Read Online Twice the Temptation by Beverley Kendall - Free Book Online
Authors: Beverley Kendall
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Catherine tightly. “My darling, I’m so happy for you. You could not have found a better man. Lucas shall make a wonderful husband.”
Charlotte smelled of talcum powder and a hint of her French cologne their friend Elizabeth Creswell had brought her on her recent visit to Paris. Catherine could only smile as she was held in the prolonged embrace.
“I’m still not sure what to make of it. It’s all so sudden,” Catherine admitted once they pulled apart.
“For Lucas to come all this way to marry you means he must be mad about you,” Charlotte said.
Catherine had never seen her sister quite like this , for as happy as she’d been, a twinge of sadness marred complete happiness. Nothing would please Charlotte more than to see her settled; fathoms deep in love and married to a man Charlotte deemed worthy of her. Only then would her world be fully right.
“I shouldn’t like anyone to get ahead of themselves. I’m not entirely certain that Lucas and I will actually suit.” A barefaced lie so she would not appear as utterly spellbound as she was and so easily won over. The man had abandoned her for an entire year. That should not be forgotten so easily despite his reasons.
“Well I am quite certain of it. It was obvious from when I first saw the two of you together, how smitten you were with him. Even had Lord Braddock not turned out to be the scoundrel he was, I’m convinced you wouldn’t have accepted his proposal because you never loved him. And it became painfully clear to me that you were still heartbroken over Lucas leaving. I’m just happy he finally realized that he loved you and returned to claim you.”
Claim her?
Catherine looked askance at her sister, an eyebrow cocked. It couldn’t have sounded more medieval had Lucas arrived on horseback wearing chainmail armor. Unfortunately, she couldn’t manage to suppress a delighted—yet completely involuntary—shiver. She hadn’t thought herself the type of women to whom such chauvinistic tendencies would strike an agreeable chord in her.
“In the metaphorical sense of course,” Charlotte was quick to add. “Although, I’m almost certain something of that sort had been going on in the literal sense behind those locked doors.” A knowing smile and a nod to the door in question accompanied her remark.
Catherine’s face flamed hot and it became quite apparent the vein of the conversation had to be redirected.
“Is Alex aware Lucas has returned? I’m worried about how he’ll react. He was unaccountably rude to him when Lucas was here last.”
Charlotte heaved a sigh, her expression sobering instantly. Her husband’s ill feelings toward Lucas were the one sore point in the whole affair. “No, he does not but of course I must tell him when he returns from the city with Nicholas. They will be there for three days.”
“Oh, I wasn’t aware they’d gone to London.” Alex preferred to reside year round at Gretchen Manor, their country home, which was only ten miles from Rutherford Manor. The relative proximity between their respective residences made seeing her sister and her family an almost daily occurrence.
“Yes, he went there on business but took Nicholas along to see his grandparents.”
“I don’t understand why Alex despises Lucas so much. It is not as if anything occurred between the two of you in America.” Catherine could understand a certain amount of jealousy given the closeness of Charlotte and Lucas’s friendship but both had assured her that their relationship had never been romantic.
“You needn’t worry your head about that. I shall speak to my husband to make certain he will be, at the very least, civil to Lucas from here on out.”
“The man is so besotted with you, I’m sure if anyone can perform that miracle, it would be you,” Catherine said with a dry laugh.
Her sister preened. “I should very much hope so. Now you must tell me how construction on your school is coming along.”
“It isn’t my
Charlotte smelled of talcum powder and a hint of her French cologne their friend Elizabeth Creswell had brought her on her recent visit to Paris. Catherine could only smile as she was held in the prolonged embrace.
“I’m still not sure what to make of it. It’s all so sudden,” Catherine admitted once they pulled apart.
“For Lucas to come all this way to marry you means he must be mad about you,” Charlotte said.
Catherine had never seen her sister quite like this , for as happy as she’d been, a twinge of sadness marred complete happiness. Nothing would please Charlotte more than to see her settled; fathoms deep in love and married to a man Charlotte deemed worthy of her. Only then would her world be fully right.
“I shouldn’t like anyone to get ahead of themselves. I’m not entirely certain that Lucas and I will actually suit.” A barefaced lie so she would not appear as utterly spellbound as she was and so easily won over. The man had abandoned her for an entire year. That should not be forgotten so easily despite his reasons.
“Well I am quite certain of it. It was obvious from when I first saw the two of you together, how smitten you were with him. Even had Lord Braddock not turned out to be the scoundrel he was, I’m convinced you wouldn’t have accepted his proposal because you never loved him. And it became painfully clear to me that you were still heartbroken over Lucas leaving. I’m just happy he finally realized that he loved you and returned to claim you.”
Claim her?
Catherine looked askance at her sister, an eyebrow cocked. It couldn’t have sounded more medieval had Lucas arrived on horseback wearing chainmail armor. Unfortunately, she couldn’t manage to suppress a delighted—yet completely involuntary—shiver. She hadn’t thought herself the type of women to whom such chauvinistic tendencies would strike an agreeable chord in her.
“In the metaphorical sense of course,” Charlotte was quick to add. “Although, I’m almost certain something of that sort had been going on in the literal sense behind those locked doors.” A knowing smile and a nod to the door in question accompanied her remark.
Catherine’s face flamed hot and it became quite apparent the vein of the conversation had to be redirected.
“Is Alex aware Lucas has returned? I’m worried about how he’ll react. He was unaccountably rude to him when Lucas was here last.”
Charlotte heaved a sigh, her expression sobering instantly. Her husband’s ill feelings toward Lucas were the one sore point in the whole affair. “No, he does not but of course I must tell him when he returns from the city with Nicholas. They will be there for three days.”
“Oh, I wasn’t aware they’d gone to London.” Alex preferred to reside year round at Gretchen Manor, their country home, which was only ten miles from Rutherford Manor. The relative proximity between their respective residences made seeing her sister and her family an almost daily occurrence.
“Yes, he went there on business but took Nicholas along to see his grandparents.”
“I don’t understand why Alex despises Lucas so much. It is not as if anything occurred between the two of you in America.” Catherine could understand a certain amount of jealousy given the closeness of Charlotte and Lucas’s friendship but both had assured her that their relationship had never been romantic.
“You needn’t worry your head about that. I shall speak to my husband to make certain he will be, at the very least, civil to Lucas from here on out.”
“The man is so besotted with you, I’m sure if anyone can perform that miracle, it would be you,” Catherine said with a dry laugh.
Her sister preened. “I should very much hope so. Now you must tell me how construction on your school is coming along.”
“It isn’t my
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