Read Online Broken Legacy (Secret Lives Series) by Colleen Connally - Free Book Online
Authors: Colleen Connally
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water’s edge, the waves brought the water over her feet, her bare feet. Only then did he notice her slippers in her hand.
“Perhaps I should have taken the liberty of removing my boots before a walk along the beach.”
“Pray forgive me, my lord. I do so without a thought. If it is your wish…”
“No, I find it liberating. You walk often along the beach ?”
She gave him a slight nod and looked back toward the water. She pointed out across the deep blue ocean. “On a clear day you can see the coastline.”
“Your home,” he said simply. “Do you miss it?”
“It was home. No matter what has happened , it was where I was raised. A part of me will always be there.”
He reached his hand out and took hers. “Come. Let’s walk. I’ll tell you about your new home, Ashforth Manor. You should know something about it before you depart.”
“Now? I’m to go now ?” Eloise looked at him blankly.
“After I leave, it is my wish you withdraw back to my estate. I wrote Anne to expect you. I have arranged transportation with your maid and an escort. I would have rather shown you myself, but hopefully I’ll return soon.”
“Can I not wait here, my lord?”
"I would prefer that you withdraw back to Ashforth Manor. I believe you will find comfort. Anne will see that you are set. You will find she is quite a lovely person. You have nothing to fear. You can bring along any you so choose, if you like. Lady Marichone, perhaps."
"Perhaps, my lord," she said, pressing her lips together tightly. "But I would feel better here, a semblance of my home. The ocean..."
"Married only hours and my bride already question s my decision?"
Her eyes met his, flaring at his utterance. Ah, he read well she was used to getting her way. He returned her glare with a smile. He reached for her, embracing her so his grasp controlled her.
"Come, Lady Lenister. I do not feel the need to argue today. We have so little time before I depart. Is it too much to ask that I have one less worry upon me when I leave?"
He gave her no time to answer. His lips claimed hers. Feeling no resistance, he kissed her again. Harder this time. More demanding. More aggressive. He broke from her or in the next moment he would have taken her there on the beach. He caressed her face, pushing back her windblown hair. He said nothing. He took her hand and led her back to the manor.
* * * *
Lenister waited only for Eloise to have time to bathe. The dinner he had planned would wait, for he could not. This night there was no need for a clandestine meeting. The vows spoken earlier in the day gave him this right. Taking only the bottle of wine and two glasses, he entered into the secret passage that led to her room rather than walk down the hall.
Straightway, he sensed their relationship would bode well , for she expected him. The hidden entrance lay open. A fire burned, casting shadows against the closed window drapes. Candles lit the room, irradiating the sight before him. Immediately, a hard arousal hit him, concealed only by the robe he wore.
The firelight bathed his beautiful bride in her sheer, transparent gown. She stood by the corner of the four-poster bed with her hand holding on to one of the posts of the bed. Inviting. Erotic. The light illuminated her body beneath the thin, light material. Her legs, her hips, even her dark nipples pressing against the fabric, became discernible. Her glossy black hair fell down her back to her hips. The candlelight accented her creamy skin, delicate nose, her vivid blue eyes…The reservations she held about their marriage had not carried over to their marriage bed. She greeted him with the loveliest of smiles.
Restraining himself from striding over and taking her without further ado, he stepped slowly toward her, placing the wine and glasses down on the table beside her.
“You look very beautiful, Eloise.”
“ Merci . I thought after our conversation last night there was no need to fend an innocent’s
“Perhaps I should have taken the liberty of removing my boots before a walk along the beach.”
“Pray forgive me, my lord. I do so without a thought. If it is your wish…”
“No, I find it liberating. You walk often along the beach ?”
She gave him a slight nod and looked back toward the water. She pointed out across the deep blue ocean. “On a clear day you can see the coastline.”
“Your home,” he said simply. “Do you miss it?”
“It was home. No matter what has happened , it was where I was raised. A part of me will always be there.”
He reached his hand out and took hers. “Come. Let’s walk. I’ll tell you about your new home, Ashforth Manor. You should know something about it before you depart.”
“Now? I’m to go now ?” Eloise looked at him blankly.
“After I leave, it is my wish you withdraw back to my estate. I wrote Anne to expect you. I have arranged transportation with your maid and an escort. I would have rather shown you myself, but hopefully I’ll return soon.”
“Can I not wait here, my lord?”
"I would prefer that you withdraw back to Ashforth Manor. I believe you will find comfort. Anne will see that you are set. You will find she is quite a lovely person. You have nothing to fear. You can bring along any you so choose, if you like. Lady Marichone, perhaps."
"Perhaps, my lord," she said, pressing her lips together tightly. "But I would feel better here, a semblance of my home. The ocean..."
"Married only hours and my bride already question s my decision?"
Her eyes met his, flaring at his utterance. Ah, he read well she was used to getting her way. He returned her glare with a smile. He reached for her, embracing her so his grasp controlled her.
"Come, Lady Lenister. I do not feel the need to argue today. We have so little time before I depart. Is it too much to ask that I have one less worry upon me when I leave?"
He gave her no time to answer. His lips claimed hers. Feeling no resistance, he kissed her again. Harder this time. More demanding. More aggressive. He broke from her or in the next moment he would have taken her there on the beach. He caressed her face, pushing back her windblown hair. He said nothing. He took her hand and led her back to the manor.
* * * *
Lenister waited only for Eloise to have time to bathe. The dinner he had planned would wait, for he could not. This night there was no need for a clandestine meeting. The vows spoken earlier in the day gave him this right. Taking only the bottle of wine and two glasses, he entered into the secret passage that led to her room rather than walk down the hall.
Straightway, he sensed their relationship would bode well , for she expected him. The hidden entrance lay open. A fire burned, casting shadows against the closed window drapes. Candles lit the room, irradiating the sight before him. Immediately, a hard arousal hit him, concealed only by the robe he wore.
The firelight bathed his beautiful bride in her sheer, transparent gown. She stood by the corner of the four-poster bed with her hand holding on to one of the posts of the bed. Inviting. Erotic. The light illuminated her body beneath the thin, light material. Her legs, her hips, even her dark nipples pressing against the fabric, became discernible. Her glossy black hair fell down her back to her hips. The candlelight accented her creamy skin, delicate nose, her vivid blue eyes…The reservations she held about their marriage had not carried over to their marriage bed. She greeted him with the loveliest of smiles.
Restraining himself from striding over and taking her without further ado, he stepped slowly toward her, placing the wine and glasses down on the table beside her.
“You look very beautiful, Eloise.”
“ Merci . I thought after our conversation last night there was no need to fend an innocent’s
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