Read Online Frigid Waters (Ladies of Loomcroft) by J.E. Clymer - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: J.E. Clymer
Ads: Link
and I would prefer some time to ourselves.”
The Earl pushed himself up out of a velvet red chair with a huff. Carl left the settee more slowly. He blatantly appraised Belladonna from head to toe. “Brother, it is unwise to take to what is mine.” He said softly.
The second the door latched closed Belladonna stared at the door and sighed heavily. “I sincerely hope he was not referring to me; a man like that would drive me to become a revolveress.”
George pulled her into a sudden embrace. “Lord help us all if you become good with a pistol.”
Before she could protest he took her mouth gently in his own. There wasn't the overwhelming heat of their first kiss, but more a slow burn that could last an eternity. He drank her in.
As he pulled away he caressed her cheek with his thumb. “So, tell me, Bella. Did I sleep thru our nuptials?”
She stepped away from him and paced slowly. “I have no idea what came over me. You must forgive for saying such a thing, Mr. Livery.”
He sighed. “I will have a boon for your forgiveness.”
She walked over and sat herself down on the settee in order to stop her own pacing. “As you know, I have nothing. I am sure my father would be happy to give you whatever you want when we return to London.”
He walked over and sat down beside her. He pulled her hand into his lap. “I want nothing from your father. I want your hand in marriage, but I fear that is too high a price for your fib. I will settle for a promise.”
She stared at her hand as it tingled at his touch. “What kind of promise?” She asked neutrally.
He leveled his eyes with hers. “You never use the tone you just used with me again, Bella. You have thoughts and emotions and I would share them. This countenance of indifference you wear as a shield, feel free to wear it. Wear it with anyone you wish, anyone but me.”
Belladonna could feel her eyes fill with tears. “I have only ever done what was expected of a lady of the ton. Women are not to have opinions, they are to be silent on all things but what is proper.”
George chuckled. “I think we have had this chat about propriety. If you wish to be the epitome of propriety in public that is fine, but with me it would only be a farce. You are the most enjoyably improper woman I have ever met.”
She stared at their hands for a moment. “What if I chose the first option instead?” She asked softly.
“In that case I have a vicar on the island who can marry us and we would simply wait for the license to arrive from London before returning.” He said.
Belladonna studied his face, his lovely blue eyes with bits of green. “You do not love me.” She said softly.
George kissed her hand. “No, I do not. I am fond of you. I want you. That should be enough. It can be enough.”
Her gaze wandered the room for a moment. “My dowry is too large to get out of the ton unmarried, is it not?”
George shook his head. “I would like to tell you otherwise, but you know that is true.”
“I will not have a husband who will have mistresses.” Belladonna said with certainty.
George's eyes lingered at the bodice of her dress for ten to twenty seconds before meeting her eyes. “I will never need a mistress with you, Bella.”
Warm embarrassment crept thru her cheeks and across her pale chest above the cut of her dress. Belladonna leaned over and kissed him softly on mouth. “I will be your wife, George.”
He heard her, but he didn't hear her. George envisioned a long, drawn out battle to get her to be his wife. A sense of peace settled in his very soul. When the nectar sweet kiss stopped he stood. “I...I'll go get the preacher.”
She leaned into the back of the settee. The action pushed her large breasts up high in her bodice. “So soon?”
George
The Earl pushed himself up out of a velvet red chair with a huff. Carl left the settee more slowly. He blatantly appraised Belladonna from head to toe. “Brother, it is unwise to take to what is mine.” He said softly.
The second the door latched closed Belladonna stared at the door and sighed heavily. “I sincerely hope he was not referring to me; a man like that would drive me to become a revolveress.”
George pulled her into a sudden embrace. “Lord help us all if you become good with a pistol.”
Before she could protest he took her mouth gently in his own. There wasn't the overwhelming heat of their first kiss, but more a slow burn that could last an eternity. He drank her in.
As he pulled away he caressed her cheek with his thumb. “So, tell me, Bella. Did I sleep thru our nuptials?”
She stepped away from him and paced slowly. “I have no idea what came over me. You must forgive for saying such a thing, Mr. Livery.”
He sighed. “I will have a boon for your forgiveness.”
She walked over and sat herself down on the settee in order to stop her own pacing. “As you know, I have nothing. I am sure my father would be happy to give you whatever you want when we return to London.”
He walked over and sat down beside her. He pulled her hand into his lap. “I want nothing from your father. I want your hand in marriage, but I fear that is too high a price for your fib. I will settle for a promise.”
She stared at her hand as it tingled at his touch. “What kind of promise?” She asked neutrally.
He leveled his eyes with hers. “You never use the tone you just used with me again, Bella. You have thoughts and emotions and I would share them. This countenance of indifference you wear as a shield, feel free to wear it. Wear it with anyone you wish, anyone but me.”
Belladonna could feel her eyes fill with tears. “I have only ever done what was expected of a lady of the ton. Women are not to have opinions, they are to be silent on all things but what is proper.”
George chuckled. “I think we have had this chat about propriety. If you wish to be the epitome of propriety in public that is fine, but with me it would only be a farce. You are the most enjoyably improper woman I have ever met.”
She stared at their hands for a moment. “What if I chose the first option instead?” She asked softly.
“In that case I have a vicar on the island who can marry us and we would simply wait for the license to arrive from London before returning.” He said.
Belladonna studied his face, his lovely blue eyes with bits of green. “You do not love me.” She said softly.
George kissed her hand. “No, I do not. I am fond of you. I want you. That should be enough. It can be enough.”
Her gaze wandered the room for a moment. “My dowry is too large to get out of the ton unmarried, is it not?”
George shook his head. “I would like to tell you otherwise, but you know that is true.”
“I will not have a husband who will have mistresses.” Belladonna said with certainty.
George's eyes lingered at the bodice of her dress for ten to twenty seconds before meeting her eyes. “I will never need a mistress with you, Bella.”
Warm embarrassment crept thru her cheeks and across her pale chest above the cut of her dress. Belladonna leaned over and kissed him softly on mouth. “I will be your wife, George.”
He heard her, but he didn't hear her. George envisioned a long, drawn out battle to get her to be his wife. A sense of peace settled in his very soul. When the nectar sweet kiss stopped he stood. “I...I'll go get the preacher.”
She leaned into the back of the settee. The action pushed her large breasts up high in her bodice. “So soon?”
George
Similar Books
