Read Online An Affair of Honor (Rebel Hearts Book 2) by Heather Boyd - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Heather Boyd
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it.”
She moved to his mirror and pulled the scrap of lace over her head, then rushed to remove her damp apron. Without it, the plain gown seemed a good deal more fetching, and Matilda looked less like a servant who had made his bed every morning.
William moved behind her to tighten the ribbon beneath her bust to accent her figure. He caught his reflection in the mirror and quickly averted his eyes. Next to Matilda’s feminine grace, he appeared an ogre, hideously scarred. He shifted his attention to Matilda and kept it there, liking what the mirror revealed with those few alterations. He grabbed the tightly bound mass of dark hair at the back of her head and wiggled it a little, softening her coiffure.
She pinched her cheeks and licked her lips. “Good enough?”
Too good. The changes made a world of difference and played havoc with his control. The gown, although serviceable and plain, was a good color for her. He dug a sea-green silk shawl and gloves, impulsive purchases with no purpose save that they’d appealed to him, from his sea chest and dressed her in them. He was gripped with a sudden idea that would guarantee him success. A fine silver chain and cross pendant he’d hoarded for years completed her transformation from distracting servant to delectable temptation. The revelation was utterly breathtaking. “You’ll do,” he managed to say, feeling uncomfortably hot.
He caught her newly gloved wrist so she couldn’t flee and towed her toward the staircase, still dreading the coming meeting but determined. He would marry when he liked, whom he liked, and not a moment sooner than when he had had enough of being a bachelor.
At the top stair, he took a breath, threaded her arm through his, and led Matilda down the staircase as if she were indeed his lady.
Five
H is butler was waiting on the landing, eyes wide at the sight of Matilda on his arm.
“I knocked over a vase upstairs,” William said. “Have it cleaned up immediately, Carter.”
“Yes, Captain.” He hurried past them but glanced back a time or two before he disappeared. Yes, it was time for Matilda to leave his employ. The first course of action would be to find her somewhere safe to stay tonight once his guests had gone on their disappointed way.
“I do love my sisters,” he informed her, returning to their earlier discussion about his family. “But I have never been comfortable showing how I feel.”
“They deserve to have their season,” she whispered, hand rising to the pendant at her neck and twiddling with it nervously. “Don’t spoil it for them with your usual bad grace.”
That deserved at least one strike on her pretty bottom. He gritted his teeth until the desire passed. “You are correct. They do deserve a chance to find a husband. I simply dread going back into society again and being stared at.”
She paused on the last stair, turned, her gaze full of understanding. “You cannot lurk indoors forever.”
He would like to try. The few times he’d gone out this week had not soothed his temper. His first trip to the brothel had been a disaster. He’d looked, meant to indulge, but the women’s shocked reaction to his altered features had ruined his intentions. He’d been gawked at, whispered about, until he’d rushed back to his carriage and drawn the curtains on the world.
The mirror didn’t lie.
Matilda was the only person he knew who looked at him without pity in her eyes.
However, for this ruse to work today, she had to look at him with warmth and desire. And after today, it might be necessary to venture into society a few times just to be sure their ruse of lovers was believed. He pictured Matilda hanging on his arm at the theatre, dancing together in a crowded ballroom and pretending she enjoyed every moment in his company while everyone whispered about them and his altered looks. It would take courage he hoped she still possessed in abundance. For if she was anything like him, she might hate every
She moved to his mirror and pulled the scrap of lace over her head, then rushed to remove her damp apron. Without it, the plain gown seemed a good deal more fetching, and Matilda looked less like a servant who had made his bed every morning.
William moved behind her to tighten the ribbon beneath her bust to accent her figure. He caught his reflection in the mirror and quickly averted his eyes. Next to Matilda’s feminine grace, he appeared an ogre, hideously scarred. He shifted his attention to Matilda and kept it there, liking what the mirror revealed with those few alterations. He grabbed the tightly bound mass of dark hair at the back of her head and wiggled it a little, softening her coiffure.
She pinched her cheeks and licked her lips. “Good enough?”
Too good. The changes made a world of difference and played havoc with his control. The gown, although serviceable and plain, was a good color for her. He dug a sea-green silk shawl and gloves, impulsive purchases with no purpose save that they’d appealed to him, from his sea chest and dressed her in them. He was gripped with a sudden idea that would guarantee him success. A fine silver chain and cross pendant he’d hoarded for years completed her transformation from distracting servant to delectable temptation. The revelation was utterly breathtaking. “You’ll do,” he managed to say, feeling uncomfortably hot.
He caught her newly gloved wrist so she couldn’t flee and towed her toward the staircase, still dreading the coming meeting but determined. He would marry when he liked, whom he liked, and not a moment sooner than when he had had enough of being a bachelor.
At the top stair, he took a breath, threaded her arm through his, and led Matilda down the staircase as if she were indeed his lady.
Five
H is butler was waiting on the landing, eyes wide at the sight of Matilda on his arm.
“I knocked over a vase upstairs,” William said. “Have it cleaned up immediately, Carter.”
“Yes, Captain.” He hurried past them but glanced back a time or two before he disappeared. Yes, it was time for Matilda to leave his employ. The first course of action would be to find her somewhere safe to stay tonight once his guests had gone on their disappointed way.
“I do love my sisters,” he informed her, returning to their earlier discussion about his family. “But I have never been comfortable showing how I feel.”
“They deserve to have their season,” she whispered, hand rising to the pendant at her neck and twiddling with it nervously. “Don’t spoil it for them with your usual bad grace.”
That deserved at least one strike on her pretty bottom. He gritted his teeth until the desire passed. “You are correct. They do deserve a chance to find a husband. I simply dread going back into society again and being stared at.”
She paused on the last stair, turned, her gaze full of understanding. “You cannot lurk indoors forever.”
He would like to try. The few times he’d gone out this week had not soothed his temper. His first trip to the brothel had been a disaster. He’d looked, meant to indulge, but the women’s shocked reaction to his altered features had ruined his intentions. He’d been gawked at, whispered about, until he’d rushed back to his carriage and drawn the curtains on the world.
The mirror didn’t lie.
Matilda was the only person he knew who looked at him without pity in her eyes.
However, for this ruse to work today, she had to look at him with warmth and desire. And after today, it might be necessary to venture into society a few times just to be sure their ruse of lovers was believed. He pictured Matilda hanging on his arm at the theatre, dancing together in a crowded ballroom and pretending she enjoyed every moment in his company while everyone whispered about them and his altered looks. It would take courage he hoped she still possessed in abundance. For if she was anything like him, she might hate every
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