Read Online In the Garden of Deceit (Book 4) by Cynthia Wicklund - Free Book Online Page A

children made her
blush. She wanted to tell him that she didn’t give a fig what
he wanted, but that was not entirely true. She did care, and they did
have a contract. Strange how an impersonal business agreement could
have such intimate conditions.
    “I
was not speaking of forever, James. I simply wanted to come to terms
with this union, to align my expectations to reality, before…”
    James
leaned back against the squabs, his expression turning mulish. “So
we are to put our lives on hold until you decide to decide?”
    She
had hoped it wouldn’t come to this, that he wouldn’t push
her when she wasn’t ready. So be it. She would dredge up her
little plan and see if her cooperation was worth the price.
    “Since
you are adamant, waiting won’t be necessary. However, ah,”
Amanda stumbled, the words like lead in her throat now that it was
time to say them, “I’ll not be participating in
any…significant way.”
    “Are
you saying what I think you are saying?” he bit out.
    “There’s
only so much of me you can demand, James. You can’t make me
respond. The contract says I have to warm your bed, but it doesn’t
say I have to like it.”
    “Is
that so?” James said cynically. “Seems to me you were
responding only minutes ago and liking it just fine.”
    Amanda
felt the blood surge to her face. “It won’t happen again,
I promise.”
    “What
is wrong with you, woman? I’d be a fool to agree to such
nonsense.”
    “Those
are the terms for my cooperation.”
    “And
if I don’t agree?”
    “Then
perhaps it would be best if I went home and ended this farce before
there is no turning back.”
    Even
as she spoke Amanda feared his answer, whether he said yes or no. Yes
meant he cared for her not at all, and no meant he had too much to
lose—financially speaking. She held her breath as he digested
her ultimatum.
    “We
are not giving up so easily, Amanda,” he said darkly. “I
am not a shirker and, I suspect, neither are you. To quit before
we’ve even begun seems cowardly at best.”
    The
air she was holding whooshed from her mouth in a gust of relief—and
misery. It was the money. But as long as he took her with him,
she had hope. Hope that one day he would love her, hope that he would
not regret being saddled with a wife not of his own choosing. Perhaps
he might even forget to be ashamed of her pedigree.
    “I’ve
decided not to press you,” James continued.
    “Thank
you. I—”
    “But,”
he put up his hand to stem her gratitude, “I reserve the right
to change my mind.”
    “Pardon?”
    “Your
‘I need time’ pronouncement is rather undefined. Doesn’t
give me much to work with, makes no promises. So…” he
prolonged the agony of waiting, his gaze now hard and inscrutable, “I
propose to take this thing a day at a time. If tomorrow I decide to
accept your offer, you will of course oblige me, correct? No feminine
hysterics or reneging?”
    “Well,
I…y-yes, of course,” she managed after a moment. “As
long as you are satisfied with, uh…”
    “Your
lack of participation? Certainly. It is understood.”
    “Good,”
she stated nervously. The situation was getting out of control—her
control—although she would be a fool to believe she’d
ever had any.
    “Just
so we understand the rules.” Casually he glanced at his hand,
studying his nails, as if they were discussing nothing more profound
than tomorrow night’s supper. “ My participation is
not to be—shall we say—impeded in any way?”
    For
the life of her, Amanda did not know how to respond. It was one thing
to talk intimacies while doing intimate things, but sitting across
from one another in a moving carriage, impersonally negotiating the
terms of their lovemaking, had taken on a bizarre quality.
    “I’m
not certain what you mean.” Her speech was breathless now and
high-pitched.
    James
settled back more deeply against the cushions, still watching her.
His lazy attitude continued