Read Online Libertine's Wife by Karolyn Cairns - Free Book Online

”
    Arianne left then, practically running
back to her room, fretting his intent to join her. The thought of
what he would force upon her made her weep inconsolably until she
had no tears left. In those few hours, her nerves were stretched
taut.
    Molly came and helped her undress. She
bit her lip as the maid helped her into a sheer silk night rail and
left her. Arianne paced as time seemed to drag on, waiting and
dreading his coming to her room. Thoughts of anyone touching her
besides Julian made her tremble with unease and despair.
    Revulsion masked her features as she
sat at her dressing table. She felt miserable to know she had to
meet this last part of the bargain. The truth devastated her and
made her feel unclean. As much as she wished to avoid such dismal
facts, she couldn’t. The desperate situation she was in came to
mind.
    She reminded herself she did it for
Juliann, hiding behind her love for him in those moments. While he
would have railed at her for making such decisions for them both,
she felt she had no choice.
    While she consoled herself marrying
Ravensford solved all their problems, she hadn’t considered the
marquis’s thoughts on the subject. No, she hadn’t considered his
feelings at all when she made this rash decision to marry him. She
felt dismayed to know in those few seconds it took to agree to
Eustace’s plans, she’d not given the man one moment’s reflection.
For that alone; she deserved his wrath.
    Thinking of lying with a virtual
stranger made her recoil and balk with shame. This was another
matter she’d not considered back in London. No, she’d not thought
it through. All she thought about was securing her lover’s future
and saving her brother’s hide. Her own protection was not far from
the back of her mind, as well.
    While it solved everyone’s problems for
her to go through with deceiving the marquis, she hadn’t considered
the reality of it. The means to an end was coming to her bed this
night, leaving a mark upon her that was very much
self-inflicted.
    Closing her eyes with resolve, she
heard footsteps outside her room. Stiffening with dread, she turned
to see him enter her room.
    ~ ~ ~
    His wife looked like she would jump out
of her own skin.
    Garret almost regretted his taunting
her of the wedding night when he saw her frightened features. He
watched her now, acting like a terrified rabbit and him the wolf.
He questioned his allowing this farce once more.
    It was unlike him to cave under such
obvious tactics. Garret might have been raised a gentleman, but he
never succumbed to a lady’s wiles before. He’d despoiled his fair
share of ladies over the years, never having to pay the piper. His
wily solicitor always intervened, paying off the lady’s family or
husband. Thomas Helms always bailed him out of such scrapes in the
past. Why he didn’t tell Helms of this nagged at him.
    When she arrived at his manor in London
with her brother; he wanted to dismiss her as a child. He could
admit to himself that he had noticed her, right off. Despite his
determination to ignore her, his senses were in tune to her the
moment he saw her. That awareness of her only heightened during
their short stay.
    It was hard for him to not engage her
that night at dinner. While her brother entertained them with his
amusing tales, Garret fantasized of ravishing his innocent young
houseguest. He didn’t fail to notice how her eyes gleamed like
jewels within a face so undeniably pretty, he forced his gaze away
with reluctance. The girl ignored him, giving him ample time to
study her under his lashes.
    Never had a young woman of her youth
ever caught his notice before. His lovers were twice her age and as
jaded as him. Those women catered to his tastes and pleasures. He
was appalled she commanded his interest at all. He felt perverse,
like Miriam. He was appalled such an innocent lamb brought out such
predatory instincts within him. He told himself she was just a
child, chiding his wicked lusting of