Read Online A Regency Invitation to the House Party of the Season by Nicola Cornick, Elizabeth Rolls, JOANNA MAITLAND - Free Book Online
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‘What happened yesterday in the inn… Did you plan that, my lord?’
Peter winced. He was pinned in the honesty of her gaze. There was something about such vulnerable candour that stripped away any pretence. He had never met anyone like Miss Cassandra Ward and her very openness brought out all his protective instincts. He wanted to shield her from all the disillusion and disappointment that life could bring on one who had no defences. He wanted to guard her against all comers. A marriage of convenience was not good enough for her. No fortune hunter on earth could be worthy of her. Devil take it, he wanted to save her from himself .
‘I did not plan it,’ he said slowly. ‘I promise you that.’ It was difficult for a man of his experience to admit thathe had lost his head, but it was essential to make her understand the truth. ‘I have told you that I find you all too attractive, Miss Ward,’ he said ruefully, ‘and what happened yesterday was the proof. I lost control.’
Cassie was looking at him shyly from under her lashes. ‘I see,’ she said, and, searching her face, he saw that there was pride and amusement under that diffident surface. Damn it, the minx was pleased that she could have such an effect on him, and here was he helplessly dangling like a fish on her line…
He reached out to pull her into his arms, but she read his intention and drew away, fending him off.
‘Oh, no, you do not, Lord Quinlan! You have asked for the opportunity to court me and you have it. But—’ she flicked him a challenging glance ‘—that courtship does not involve kissing.’
The air between them was suddenly alive with sensual tension. Peter caught her arm and drew her closer to him. ‘I have conditions too,’ he said softly, his mouth an inch from hers. ‘I am happy to abide by your terms for a little while, Miss Ward, but I will take something on account.’
And he kissed her, swift and hard, letting her go before the urge to pull her closer still and ravish her became too strong. When he released her she was breathing quickly and there was a heat and turbulence in her eyes that almost overset all his good resolutions.
‘You are certain that you will persuade me to marry you, then,’ Cassie whispered. She pressed her fingers to her lips in an unconscious gesture.
‘I am.’
‘How very arrogant you are.’ She raised a haughty brow.
Peter smiled, that wicked, glinting smile that brought the colour into her cheeks. ‘I would wager on it,’ he said.
‘Why?’
‘Because you are not indifferent to me,’ Peter said. ‘If you were, I would have left Lyndhurst Chase by now. I will not force my suit on a reluctant lady. But you, Miss Ward…’ his smile deepened ‘…you will be my willing bride soon. Of that I am convinced.’
Cassie turned her shoulder to him and swept out of the room then, but Peter followed with a whimsical smile. He knew that she was intrigued against her will and that her curiosity would eventually lead her straight back into his arms—if only he had the patience to wait that long.
Chapter Four
P eter gave Cassie ten days of the most perfect, irreproachably respectable courtship. Anthony Lyndhurst had arranged a number of entertainments to keep his guests amused. There was hunting, shooting and fishing for the gentlemen; games of croquet and cricket on the lawns, an outing to the Assembly at Newbury and invitations to dine with various country neighbours and acquaintances. Throughout it all, Peter wooed Cassie with absolute decorum, dancing with her in the evening, escorting her into dinner, riding about the estate with her and rarely touching her other than to hand her into a carriage. They were in each other’s company almost all the time. Cassie kept expecting him to press his suit or to kiss her. He did neither.
When he failed to meet this expectation, Cassie told herself that he needed her money and no doubt he would be prepared to be patient to get it, but such
Peter winced. He was pinned in the honesty of her gaze. There was something about such vulnerable candour that stripped away any pretence. He had never met anyone like Miss Cassandra Ward and her very openness brought out all his protective instincts. He wanted to shield her from all the disillusion and disappointment that life could bring on one who had no defences. He wanted to guard her against all comers. A marriage of convenience was not good enough for her. No fortune hunter on earth could be worthy of her. Devil take it, he wanted to save her from himself .
‘I did not plan it,’ he said slowly. ‘I promise you that.’ It was difficult for a man of his experience to admit thathe had lost his head, but it was essential to make her understand the truth. ‘I have told you that I find you all too attractive, Miss Ward,’ he said ruefully, ‘and what happened yesterday was the proof. I lost control.’
Cassie was looking at him shyly from under her lashes. ‘I see,’ she said, and, searching her face, he saw that there was pride and amusement under that diffident surface. Damn it, the minx was pleased that she could have such an effect on him, and here was he helplessly dangling like a fish on her line…
He reached out to pull her into his arms, but she read his intention and drew away, fending him off.
‘Oh, no, you do not, Lord Quinlan! You have asked for the opportunity to court me and you have it. But—’ she flicked him a challenging glance ‘—that courtship does not involve kissing.’
The air between them was suddenly alive with sensual tension. Peter caught her arm and drew her closer to him. ‘I have conditions too,’ he said softly, his mouth an inch from hers. ‘I am happy to abide by your terms for a little while, Miss Ward, but I will take something on account.’
And he kissed her, swift and hard, letting her go before the urge to pull her closer still and ravish her became too strong. When he released her she was breathing quickly and there was a heat and turbulence in her eyes that almost overset all his good resolutions.
‘You are certain that you will persuade me to marry you, then,’ Cassie whispered. She pressed her fingers to her lips in an unconscious gesture.
‘I am.’
‘How very arrogant you are.’ She raised a haughty brow.
Peter smiled, that wicked, glinting smile that brought the colour into her cheeks. ‘I would wager on it,’ he said.
‘Why?’
‘Because you are not indifferent to me,’ Peter said. ‘If you were, I would have left Lyndhurst Chase by now. I will not force my suit on a reluctant lady. But you, Miss Ward…’ his smile deepened ‘…you will be my willing bride soon. Of that I am convinced.’
Cassie turned her shoulder to him and swept out of the room then, but Peter followed with a whimsical smile. He knew that she was intrigued against her will and that her curiosity would eventually lead her straight back into his arms—if only he had the patience to wait that long.
Chapter Four
P eter gave Cassie ten days of the most perfect, irreproachably respectable courtship. Anthony Lyndhurst had arranged a number of entertainments to keep his guests amused. There was hunting, shooting and fishing for the gentlemen; games of croquet and cricket on the lawns, an outing to the Assembly at Newbury and invitations to dine with various country neighbours and acquaintances. Throughout it all, Peter wooed Cassie with absolute decorum, dancing with her in the evening, escorting her into dinner, riding about the estate with her and rarely touching her other than to hand her into a carriage. They were in each other’s company almost all the time. Cassie kept expecting him to press his suit or to kiss her. He did neither.
When he failed to meet this expectation, Cassie told herself that he needed her money and no doubt he would be prepared to be patient to get it, but such
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