Read Online On A Cold Christmas Eve by Bethany M. Sefchick - Free Book Online
Authors: Bethany M. Sefchick
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pained her to say the words, "but that he could not give her. It created great animosity between Archibald and the two of us. Our brother has always seen himself as better than we are because of what he referred to as our tainted blood."
Lucy snorted, her disgust evident. "I am well familiar with that term." If she never heard it again, it would be too soon.
Amelia gave her a sly smile. "I thought you might be. That taint made it difficult for me to find a husband. For Adam, while he would never suffer the cut direct, it has caused many tales to be told about him. His temper, his sexual tastes, and what not. Do not think that just because he is my brother than I am unaware of the tales people tell about him."
"I had heard those same things in the few drawing room parties I was able to attend," Lucy confessed, liking Amelia more and more by the minute, "though I never believed them." She was not about to tell Adam's sister that she had actually heard a great deal more about his bedroom preferences than she suspected even Amelia was aware.
"Why not?" There was a look in Amelia's eyes that Lucy couldn't interpret, nor did she even want to try. What was the use? There was no reason to hide anything from this woman who was quickly becoming a friend, someone she hoped she could trust. What Lucy felt for Adam would be common knowledge eventually, and if Amelia knew, well, there was little help for it, not that she suspected it would matter all that much.
Reaching for more tea, Lucy sat back as well, freeing herself from Amelia's grasp. "Similar stories were told about me. Men said that I was a loose woman, and other women claimed that I was reckless and angry. I knew those things were not true, and, while I did not know about your mother, I also came to suspect that those things were not true of Adam either. He is not that type. He is too good of a man at heart for those things to be true."
Adam. It felt so strange to use his Christian name, but, as they were being married tomorrow, Lucy knew she needed to grow accustomed to it. She would start her new life, become the Duchess of Enwright. There were other issues to be dealt with, she knew, such as the sleeping arrangements, and there was no doubt that, at some point, Adam would want children, which would require bedding her. That, however, was for tomorrow, not tonight. She would think of that later.
Even now, the idea of lying with Adam made Lucy's heart jump and a funny tingle begin in her stomach. He was so handsome and perfect, and she was, well, not deformed but not pretty either. She was also under no illusion that Adam loved her. He was doing this to protect her, and, partly, because he was convinced that no other woman would have him, which Lucy knew was sheer idiocy. There were plenty of woman in the ton who would give anything to warm Adam's bed. Whether or not they could look the Devil Duke in the eye while doing so was another matter.
When Lucy realized that Amelia hadn't said anything, she continued. "Sorry. I was wool gathering." She prayed that she wasn't blushing too much, not wanting Amelia to know where her thoughts had been. "Adam's eyes were kind, more so than any man I'd ever met, even in India, very tinged with pain. I felt a similar pain myself and knew that it was doubtful that he was the cruel, morally corrupt creature they described. He just simply could not be. I knew it in my heart."
"So you do not even find him the least bit attractive, at least physically? You were not attracted to his hair or his eyes or his body, as other women were before you? It was his pain that truly captured your interest?" There was a hint of mirth in Amelia's smile, much to Lucy's surprise. "You would find it a hardship to lie with one such as him, then?"
Lucy was so shocked that she nearly spit out her tea. "I did not say that! Adam is the most handsome man I have ever seen and to
Lucy snorted, her disgust evident. "I am well familiar with that term." If she never heard it again, it would be too soon.
Amelia gave her a sly smile. "I thought you might be. That taint made it difficult for me to find a husband. For Adam, while he would never suffer the cut direct, it has caused many tales to be told about him. His temper, his sexual tastes, and what not. Do not think that just because he is my brother than I am unaware of the tales people tell about him."
"I had heard those same things in the few drawing room parties I was able to attend," Lucy confessed, liking Amelia more and more by the minute, "though I never believed them." She was not about to tell Adam's sister that she had actually heard a great deal more about his bedroom preferences than she suspected even Amelia was aware.
"Why not?" There was a look in Amelia's eyes that Lucy couldn't interpret, nor did she even want to try. What was the use? There was no reason to hide anything from this woman who was quickly becoming a friend, someone she hoped she could trust. What Lucy felt for Adam would be common knowledge eventually, and if Amelia knew, well, there was little help for it, not that she suspected it would matter all that much.
Reaching for more tea, Lucy sat back as well, freeing herself from Amelia's grasp. "Similar stories were told about me. Men said that I was a loose woman, and other women claimed that I was reckless and angry. I knew those things were not true, and, while I did not know about your mother, I also came to suspect that those things were not true of Adam either. He is not that type. He is too good of a man at heart for those things to be true."
Adam. It felt so strange to use his Christian name, but, as they were being married tomorrow, Lucy knew she needed to grow accustomed to it. She would start her new life, become the Duchess of Enwright. There were other issues to be dealt with, she knew, such as the sleeping arrangements, and there was no doubt that, at some point, Adam would want children, which would require bedding her. That, however, was for tomorrow, not tonight. She would think of that later.
Even now, the idea of lying with Adam made Lucy's heart jump and a funny tingle begin in her stomach. He was so handsome and perfect, and she was, well, not deformed but not pretty either. She was also under no illusion that Adam loved her. He was doing this to protect her, and, partly, because he was convinced that no other woman would have him, which Lucy knew was sheer idiocy. There were plenty of woman in the ton who would give anything to warm Adam's bed. Whether or not they could look the Devil Duke in the eye while doing so was another matter.
When Lucy realized that Amelia hadn't said anything, she continued. "Sorry. I was wool gathering." She prayed that she wasn't blushing too much, not wanting Amelia to know where her thoughts had been. "Adam's eyes were kind, more so than any man I'd ever met, even in India, very tinged with pain. I felt a similar pain myself and knew that it was doubtful that he was the cruel, morally corrupt creature they described. He just simply could not be. I knew it in my heart."
"So you do not even find him the least bit attractive, at least physically? You were not attracted to his hair or his eyes or his body, as other women were before you? It was his pain that truly captured your interest?" There was a hint of mirth in Amelia's smile, much to Lucy's surprise. "You would find it a hardship to lie with one such as him, then?"
Lucy was so shocked that she nearly spit out her tea. "I did not say that! Adam is the most handsome man I have ever seen and to
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