Read Online The Earl of Her Dreams by Anne Mallory - Free Book Online Page B

but remaining on the floor. “Now would you explain why I was in the unfortunate position of being in bed with you?”
    “You fancy me, of course.”
    “I assure you, I most definitely do not.” She focused on the insipid watercolor above his head again. It seemed a prudent place to stare. His eyes were too intense and his skin too, too uncovered in the bright light.
    “Maybe you just aren’t quite aware of it yet.”
    “May that never happen then. Now answer the question.”
    She unwisely met his eyes, and the blue deepened to midnight.
    “You were moaning most deliciously, until you started screaming around three. Yes, it was most definitely three. I remember the chimes.”
    Kate maintained a blank expression as she straightened her shirt and touched her hair, sighing in profound relief to find her wrap still in place. She couldn’t believe she had forgotten to check immediately. The man had completely muddled her brain.
    “And?”
    “And we couldn’t very well have Mrs. Wicket rushing down here to investigate the noise, now could we? Could expose your whole ruse.”
    She narrowed her eyes. “Why would you care?”
    “Inconvenient, that. Might toss me out too.”
    Kate snorted. He probably did think that. Yet it would be easy enough for Christian to claim he hadn’t known she was a female. Since he was apaying customer and a man, the Wickets wouldn’t throw him out. And Kate had a feeling that Christian knew it too.
    “So you, what? Carried me to bed to shut me up?”
    “Course. You were most willing too. Snuggled right up against me. Lovely flashes of skin too. You should really wear less to bed.” He reached out a finger and traced it down her forehead and off her nose.
    Kate automatically withdrew and touched her still hidden ear. He hadn’t seen it then. Not that she would care, she told herself in a voice that was too defensive by far. He was a devilishly handsome man and no doubt a connoisseur of beautiful women. It would sting to hear disgust and condescension from anyone, but doubly so from this type of man. It had been only two weeks since Connor had destroyed a few of her more naïve views. She still needed to work on building up her defenses.
    “That was it? We just slept?”
    “That was all. Unfortunately. I even let you have all the covers while I slept on top of the sheet.”
    Kate noticed that he was indeed on top, pinning it down—part of the reason she had become so entangled.
    Christian grabbed his shirt, seemingly bored with the conversation all of a sudden. “I’m going down to the dining room. Coming?”
    Kate narrowed her eyes at his abrupt change in attitude, but nodded. She checked the clock. It was nearly eight. Why hadn’t the sounds from the carriages, the post, and the bustle of the early morning country folk awakened her?
    “You go ahead. I’ll be down after I dress.”
    “I could help you dress.” His smirk grew at her frown. “No? I’ll just wait in the hall then.”
    As the door closed, Kate bounced off the bed. She completed her toilette in record time, not wanting to press her luck and have Christian saunter back in midway through.
    Stepping into the hall and walking toward the stairs, Kate was stunned to see snow, heavy and thick, piled on the furthest section of the covered gallery walkway, as if the winds had distributed the entire clump in one area.
    Christian followed her gaze. “Snowed all night. Seems the storm the farmers have been expecting finally materialized.”
    They walked into the dining room, where only Tiegs and his two cronies had congregated. Kate sat at a small table, and Christian sank into the seat across from her.
    She gave him a pointed stare. “You are aware that our sharing a room does not necessitate sitting together?”
    He smiled. “Why would I want to sit with anyone else?”
    She shook her head, but her words held no real bite. “I cannot be rid of you soon enough.”
    “I’m afraid that won’t be possible.”
    Kate turned