Read Online Rogues Gallery by Donna Cummings - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Donna Cummings
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the deer here often? I am quite thrilled at that, since they are not so commonplace in London."
"They like to nibble on the roses, I'm afraid."
"Could we try to see it?" she pleaded, tugging at Edmund's arm. "I have never seen one so close."
Edmund halted, for the briefest of moments. "Soon," he answered, his voice less tolerant than just minutes previously. "First I must see about something."
"But I would like to see it before it is gone."
She lifted a hopeful countenance to Edmund, her breathing slow and deliberate, and even at this distance Gabriel could appreciate the rise and fall of her bosom.
Edmund's tongue darted out, moistening his lips, while his eyes lingered on her bodice. When two bright spots of color appeared on the woman's cheeks, Lord Westbrook cleared his throat and lifted his eyes to hers.
"I think the deer awaits us, my lord."
He blinked, as if her words had broken the spell that held him in thrall. "Come, then," he said at last, tossing one last look over his shoulder. "We may as well see if we can find the creature. Although I am certain it may be too late.
"Perhaps it is not too late after all." The young beauty set off after the deer, and Gabriel wondered if the animal was entirely illusory. She shivered, clutching the throat of her riding habit. "If you do not hurry, my lord, I fear I shall catch a chill."
Edmund's grim expression melted away, to be replaced by a protective one. He hurried to his bride-to-be, his hand outstretched.
"It was not wise for you to ride so early, my dear. The air is too damp. Let us return home, and get some tea to warm you."
Edmund placed his hand at the small of the young woman's back, in an unmistakably proprietary fashion, guiding her toward Westbrook Hall.
Gabriel jabbed his boot in the stirrup, swinging himself up into the saddle. He spun Eclipse around for another glimpse of the quick-thinking miss. She had ensured he would live to see another day, giving him another chance to implement his revenge. He could not help but be grateful for her cooperation.
As the pair strolled to the Hall, Edmund kept the spirited lass close by, clearly determined to guard his prized possession. Watching them, Gabriel found himself staggered by an entirely unexpected emotion. In different circumstances he would think it akin to jealousy, yet there could be only one reason for such a riotous reaction.
His long-dormant feelings of vengeance were at last surging to the surface.
Chapter 5
"Yes, my lord," Marisa answered with automatic courtesy, and not for the first time that tedious afternoon.
She gazed at the expanse of gardens, and freedom, outside the casement window. The hours in Lord Westbrook's library had dragged by a great deal more slowly than she had anticipated. She had only endured the wearisome moments in her betrothed's company by contemplating what to do next in her bid for liberty.
If only she had not lingered in the highwayman's company. She had been dazzled by his attention, not to mention his ardent kisses. That moment of weakness had cost her dearly.
And then she had chosen to ensure the highwayman's escape rather than her own.
But after seeing Edmund's grim expression when she asked about the highwayman's fate, she knew he would have suffered a great deal worse if he were captured. Her tender heart could not bear such a notion. Since she still had opportunities to escape, she was willing to forfeit that one in order to assure his continued wellbeing.
Still, she needed to redouble her efforts, until she had ensured Aunt Althea's safety was also secured. She would ride early on the morrow, hopefully before Daphne could alert Edmund again, and before the highwayman could waylay her and distract her with kisses.
Lord Westbrook coughed.
Marisa turned to see the last rays of sunlight slanting across Lord Westbrook's face, throwing the other half of his visage into shadow. Still, it was easy to discern his lips were pursed with impatience.
"Are the
"They like to nibble on the roses, I'm afraid."
"Could we try to see it?" she pleaded, tugging at Edmund's arm. "I have never seen one so close."
Edmund halted, for the briefest of moments. "Soon," he answered, his voice less tolerant than just minutes previously. "First I must see about something."
"But I would like to see it before it is gone."
She lifted a hopeful countenance to Edmund, her breathing slow and deliberate, and even at this distance Gabriel could appreciate the rise and fall of her bosom.
Edmund's tongue darted out, moistening his lips, while his eyes lingered on her bodice. When two bright spots of color appeared on the woman's cheeks, Lord Westbrook cleared his throat and lifted his eyes to hers.
"I think the deer awaits us, my lord."
He blinked, as if her words had broken the spell that held him in thrall. "Come, then," he said at last, tossing one last look over his shoulder. "We may as well see if we can find the creature. Although I am certain it may be too late.
"Perhaps it is not too late after all." The young beauty set off after the deer, and Gabriel wondered if the animal was entirely illusory. She shivered, clutching the throat of her riding habit. "If you do not hurry, my lord, I fear I shall catch a chill."
Edmund's grim expression melted away, to be replaced by a protective one. He hurried to his bride-to-be, his hand outstretched.
"It was not wise for you to ride so early, my dear. The air is too damp. Let us return home, and get some tea to warm you."
Edmund placed his hand at the small of the young woman's back, in an unmistakably proprietary fashion, guiding her toward Westbrook Hall.
Gabriel jabbed his boot in the stirrup, swinging himself up into the saddle. He spun Eclipse around for another glimpse of the quick-thinking miss. She had ensured he would live to see another day, giving him another chance to implement his revenge. He could not help but be grateful for her cooperation.
As the pair strolled to the Hall, Edmund kept the spirited lass close by, clearly determined to guard his prized possession. Watching them, Gabriel found himself staggered by an entirely unexpected emotion. In different circumstances he would think it akin to jealousy, yet there could be only one reason for such a riotous reaction.
His long-dormant feelings of vengeance were at last surging to the surface.
Chapter 5
"Yes, my lord," Marisa answered with automatic courtesy, and not for the first time that tedious afternoon.
She gazed at the expanse of gardens, and freedom, outside the casement window. The hours in Lord Westbrook's library had dragged by a great deal more slowly than she had anticipated. She had only endured the wearisome moments in her betrothed's company by contemplating what to do next in her bid for liberty.
If only she had not lingered in the highwayman's company. She had been dazzled by his attention, not to mention his ardent kisses. That moment of weakness had cost her dearly.
And then she had chosen to ensure the highwayman's escape rather than her own.
But after seeing Edmund's grim expression when she asked about the highwayman's fate, she knew he would have suffered a great deal worse if he were captured. Her tender heart could not bear such a notion. Since she still had opportunities to escape, she was willing to forfeit that one in order to assure his continued wellbeing.
Still, she needed to redouble her efforts, until she had ensured Aunt Althea's safety was also secured. She would ride early on the morrow, hopefully before Daphne could alert Edmund again, and before the highwayman could waylay her and distract her with kisses.
Lord Westbrook coughed.
Marisa turned to see the last rays of sunlight slanting across Lord Westbrook's face, throwing the other half of his visage into shadow. Still, it was easy to discern his lips were pursed with impatience.
"Are the
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