Read Online Corrected by the Colonel by Celeste Jones - Free Book Online
Authors: Celeste Jones
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“No,” he said, taking her hand in his. “I am sorry for this predicament, but given that Cousin Owen appears quite smitten with Miss Collins, perhaps you will consider marriage to me as a consolation prize.”
She ought to draw her hand away from his and possibly use it to slap his insolent face, but she could not. The touch of his hand, though slight, sent threads of tingly sensations spinning through her body. Through dancing with numerous men Cassandra had experienced some minimal physical contact, but none of them had created the awareness in her that Colonel Sinclair’s thumb stroking across her wrist generated.
“If that is your idea of a marriage proposal, it is sorely lacking.” She strove to keep her breathing even and her voice detached, but it was difficult with his fingers working their way up the inside of her arm.
“True enough. I have been remiss.” He clasped her fingers in his, gazed intently into her eyes and said “Miss Cassandra Sheridan, will you marry me?”
“It would appear I have no other options.” She jerked her arm away, rose from her seat and walked purposefully across the room.
***
The newly betrothed couple did not speak again until dinner when they were seated side by side. The party of which Miss Collins was a member consisted of six persons, so the dinner conversation proved much more lively than during Cassandra's previous nights at Hadley Hall.
Although civil to Colonel Sinclair, Cassandra focused her attention on the gentleman seated to her left, who happened to be the brother of Miss Collins. Her obvious attempts to ignore him did not please the colonel.
After dinner when everyone adjourned to the drawing room for entertainment, Blaise took a firm hold of his future wife’s arm and steered her outside to the garden.
“This is highly improper,” Cassandra said through gritted teeth.
“We are betrothed. I am sure no one will begrudge two lovers a few moments alone.” Blaise sat on a bench in the garden and pulled Cassandra into his lap. She wiggled and squirmed most deliciously in an attempt to get away until he encased her in his arms and pulled her close for a kiss. He had only intended to kiss her gently, to show her she had nothing to fear from him, but once his mouth found hers, gentleness was the furthest thing from his mind, and apparently hers as well. Again she opened her lips to the pressure from his mouth and he felt the tentative stirring of her tongue as it moved with shy passion against his own.
He cupped the back of her head in his hand and held her captive until he feared if he did not stop he would never be able to let her go.
When his breathing slowed a bit he spoke. “Now, my little poppet, I understand I was not your first choice for a husband.” He stroked his finger down the length of her nose and marveled in its delicacy. “However, we are now to be husband and wife and I expect you to behave properly.”
“I have behaved exceptionally well, considering the circumstances." Her words were defiant, though her voice sounded less strident.
“You dug your nails into my wrist, which was quite painful. You were exceedingly rude in response to my proposal of marriage and at dinner, you ignored me. Are those the actions of a dutiful and obedient wife?”
“I never agreed to be a dutiful and obedient wife.”
“What other sort of wife is there?” He kissed the tip of her nose. “Now, get yourself in position over my knee so that we can see to your behavioral issues before we join the others.”
***
I woke up this morning intending to beguile Lord Owen Tyndall while out
She ought to draw her hand away from his and possibly use it to slap his insolent face, but she could not. The touch of his hand, though slight, sent threads of tingly sensations spinning through her body. Through dancing with numerous men Cassandra had experienced some minimal physical contact, but none of them had created the awareness in her that Colonel Sinclair’s thumb stroking across her wrist generated.
“If that is your idea of a marriage proposal, it is sorely lacking.” She strove to keep her breathing even and her voice detached, but it was difficult with his fingers working their way up the inside of her arm.
“True enough. I have been remiss.” He clasped her fingers in his, gazed intently into her eyes and said “Miss Cassandra Sheridan, will you marry me?”
“It would appear I have no other options.” She jerked her arm away, rose from her seat and walked purposefully across the room.
***
The newly betrothed couple did not speak again until dinner when they were seated side by side. The party of which Miss Collins was a member consisted of six persons, so the dinner conversation proved much more lively than during Cassandra's previous nights at Hadley Hall.
Although civil to Colonel Sinclair, Cassandra focused her attention on the gentleman seated to her left, who happened to be the brother of Miss Collins. Her obvious attempts to ignore him did not please the colonel.
After dinner when everyone adjourned to the drawing room for entertainment, Blaise took a firm hold of his future wife’s arm and steered her outside to the garden.
“This is highly improper,” Cassandra said through gritted teeth.
“We are betrothed. I am sure no one will begrudge two lovers a few moments alone.” Blaise sat on a bench in the garden and pulled Cassandra into his lap. She wiggled and squirmed most deliciously in an attempt to get away until he encased her in his arms and pulled her close for a kiss. He had only intended to kiss her gently, to show her she had nothing to fear from him, but once his mouth found hers, gentleness was the furthest thing from his mind, and apparently hers as well. Again she opened her lips to the pressure from his mouth and he felt the tentative stirring of her tongue as it moved with shy passion against his own.
He cupped the back of her head in his hand and held her captive until he feared if he did not stop he would never be able to let her go.
When his breathing slowed a bit he spoke. “Now, my little poppet, I understand I was not your first choice for a husband.” He stroked his finger down the length of her nose and marveled in its delicacy. “However, we are now to be husband and wife and I expect you to behave properly.”
“I have behaved exceptionally well, considering the circumstances." Her words were defiant, though her voice sounded less strident.
“You dug your nails into my wrist, which was quite painful. You were exceedingly rude in response to my proposal of marriage and at dinner, you ignored me. Are those the actions of a dutiful and obedient wife?”
“I never agreed to be a dutiful and obedient wife.”
“What other sort of wife is there?” He kissed the tip of her nose. “Now, get yourself in position over my knee so that we can see to your behavioral issues before we join the others.”
***
I woke up this morning intending to beguile Lord Owen Tyndall while out
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