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Authors: Annie Burrows
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his heirs by Heloise. But judging from her shocked recoil it had been the furthest thing from her mind.
The fierce surge of desire that even now was having a visible effect on his anatomy was an unexpected bonus. When the time was right, he was going to enjoy teaching his wife all there was to know about loving.
Until then he must exercise great restraint. He would have to get her used to the idea of him before broaching the subject of heirs. He already knew how shy she was, and had realised she would need to feel she could rely on him. How could she do that if she was worried he was going to pounce on her at any moment?
âYou need not fear that I shall importune you in that way again,â he grated, his back still turned to her while he desperately fought to regain mastery over his unruly body.
Heloise pressed her hand to her bruised lips, her heart sinking as swiftly as it had soared when he had seized and kissed her so excitingly. Why had he done it if he was now adamant he would not be doing it again? Had it only been some sort of experiment? To see if he could stomach touching her as a man should want to touch his wife? If so, it was evident he regretted giving in to the impulse.
It was a while before he could bear to so much as turn round and look at her! But at least it gave her the time to wipe away the few tears that she had been unable to prevent from trickling down her cheeks. For she would never let him see how humiliated his rejection made her feel. If he did not wish to kiss her, then she would not beg for his kisses. Never!
She got to her feet, determination stiffening her carriage. She would never let him suspectânot by one lingering look, one plaintive sighâthat she ⦠She faltered, her hand flying to her breast.
No, this was too appalling! She could not be in love with him. She
must
not be in love with him. She was certain she had not lied when she had denied being in love with him that morning. Her feelings could not have changed so swiftly during the course of one day. Just because he had strolled into the drawing room and swept all her problemsaway with his marvellously insouciant declaration of intent to marry her. Not because she had felt a momentary rapport with him while they had gently teased each other during their carriage ride.
And yet she could not deny that since her
maman
had broached the subject of his infidelity she had been eaten up by jealousy.
No, that was not love! It was wounded pride that made her eyes smart so. It had to be.
Her abstracted air, coupled with the Earlâs barely tamped down lust, created quite a stir when they entered the theatre arm in arm.
As soon as they were seated, Charles tore off a corner of the programme and wedged it under her ring. âThat should hold it in place for now.â
âThank you,â she murmured, keeping her face averted. It was stupid to feel resentful because he was being so practical about everything. She sighed.
âMademoiselle,â
he murmured, âI am about to put my arm along the back of your chair, and I do not want you to flinch when I do it.â
A shiver slid all the way down her spine to her toes at the warmth of his arm behind her shoulders. With him so close, every breath she took filled her nostrils with his clean, spicy scent. Though his arm was not quite touching her, she remembered the strength of it, holding her captive while he ravaged her mouth. She felt weak, and flustered, and utterly feminine.
âI promise I shall not do anything you will not like. Only I must sometimes seem to be ⦠how shall I put it? ⦠lover-like when we appear in public. I shall not go beyond the bounds of what is proper, I assure you.â
No, she reflected with annoyance. For heâd found kissing her such an unpleasant experience he had vowed never to do it again! This show of being âlover-likeâ, as he put it, was as much of a performance as what was going on upon the
The fierce surge of desire that even now was having a visible effect on his anatomy was an unexpected bonus. When the time was right, he was going to enjoy teaching his wife all there was to know about loving.
Until then he must exercise great restraint. He would have to get her used to the idea of him before broaching the subject of heirs. He already knew how shy she was, and had realised she would need to feel she could rely on him. How could she do that if she was worried he was going to pounce on her at any moment?
âYou need not fear that I shall importune you in that way again,â he grated, his back still turned to her while he desperately fought to regain mastery over his unruly body.
Heloise pressed her hand to her bruised lips, her heart sinking as swiftly as it had soared when he had seized and kissed her so excitingly. Why had he done it if he was now adamant he would not be doing it again? Had it only been some sort of experiment? To see if he could stomach touching her as a man should want to touch his wife? If so, it was evident he regretted giving in to the impulse.
It was a while before he could bear to so much as turn round and look at her! But at least it gave her the time to wipe away the few tears that she had been unable to prevent from trickling down her cheeks. For she would never let him see how humiliated his rejection made her feel. If he did not wish to kiss her, then she would not beg for his kisses. Never!
She got to her feet, determination stiffening her carriage. She would never let him suspectânot by one lingering look, one plaintive sighâthat she ⦠She faltered, her hand flying to her breast.
No, this was too appalling! She could not be in love with him. She
must
not be in love with him. She was certain she had not lied when she had denied being in love with him that morning. Her feelings could not have changed so swiftly during the course of one day. Just because he had strolled into the drawing room and swept all her problemsaway with his marvellously insouciant declaration of intent to marry her. Not because she had felt a momentary rapport with him while they had gently teased each other during their carriage ride.
And yet she could not deny that since her
maman
had broached the subject of his infidelity she had been eaten up by jealousy.
No, that was not love! It was wounded pride that made her eyes smart so. It had to be.
Her abstracted air, coupled with the Earlâs barely tamped down lust, created quite a stir when they entered the theatre arm in arm.
As soon as they were seated, Charles tore off a corner of the programme and wedged it under her ring. âThat should hold it in place for now.â
âThank you,â she murmured, keeping her face averted. It was stupid to feel resentful because he was being so practical about everything. She sighed.
âMademoiselle,â
he murmured, âI am about to put my arm along the back of your chair, and I do not want you to flinch when I do it.â
A shiver slid all the way down her spine to her toes at the warmth of his arm behind her shoulders. With him so close, every breath she took filled her nostrils with his clean, spicy scent. Though his arm was not quite touching her, she remembered the strength of it, holding her captive while he ravaged her mouth. She felt weak, and flustered, and utterly feminine.
âI promise I shall not do anything you will not like. Only I must sometimes seem to be ⦠how shall I put it? ⦠lover-like when we appear in public. I shall not go beyond the bounds of what is proper, I assure you.â
No, she reflected with annoyance. For heâd found kissing her such an unpleasant experience he had vowed never to do it again! This show of being âlover-likeâ, as he put it, was as much of a performance as what was going on upon the
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