steps of the dance. This time he watched her anxiously, this wife he
knew so little about. Had Clara ever thought she’d been so
grievously insulted, she would’ve wept. Or perhaps stomped off. He
truly didn’t know because he never would’ve gotten into a
discussion like this in the first place with Clara. The very idea was
ludicrous.
Margaret in contrast held her head
high, her cheeks flagged with a becoming rose color. She looked like
a goddess enraged. A goddess who might, if they were alone, assault
his person—the thought of which unaccountably aroused him.
When the dance brought them together
again, they both opened their mouths at once.
“I never meant—” he began.
“You convict me without trial,” she
hissed over him, “and on pathetically thin evidence.”
“You were flirting, madam.”
“And if I was?” she asked, her eyes
widening dramatically. “If every woman who flirted in a ballroom
were deemed a slut, then all but nuns and babes would be thus
branded. Do you truly think I meant to start an affair with the
viscount?”
He hesitated a fraction of a breath too
long.
Her beautiful brows snapped together.
“You are the most maddening man.”
They were drawing stares, but he
couldn’t let this bit of outrageousness pass.
“I? I am maddening? I assure
you, my lady, that you are the maddening one. I’ve never
caused a scene in a public venue before in my—”
“And now you’re on your second,”
she flung back.
A childish retort, but also deeply
annoying, as she managed to get it off just before they were forced
to separate. Which, naturally, gave her the last word.
AND NOW THE GIVEAWAY
Win the whole Maiden Lane series, 5 books!!
I've been a fan of Elizabeth's books since the Legend of the Four Soldiers series.
ReplyDeleteI read the latest book and then had to go back and read the entire series. Excellent historical romance!
ReplyDeleteI remember Wicked Intentions, but seem to have fallen behind! The new one looks good!
ReplyDeleteShe is such a great author! I have missed her last few books though, and I would love the chance to read them! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI love her books, and I'd really like to read this series. Thanks for the chance to win it.
ReplyDeleteHaven't read this author's books. They sound interesting.
ReplyDeleteI love historical romance, and these sound great. Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI LOVED Lord of Darkness! Such a good one - but oddly enough, I haven't read the previous ones! Thank you for the giveaway!
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