Read Online The Price of Temptation by Lecia Cornwall - Free Book Online
Authors: Lecia Cornwall
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married. I doubt he expected you’d take your vows so literally! It wasn’t a love match. Philip wanted the land you’d inherited from father, and he was willing to marry you to get it, and why not? Linwood is a valuable estate. Wilton couldn’t think of any reason why the marriage would be unsuitable. I know Philip is old, and a traitor, but he’s very wealthy. At least for the moment, wherever he is.”
The perfect match indeed. She had merely been tossed in as part of a contract entirely based on money and land, something that came with Linwood, like furniture or livestock. Philip had been pleased she was pretty, of course, but from the start there were other things on his mind, plans she was not part of, and she was too innocent, and too afraid of her new husband, to pry. She knew now she should have asked questions. Lots of them.
Evelyn couldn’t look at her sister without making a biting comment, so she searched the room, looking for somewhere to put her eyes, to give her time to calm down. Her glance brushed Sam, and she frowned. Was that sympathy in his gray eyes? She wanted no one’s pity. She sent him a hard glare, but his eyes were soft, deep, and warm, a haven.
Her stomach curled, and she took a breath, forced herself to look away, but she could still feel his eyes on her like a soothing caress.
She had no idea what to do next. Perhaps she should send Sam out of the room for his impertinence, but that would make Eloisa notice him, wonder what he’d done. Eloisa would insist he be dismissed and tell her she was incapable of hiring good help. Eloisa would bring Charlotte and Lucy into the argument when she refused to fire him, and then she would have another battle on her hands.
Evelyn turned away from Sam and changed the subject. “Is that a new bonnet?”
Eloisa grinned. “I’ve been waiting for you to notice it. Do you like it?”
The confection on her head was so covered with feathers, twigs, and flowers that it was more like a funeral pyre for a game bird than a hat.
“It’s lovely,” Evelyn said. Behind her sister’s back, Sam rolled his eyes dramatically. He had the audacity to grin at her, just like he had that day in the park, and shake his head.
The park.
It was a frightening memory, but with Sam here, standing by, it didn’t seem so terrifying. And it was true that Eloisa’s hat was dreadful. Evelyn quickly raised her teacup to hide a smile. Eloisa crossed to the nearest mirror to admire her reflection.
“Madame Estelle makes the most divine hats. I gave her one or two ideas, of course, to set the trend. In a few weeks everyone will be wearing a bonnet like mine. I haven’t decided if it’s to be known as the Wilton Hat or the Eloisa Bonnet.” She turned to Evelyn, her eyes glowing. “I have decided, however, that yellow shall be the color of the Season. I’ve ordered my entire wardrobe in shades of lemon, cream, champagne, and butter.”
Evelyn watched Sam’s lips quirk, and she brushed her fingers across her own mouth to still a smile. “Sounds delicious.”
“Doesn’t it? It was Charlotte’s idea to give the colors delectable names. Every lady with any style at all will be wearing butter and cream this Season. I have ordered the most divine gown for Charlotte’s ball, in custard brocade.” Eloisa looked archly at her sister. “It’s only a fortnight off, and you’ll need a gown too. Mustard, perhaps, with an overskirt of buttermilk . . .”
Sam grimaced. He stood perfectly still, properly at attention, his hands behind his back, his chin high. Only his face reflected his thoughts as he played with her, mocked her sister. She knew she should have been shocked, but she was enjoying herself. Had she ever admitted that at tea with one of her sisters before?
Still, she’d have a sharp word with her new footman later, and let him know that decorum was to be strictly—
“Evie! I’ve asked you twice what you’re going to wear to Charlotte’s ball. It’s
The perfect match indeed. She had merely been tossed in as part of a contract entirely based on money and land, something that came with Linwood, like furniture or livestock. Philip had been pleased she was pretty, of course, but from the start there were other things on his mind, plans she was not part of, and she was too innocent, and too afraid of her new husband, to pry. She knew now she should have asked questions. Lots of them.
Evelyn couldn’t look at her sister without making a biting comment, so she searched the room, looking for somewhere to put her eyes, to give her time to calm down. Her glance brushed Sam, and she frowned. Was that sympathy in his gray eyes? She wanted no one’s pity. She sent him a hard glare, but his eyes were soft, deep, and warm, a haven.
Her stomach curled, and she took a breath, forced herself to look away, but she could still feel his eyes on her like a soothing caress.
She had no idea what to do next. Perhaps she should send Sam out of the room for his impertinence, but that would make Eloisa notice him, wonder what he’d done. Eloisa would insist he be dismissed and tell her she was incapable of hiring good help. Eloisa would bring Charlotte and Lucy into the argument when she refused to fire him, and then she would have another battle on her hands.
Evelyn turned away from Sam and changed the subject. “Is that a new bonnet?”
Eloisa grinned. “I’ve been waiting for you to notice it. Do you like it?”
The confection on her head was so covered with feathers, twigs, and flowers that it was more like a funeral pyre for a game bird than a hat.
“It’s lovely,” Evelyn said. Behind her sister’s back, Sam rolled his eyes dramatically. He had the audacity to grin at her, just like he had that day in the park, and shake his head.
The park.
It was a frightening memory, but with Sam here, standing by, it didn’t seem so terrifying. And it was true that Eloisa’s hat was dreadful. Evelyn quickly raised her teacup to hide a smile. Eloisa crossed to the nearest mirror to admire her reflection.
“Madame Estelle makes the most divine hats. I gave her one or two ideas, of course, to set the trend. In a few weeks everyone will be wearing a bonnet like mine. I haven’t decided if it’s to be known as the Wilton Hat or the Eloisa Bonnet.” She turned to Evelyn, her eyes glowing. “I have decided, however, that yellow shall be the color of the Season. I’ve ordered my entire wardrobe in shades of lemon, cream, champagne, and butter.”
Evelyn watched Sam’s lips quirk, and she brushed her fingers across her own mouth to still a smile. “Sounds delicious.”
“Doesn’t it? It was Charlotte’s idea to give the colors delectable names. Every lady with any style at all will be wearing butter and cream this Season. I have ordered the most divine gown for Charlotte’s ball, in custard brocade.” Eloisa looked archly at her sister. “It’s only a fortnight off, and you’ll need a gown too. Mustard, perhaps, with an overskirt of buttermilk . . .”
Sam grimaced. He stood perfectly still, properly at attention, his hands behind his back, his chin high. Only his face reflected his thoughts as he played with her, mocked her sister. She knew she should have been shocked, but she was enjoying herself. Had she ever admitted that at tea with one of her sisters before?
Still, she’d have a sharp word with her new footman later, and let him know that decorum was to be strictly—
“Evie! I’ve asked you twice what you’re going to wear to Charlotte’s ball. It’s
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