Read Online The Accidental Mistress by Kate Harper - Free Book Online
Authors: Kate Harper
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it’s not love , she thought, thoroughly wretched. I could not possibly love a man like Roxburghe, no better than a rake, a man who seduced women with the reckless abandon of the truly depraved …
When she’d finally fallen asleep, her dreams had been restless and troubling, filled with feelings her waking mind refused to countenance. She woke just after dawn and listened to the rain on the roof and knew today, she would have to go back to London. Or return home. In either place, she would be forced to deal with the ensuing scandal.
But worse than any of that, she would have to face up to his lordship. And while he had been much more reasonable the last time they’d spoken – in his bedchamber , a small inner imp reminded her – who could say how he would be today? His moods seemed mercurial at best.
When a knock came at her door at seven, Sophie was already up and dressed and went to unlock it. The maid had come to make up the fire. By eight she was informed that breakfast was ready. Another dress had arrived, this one more modest than the one that had been presented the night before, a pretty primrose silk morning gown. Sophie had hesitated over it for long, agonizing moments before finally giving in. Her own blue wool was torn and disheveled and Sophie admitted to a sneaking desire to look her best. Not that she anticipated that he would be down to breakfast this early in the morning but in this she was mistaken for when she went downstairs, he was already at the table.
Sophie hesitated in the doorway, momentarily at a loss but he looked up and saw her and their eyes caught. Something, some spark, flashed between them but Roxburghe was clearly in control of himself today and he rose from the table.
‘There you are.’
‘Yes.’ Sophie came forward slowly. That flash of fire had unnerved her. She had thought that the morning would bring commonsense and a return to the mundane reality of who and what she was; little Sophie Hartwell, country mouse of passable beauty. Not the kind of woman that attracted men like the Marquis of Roxburghe.
His eyes told a different story entirely but he was gentility itself, although he took in the gown with obvious satisfaction. ‘I trust you slept well?’
Sophie relaxed a little. It seemed that he was going to behave himself and a well-behaved host was something she could deal with. More or less. She walked across to the table and took a seat. Mrs. Chambers entered and gave her a smile, right along with a measuring glance. She was carrying a silver-serving bowl which she set upon the sideboard. ‘Morning, Miss. Did you have a good night?’
‘Very good, thank you Mrs. Chambers.’
‘Would you like me to serve your breakfast?’
‘I’m sure I can manage.’
‘Let me know if there is anything you fancy in particular.’ And she left them, but not before giving her master a narrow look.
Roxburghe gave a wry smile. ‘My housekeeper likes you. Unfortunate. The more you rise in her estimation the more I shall plummet.’
‘I’m sure you will be able to redeem yourself with good behavior.’
‘That’s asking a lot of me.’ He rose and went across to the sideboard. Selecting a plate, he filled a serving dish with everything from mushrooms to braised grouse, then set it in front of Sophie. ‘Eat. You look particularly fragile this morning.’
She blinked in surprise. ‘I’m sure I can manage for myself.’
‘I’m sure you can. But in this instance you don’t have to.’ He paused, the reached out, lifting her chin up gently so he could examine the bruising around her neck. The passing hours had brought it out beautifully. Sophie appeared to be wearing a dark blue collar and his expression turned bleak. She pulled away from his fingers quickly, uncomfortable beneath his touch which sent a buzz of delicious awareness sizzling along her skin.
‘I’m all right, my lord.’
‘My eyes tell me otherwise.’ Grimly, he returned to his seat.
Sophie picked up a
When she’d finally fallen asleep, her dreams had been restless and troubling, filled with feelings her waking mind refused to countenance. She woke just after dawn and listened to the rain on the roof and knew today, she would have to go back to London. Or return home. In either place, she would be forced to deal with the ensuing scandal.
But worse than any of that, she would have to face up to his lordship. And while he had been much more reasonable the last time they’d spoken – in his bedchamber , a small inner imp reminded her – who could say how he would be today? His moods seemed mercurial at best.
When a knock came at her door at seven, Sophie was already up and dressed and went to unlock it. The maid had come to make up the fire. By eight she was informed that breakfast was ready. Another dress had arrived, this one more modest than the one that had been presented the night before, a pretty primrose silk morning gown. Sophie had hesitated over it for long, agonizing moments before finally giving in. Her own blue wool was torn and disheveled and Sophie admitted to a sneaking desire to look her best. Not that she anticipated that he would be down to breakfast this early in the morning but in this she was mistaken for when she went downstairs, he was already at the table.
Sophie hesitated in the doorway, momentarily at a loss but he looked up and saw her and their eyes caught. Something, some spark, flashed between them but Roxburghe was clearly in control of himself today and he rose from the table.
‘There you are.’
‘Yes.’ Sophie came forward slowly. That flash of fire had unnerved her. She had thought that the morning would bring commonsense and a return to the mundane reality of who and what she was; little Sophie Hartwell, country mouse of passable beauty. Not the kind of woman that attracted men like the Marquis of Roxburghe.
His eyes told a different story entirely but he was gentility itself, although he took in the gown with obvious satisfaction. ‘I trust you slept well?’
Sophie relaxed a little. It seemed that he was going to behave himself and a well-behaved host was something she could deal with. More or less. She walked across to the table and took a seat. Mrs. Chambers entered and gave her a smile, right along with a measuring glance. She was carrying a silver-serving bowl which she set upon the sideboard. ‘Morning, Miss. Did you have a good night?’
‘Very good, thank you Mrs. Chambers.’
‘Would you like me to serve your breakfast?’
‘I’m sure I can manage.’
‘Let me know if there is anything you fancy in particular.’ And she left them, but not before giving her master a narrow look.
Roxburghe gave a wry smile. ‘My housekeeper likes you. Unfortunate. The more you rise in her estimation the more I shall plummet.’
‘I’m sure you will be able to redeem yourself with good behavior.’
‘That’s asking a lot of me.’ He rose and went across to the sideboard. Selecting a plate, he filled a serving dish with everything from mushrooms to braised grouse, then set it in front of Sophie. ‘Eat. You look particularly fragile this morning.’
She blinked in surprise. ‘I’m sure I can manage for myself.’
‘I’m sure you can. But in this instance you don’t have to.’ He paused, the reached out, lifting her chin up gently so he could examine the bruising around her neck. The passing hours had brought it out beautifully. Sophie appeared to be wearing a dark blue collar and his expression turned bleak. She pulled away from his fingers quickly, uncomfortable beneath his touch which sent a buzz of delicious awareness sizzling along her skin.
‘I’m all right, my lord.’
‘My eyes tell me otherwise.’ Grimly, he returned to his seat.
Sophie picked up a
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