Read Online WitchofArundaleHall by Jennifer Leeland - Free Book Online Page B

with a smack to her bottom that made her moan.
    He whipped her around and plundered her mouth, his punishing
lips leaving her no room to escape even if she’d wanted to. And she didn’t want
to. She opened her mouth and arched in his arms. His. She was his.
    All her good intentions, all her good sense deserted her and
she was as needy and aggressive as Perry. As his hands roamed over her breasts
she shifted to give him better access. Shamelessly she returned his kiss, as desperate
for him as he seemed to be for her.
    He broke the kiss but only to plant more on her throat and
bite her. Shards of pain mixed with desire shuddered through her, driving her
to thrust her fingers through his hair and press him closer.
    “Sarah,” he groaned against her flesh. He lifted his head
and met her gaze.
    His gray eyes were the familiar luminous blue and the
transformation brought her to her senses. “No!” She shoved him away and tumbled
off his lap, almost landing on her arse.
    Her hands shook as she tried to straighten her skirts and
hair. When she finally looked at him her heart clenched. The grim expression of
defeat on his face made her stomach churn and she had to grit her teeth to remain
quiet.
    The silence between them was painful. She opened her mouth
to break it, to tell him she loved him heart and soul, but she couldn’t do it. Instead
she stumbled toward the door and escaped, thankful that Perry didn’t stop her.
    * * * * *
    What a disaster. Oh, outwardly the wedding luncheon was
perfect and had enough food for everyone, but Sarah knew it had been an utter
nightmare.
    First of all, every low family connection she had in the
whole of England had appeared on her doorstep uninvited. And then her brother had
proceeded to drink excessively while the rest of the party looked on.
    The worst moment had been, as Sarah had feared, when Lady
North had begun to share her opinion of the newly wedded couple.
    “You might have informed your own grandmama of this sudden
attachment, Perry,” she said in a loud, piercing tone. “Your bride couldn’t
have enjoyed being rushed to the altar.”
    “We decided not to wait, madam,” Perry answered with no sign
of impatience. Perhaps he’d been right to insist on being the one to bear the
brunt of Lady North’s insinuations. Yet Sarah couldn’t help but think it did
more damage than he let on.
    “I could say it wasn’t your decision to make,” the old lady
snapped.
    “You could,” he said in a calm, reasonable tone. “But it
would be pointless. More tea?”
    Sarah glanced around the room and noted how everyone was
riveted by the conversation. It disgusted her. This was her family, the people
who should wish her well, but they were avidly listening for conflict to gossip
about.
    “You should have come to stay with me. Many of my friends
wouldn’t darken the doors of the house of Madame de Laval.” Lady North didn’t
try to moderate her tone. “But I suppose her goodwill was all you could count
on.”
    “Sarah and I do not require the goodwill of the ton.”
    Lady North snorted. “A good thing, since you certainly will
not receive it.”
    “How is Lord Pauncfort?” Perry asked as he poured Lady
North’s tea. “I had heard he was back from India.”
    For a moment Sarah had the supreme pleasure of seeing Lady
North’s face flush with color. Lord Digory Pauncfort was an old aristocrat who
had loudly proclaimed that Lady North was his paramour. Whenever he was in
England he would attempt to visit her several times a month, usually to no
avail. But his stories of their supposed torrid affair from years past were
humiliating to a woman with Lady North’s cold demeanor.
    “I have not seen the man.” Lady North glared when someone
behind her tittered.
    Perry met Lady North’s baleful gaze. “Haven’t you? Well,
then, I pity the man. He is so very keen on you.”
    When Lady North hissed in a breath Sarah wondered if she
should step in and smooth things over. But she was too