Read Online Helen Dickson by Highwayman Husband - Free Book Online
Authors: Highwayman Husband
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obstinate. I suspect you are not always the easiest person to get along with.’
Encouraged and warmed by his words, she tilted her head to one side, a slow smile tempting her lips. ‘I have my moments,’ she told him.
‘Oh?’
‘Now and then,’ she said.
He chuckled, and then said, ‘Have you any idea how lovely you look tonight, in your fetching blue gown?’
There was a soft, caressing note in his voice that almost turned Laura’s bones to water. She looked at him and smiled, enjoying the warmth and the intimacy of their conversation. ‘I am exactly the same person I was when you went away. I have not changed.’
‘I disagree. The charming girl has become an elegant woman. Perhaps I have changed, also.’
‘After all that has happened to you, it is hardly surprising. Will you get involved again? I ask this because I needto know. If you decide to disappear again, I should appreciate being informed before you go.’
‘I am still involved, Laura—in one way or another.’
There was a faint accent on the last sentence and Laura shivered. ‘Are you in danger? Am I in danger?’
Lucas’s look was piercing, his expression grim. After a moment of deliberation he nodded slowly. ‘Possibly, which is why it is important that no one knows I am here for the present—particularly Edward Carlyle. I have one final mission to complete before I can reveal myself. All I ask is that you be patient.’
Laura would have liked to ask him to explain more about this final mission, but the warning in his eyes seemed to pierce her as if it were a knife. ‘But—the servants. You know what they are like. The invisible grapevine that exists between them will spread the news that you have returned from the dead throughout Cornwall.’
‘I know them. They have been employed by the Mawgans for years and can be trusted; after all—’ his eyes twinkled merrily across at her ‘—they kept my presence in the house from you.’
‘So they did. When everyone finds out that you are still alive, what will you tell them when they ask where you’ve been?’
‘The truth—although I prefer the reason I went to France to be kept between ourselves. I know you’re a woman of great discretion.’
‘Of course,’ Laura said, grateful of the confidence.
Hoisting himself out of the chair, Lucas stretched his long limbs. ‘The hour is late and it’s time for bed. We will talk some more tomorrow.’
Standing up, Laura stiffened, wary of the direction in which he was moving—towards the bed. Panic struck her. ‘Lucas! I think you have not understood me. You are not staying in my room. I will not get into bed with you. Aftertwo years’ absence, you cannot walk back into my life and expect to carry on as if nothing has happened.’
An almost lecherous smile touched Lucas’s lips as his eyes swept the bed before settling on her face. ‘By any definition, you are my wife. Restraint does not come easy to a man deprived of a woman’s arms and love for so long.’
His soft answer and the way his gaze fastened on hers awoke tingling answers in places Laura tried to ignore. This betrayal of her body aroused an impatient vexation. ‘You treat the word love lightly, Lucas. It is an emotion that should be a test of devotion and commitment, and until I get used to having you back I would appreciate it if you will allow me to sleep alone.’
‘What if I refuse to agree?’
Laura swallowed and looked up at him in desperate appeal, his tall, muscular frame making her achingly aware of her own helplessness, and the futility of trying to resist him. ‘If you insist, then I will do my duty and submit to you.’
Lucas stared at her, stunned by her choice of words. ‘Submit?’ he repeated. ‘I am unable to believe that my wife should speak of the act of making love with her husband as some form of punishment. It isn’t as if you haven’t shared a bed with me before.’ When she flushed and averted her eyes he frowned with concern
Encouraged and warmed by his words, she tilted her head to one side, a slow smile tempting her lips. ‘I have my moments,’ she told him.
‘Oh?’
‘Now and then,’ she said.
He chuckled, and then said, ‘Have you any idea how lovely you look tonight, in your fetching blue gown?’
There was a soft, caressing note in his voice that almost turned Laura’s bones to water. She looked at him and smiled, enjoying the warmth and the intimacy of their conversation. ‘I am exactly the same person I was when you went away. I have not changed.’
‘I disagree. The charming girl has become an elegant woman. Perhaps I have changed, also.’
‘After all that has happened to you, it is hardly surprising. Will you get involved again? I ask this because I needto know. If you decide to disappear again, I should appreciate being informed before you go.’
‘I am still involved, Laura—in one way or another.’
There was a faint accent on the last sentence and Laura shivered. ‘Are you in danger? Am I in danger?’
Lucas’s look was piercing, his expression grim. After a moment of deliberation he nodded slowly. ‘Possibly, which is why it is important that no one knows I am here for the present—particularly Edward Carlyle. I have one final mission to complete before I can reveal myself. All I ask is that you be patient.’
Laura would have liked to ask him to explain more about this final mission, but the warning in his eyes seemed to pierce her as if it were a knife. ‘But—the servants. You know what they are like. The invisible grapevine that exists between them will spread the news that you have returned from the dead throughout Cornwall.’
‘I know them. They have been employed by the Mawgans for years and can be trusted; after all—’ his eyes twinkled merrily across at her ‘—they kept my presence in the house from you.’
‘So they did. When everyone finds out that you are still alive, what will you tell them when they ask where you’ve been?’
‘The truth—although I prefer the reason I went to France to be kept between ourselves. I know you’re a woman of great discretion.’
‘Of course,’ Laura said, grateful of the confidence.
Hoisting himself out of the chair, Lucas stretched his long limbs. ‘The hour is late and it’s time for bed. We will talk some more tomorrow.’
Standing up, Laura stiffened, wary of the direction in which he was moving—towards the bed. Panic struck her. ‘Lucas! I think you have not understood me. You are not staying in my room. I will not get into bed with you. Aftertwo years’ absence, you cannot walk back into my life and expect to carry on as if nothing has happened.’
An almost lecherous smile touched Lucas’s lips as his eyes swept the bed before settling on her face. ‘By any definition, you are my wife. Restraint does not come easy to a man deprived of a woman’s arms and love for so long.’
His soft answer and the way his gaze fastened on hers awoke tingling answers in places Laura tried to ignore. This betrayal of her body aroused an impatient vexation. ‘You treat the word love lightly, Lucas. It is an emotion that should be a test of devotion and commitment, and until I get used to having you back I would appreciate it if you will allow me to sleep alone.’
‘What if I refuse to agree?’
Laura swallowed and looked up at him in desperate appeal, his tall, muscular frame making her achingly aware of her own helplessness, and the futility of trying to resist him. ‘If you insist, then I will do my duty and submit to you.’
Lucas stared at her, stunned by her choice of words. ‘Submit?’ he repeated. ‘I am unable to believe that my wife should speak of the act of making love with her husband as some form of punishment. It isn’t as if you haven’t shared a bed with me before.’ When she flushed and averted her eyes he frowned with concern
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