Read Online Dangerous Diana (Brambridge Novel 3) by Pearl Darling - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Pearl Darling
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Historical, Adult, series, Regency, England, Military, romantic suspense, 19th century, Bachelor, Victorian, Britain, Forever Love, Single Woman, Hearts Desire, London Society, Brambridge, War Office, British Government
Ads: Link
Swiping the tantallus off the oval table, Melissa poured herself another drop of brandy.
Now what had she been trying to get at on the top shelf of the library? It seemed important, but only to her. Perhaps if she looked again…
Melissa awoke to the feel of warm breath on her brow and warmth on her left hand side. Every now and then her body jolted up and down. She tilted her nose upwards to see the underside of a strong chin and aquiline nose.
“Mmm, Hades,” she said, recognizing the earl. His warmth was irresistible. Twisting slightly, she burrowed into his chest, becoming aware that he also held her under her knees. Realizing that her right arm was hanging downwards, she pulled it up and rested it on his chest. She traced the outline of the buttons than ran down his waistcoat. Each one was inscribed with a roaring lion.
“Just like a lion, warm and strong,” she murmured. “I suppose you must be if you live in the underworld.”
She felt a rumble of laughter in Hades’ chest. It cleared some of the warmth in her head.
“But also cold and savage like all other men,” she muttered wanly. Hades bent his head to look at her but she didn’t want to meet his gaze. She dropped her hand to her waist and turned her face into his chest. It was easier to dream that way.
CHAPTER 9
Hades pulled the knocker down on the front door of the house in Mount Street. He didn’t really want to return, but he had no other place to go. The door opened softly.
“Hello, Carruthers,” he said, pulling his hat from his head. “Is Lady Colchester in?”
“I’ll see if she is taking visitors, sir.” The butler shut the door firmly on his nose.
Hades blinked. He really was persona non grata. Well, that didn’t matter. He needed his antidote, and fast. He tapped his boots on the top step impatiently, and unpeeling a glove from his hand, ran a finger over his lips.
The sweetness of her kiss and the feeling of her warm—
“You may come in.”
Hades jumped. Gods , it was getting worse. He hadn’t noticed the door reopening so quickly. He pushed past the butler and, in one quick movement, tossed his gloves and cane onto the hall table. With a disgusted glance at the large portrait of Victoria and her deceased husband that hung on the wall above the hall table, he strode into the front room.
“Wait,” cried the butler.
Hades closed the door on his face, happy to return the compliment.
Victoria stood reading a letter at the window. Hades took a moment to admire her beautiful blonde hair and the expanse of creamy skin that stretched from shoulder to shoulder. She turned in surprise, her blue eyes meeting his.
“Earl Harding, what a surprise…” But she had no time to finish her sentence. He stalked across the front room and gathered her up in his arms. With grim determination, he pulled Victoria towards him and kissed her thoroughly.
After a minute he stopped.
Absolutely nothing. There was absolutely nothing . Just like all the other women since Lady Elsa. All that is, for the shrew that was currently taking over his house. He shut his mind quickly. By God—
He sank into one of the ridiculous small chairs that Victoria used to torture her guests with and humphed.
Victoria remained by the window, the paper that she had been reading now crumpled in her hand. Objectively, she looked as beautiful as ever. Hades humphed again and turned his head to the fireplace.
Victoria placed her crumpled paper on the small table below the window and delicately sat in the chair opposite Hades.
“What is the matter, Hades?” she asked softly. She made no reference to the kiss.
Hades swallowed. If he had expected to her to be outraged by the liberty that he had just taken, he should have thought again—he had only recently become aware that Victoria was far more perceptive than the silly persona that she projected. It was what had piqued his interest again until… he stopped himself. He hadn’t factored that in to his
Now what had she been trying to get at on the top shelf of the library? It seemed important, but only to her. Perhaps if she looked again…
Melissa awoke to the feel of warm breath on her brow and warmth on her left hand side. Every now and then her body jolted up and down. She tilted her nose upwards to see the underside of a strong chin and aquiline nose.
“Mmm, Hades,” she said, recognizing the earl. His warmth was irresistible. Twisting slightly, she burrowed into his chest, becoming aware that he also held her under her knees. Realizing that her right arm was hanging downwards, she pulled it up and rested it on his chest. She traced the outline of the buttons than ran down his waistcoat. Each one was inscribed with a roaring lion.
“Just like a lion, warm and strong,” she murmured. “I suppose you must be if you live in the underworld.”
She felt a rumble of laughter in Hades’ chest. It cleared some of the warmth in her head.
“But also cold and savage like all other men,” she muttered wanly. Hades bent his head to look at her but she didn’t want to meet his gaze. She dropped her hand to her waist and turned her face into his chest. It was easier to dream that way.
CHAPTER 9
Hades pulled the knocker down on the front door of the house in Mount Street. He didn’t really want to return, but he had no other place to go. The door opened softly.
“Hello, Carruthers,” he said, pulling his hat from his head. “Is Lady Colchester in?”
“I’ll see if she is taking visitors, sir.” The butler shut the door firmly on his nose.
Hades blinked. He really was persona non grata. Well, that didn’t matter. He needed his antidote, and fast. He tapped his boots on the top step impatiently, and unpeeling a glove from his hand, ran a finger over his lips.
The sweetness of her kiss and the feeling of her warm—
“You may come in.”
Hades jumped. Gods , it was getting worse. He hadn’t noticed the door reopening so quickly. He pushed past the butler and, in one quick movement, tossed his gloves and cane onto the hall table. With a disgusted glance at the large portrait of Victoria and her deceased husband that hung on the wall above the hall table, he strode into the front room.
“Wait,” cried the butler.
Hades closed the door on his face, happy to return the compliment.
Victoria stood reading a letter at the window. Hades took a moment to admire her beautiful blonde hair and the expanse of creamy skin that stretched from shoulder to shoulder. She turned in surprise, her blue eyes meeting his.
“Earl Harding, what a surprise…” But she had no time to finish her sentence. He stalked across the front room and gathered her up in his arms. With grim determination, he pulled Victoria towards him and kissed her thoroughly.
After a minute he stopped.
Absolutely nothing. There was absolutely nothing . Just like all the other women since Lady Elsa. All that is, for the shrew that was currently taking over his house. He shut his mind quickly. By God—
He sank into one of the ridiculous small chairs that Victoria used to torture her guests with and humphed.
Victoria remained by the window, the paper that she had been reading now crumpled in her hand. Objectively, she looked as beautiful as ever. Hades humphed again and turned his head to the fireplace.
Victoria placed her crumpled paper on the small table below the window and delicately sat in the chair opposite Hades.
“What is the matter, Hades?” she asked softly. She made no reference to the kiss.
Hades swallowed. If he had expected to her to be outraged by the liberty that he had just taken, he should have thought again—he had only recently become aware that Victoria was far more perceptive than the silly persona that she projected. It was what had piqued his interest again until… he stopped himself. He hadn’t factored that in to his
Similar Books
