Read Online Provocative in Pearls by Madeline Hunter - Free Book Online

watching, watching, and darkly pleased with whatever he saw. “That is two.”
    “That is enough!”
    He shook his head, then kissed her again.
    The kiss, his closeness, the giddy tickling sensations, all distracted her. She had no idea that kisses could be so long and involved and . . . busy. A series of delightful little changes and movements, to her cheeks and jaw, to her lips again, nips and varying pressure and even his tongue playing devilishly in sensitive, tiny ways. This kiss was very different from the ones she had shared with Michael when she was a girl. Far more dangerous, and she responded differently too.
    Her fascination dismayed her even while she dallied more than was wise. Finally, however, she realized she had permitted a kiss that could be considered several if one were strict, and that he would never give her proper credit on the account.
    The memory of Michael helped break the spell. There was no understanding between her and Michael. He might not even be alive now, and even if he was, he knew nothing of her plans. And yet . . . She lifted Hawkeswell’s hands from her and took a very long stride backward.
    “I think that was more than three in total. You have used up some of tomorrow’s.”
    “At most I have used up half of one of today’s.”
    “It was too long.”
    “It is for you to decide that, not me. If you do not choose to end the kiss, do not expect me to do it for you.”
    Flushing badly, she turned and strode away. She would have to remember to end things very quickly in the future. She had been surprised today; that was all.
    These kisses were different from what she thought of kisses being when she agreed to this part of their bargain. Now that she knew his intentions, she would be on her guard.

Chapter Six
    T he early-evening light bathed the placid lake with golden sparkles. It broke through the branches and leaves of the tree under which they all sat, creating dappled, moving patterns on the linens and plates and the ladies’ hair.
    Hawkeswell found himself looking at Verity too often, even though he pretended not to. Those kisses this afternoon had been very sweet, and her reactions had charmed him.
    If she were not his wife, he might feel a little guilty for taking advantage of her. Since she belonged to him, he did not have to question the rightness of it, and could enjoy his surprise in the discovery that she was about as ignorant of kisses as was possible.
    Which meant that she had not been kissed much before, or at all, in the recent past. That did not totally eliminate the possibility that she had run away with the hope and intention of being with another man. She still might have been in love with someone else. She still might be, and might have proposed this annulment nonsense for that reason.
    He noted her poise, and the careful perfection of her manners. There was something of the recent graduate of the school of etiquette in the way she handled herself at this table. She paused before speaking to himself or Sebastian, as if she carefully edited what she planned to say to make sure it sounded like a lady’s speech.
    “I am glad that you like your chambers,” Audrianna said to Verity. “That is one of my favorite rooms in the house. The colors and good light remind me of a spring garden.”
    “There is a fine tree outside the window,” Hawkeswell said. “I think she wants to climb it. A four-minute tree, she called it. That sounds like an expert to me.”
    “Then you must leave your window open someday, and climb in,” Audrianna said.
    “Did she never climb trees in Cumberworth?”
    “I never saw it. However, we have a tall apple tree at the back of the property, and the fruit at the top did not go to waste.”
    “You must have had an active childhood, Lady Hawkeswell,” Lord Sebastian said.
    A stillness touched both women upon hearing the address. Audrianna glanced at her husband. Sebastian pretended not to see. Hawkeswell was glad for the small evidence