Read Online Enticing Eve: Scandalous Secrets, Book 2 by Tracy Goodwin - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Tracy Goodwin
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sat beside him, tracing the stitching in her periwinkle satin skirts with her forefinger. “I know you don’t want to hurt Tristan, and that is honorable. What happens when Tristan realizes that his wife doesn’t love him and that he was her second choice?”
“You honestly don’t think that she loves him?” Colin turned towards his half-sister while every inch of his skin was suddenly prickling, alert.
“I don’t know,” Victoria shook her head, her eyes fixed on his. “She’s so reserved with him. Even when she thinks they’re alone, I have never witnessed her gazing at him the way she does you.”
Colin considered Victoria’s statement. Could it be true? Did Eve really love him more than Tristan? Is it possible that she does not love Tristan at all? If either possibility was correct, neither Eve nor Tristan would be happy, which led Colin back to the same predicament.
He refused to hurt his brother.
Victoria must have read his thoughts, for she added, “If it is true, Tristan will be devastated even if you don’t pursue a relationship with her. He is far too intelligent and intuitive not to notice.”
“What do you suggest I do?”
“Discover the truth?” She patted his knee, as if in encouragement. “It’s not a pleasant proposal but what other choice do you have? You know better than anyone what damage duplicity can cause. If Eve doesn’t love him or if she loves you more, the truth will eventually be uncovered, and Tristan will feel like a fool. We both know that he is a proud man and would never forgive such a betrayal.”
Colin studied her. Victoria’s eyes were brimming with understanding, and at last her genuine concern made sense to him.
“You’re in love with him,” Colin said, his tone much more accusatory than he intended.
Victoria yanked her hand away from him as if his very statement had seared her skin. She then stood, “We must return to the main house. They’ll be wondering where we’ve gone.”
She began to retrace their steps, but this time Colin was quick on her heels, reaching for her arm and turning her to face him.
“You love him,” he said. This time his voice was gentle, understanding.
“Tristan considers me to be a friend, a fact that I accepted long ago. I assure you that I am not encouraging you so that he may become eligible.”
Victoria’s eyes locked with his, radiating truth. She cared for his brother so much that Victoria wanted him to be happy even if it meant Tristan living a fulfilling life with another.
Colin felt the same about Eve.
In that instant, it became imperative that he discover if Eve truly loved his brother. God help him. Colin couldn’t rest until he knew the answer.
“You are exceptional,” he chucked Victoria under the chin. “Tristan is a fool for not seeing it.”
“No, he’s not. He may be blind and completely lacking in common sense when it comes to yours truly,” she quipped, her animated tone meeting her wry grin. “But he isn’t foolish. I wouldn’t care for him if he were. After all, I have much better taste than that.”
Colin laughed then retraced his steps, picking up the rose Emma had given him then handing it to Victoria.
“A discarded rose,” Victoria exclaimed, clutching it to her chest with great fanfare. “To what do I owe this great honor?”
“For being a wonderful sister,” he offered her his arm as they proceeded to the main house.
Victoria arched her brow. “You hardly know me. I could be the most imprudent woman in all of England.”
“Then God help me for taking your advice,” he shook his head. “No, if there’s one thing you should know about me, it’s that I have excellent intuition. I’m never wrong about my first impressions.”
“Is that so?” she asked, looping her arm through his. “You must be entertaining at parties.”
Colin smiled at her sarcasm; a familial trait to be sure.
As they approached the main house, Victoria stopped and
“You honestly don’t think that she loves him?” Colin turned towards his half-sister while every inch of his skin was suddenly prickling, alert.
“I don’t know,” Victoria shook her head, her eyes fixed on his. “She’s so reserved with him. Even when she thinks they’re alone, I have never witnessed her gazing at him the way she does you.”
Colin considered Victoria’s statement. Could it be true? Did Eve really love him more than Tristan? Is it possible that she does not love Tristan at all? If either possibility was correct, neither Eve nor Tristan would be happy, which led Colin back to the same predicament.
He refused to hurt his brother.
Victoria must have read his thoughts, for she added, “If it is true, Tristan will be devastated even if you don’t pursue a relationship with her. He is far too intelligent and intuitive not to notice.”
“What do you suggest I do?”
“Discover the truth?” She patted his knee, as if in encouragement. “It’s not a pleasant proposal but what other choice do you have? You know better than anyone what damage duplicity can cause. If Eve doesn’t love him or if she loves you more, the truth will eventually be uncovered, and Tristan will feel like a fool. We both know that he is a proud man and would never forgive such a betrayal.”
Colin studied her. Victoria’s eyes were brimming with understanding, and at last her genuine concern made sense to him.
“You’re in love with him,” Colin said, his tone much more accusatory than he intended.
Victoria yanked her hand away from him as if his very statement had seared her skin. She then stood, “We must return to the main house. They’ll be wondering where we’ve gone.”
She began to retrace their steps, but this time Colin was quick on her heels, reaching for her arm and turning her to face him.
“You love him,” he said. This time his voice was gentle, understanding.
“Tristan considers me to be a friend, a fact that I accepted long ago. I assure you that I am not encouraging you so that he may become eligible.”
Victoria’s eyes locked with his, radiating truth. She cared for his brother so much that Victoria wanted him to be happy even if it meant Tristan living a fulfilling life with another.
Colin felt the same about Eve.
In that instant, it became imperative that he discover if Eve truly loved his brother. God help him. Colin couldn’t rest until he knew the answer.
“You are exceptional,” he chucked Victoria under the chin. “Tristan is a fool for not seeing it.”
“No, he’s not. He may be blind and completely lacking in common sense when it comes to yours truly,” she quipped, her animated tone meeting her wry grin. “But he isn’t foolish. I wouldn’t care for him if he were. After all, I have much better taste than that.”
Colin laughed then retraced his steps, picking up the rose Emma had given him then handing it to Victoria.
“A discarded rose,” Victoria exclaimed, clutching it to her chest with great fanfare. “To what do I owe this great honor?”
“For being a wonderful sister,” he offered her his arm as they proceeded to the main house.
Victoria arched her brow. “You hardly know me. I could be the most imprudent woman in all of England.”
“Then God help me for taking your advice,” he shook his head. “No, if there’s one thing you should know about me, it’s that I have excellent intuition. I’m never wrong about my first impressions.”
“Is that so?” she asked, looping her arm through his. “You must be entertaining at parties.”
Colin smiled at her sarcasm; a familial trait to be sure.
As they approached the main house, Victoria stopped and
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