Historical Romance – The Best Of The Year. Кэрол Мортимер

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      She felt the little bubble of happiness growing inside her. Gideon was more and more in the habit of such gestures and not only when they were in public. She was beginning to believe he genuinely cared for her. She wished she might respond in kind, but she could not forget Gwen’s words of advice, that Gideon would find any such show of affection repellent. And Gwen was his sister, so she must know best.

      When they reached Brook Street, Gideon helped her down and she felt his hand resting lightly on her back as he escorted her into the house. The butler opened the door to them, smiling broadly as he announced to Gideon that the delivery he had been waiting for had arrived.

      ‘It has been set up, sir, just as you ordered.’

      ‘Thank you, Judd.’ Gideon relinquished his hat and gloves to the waiting footman, then put his hand under her elbow. ‘Come, you should see this, too.’

      He led her to the drawing room.

      He said, as the butler closed the door quietly behind them, ‘Well, what do you think?’

      Dominique stared, blinked and stared again. Standing next to the piano was a golden harp and beside it a small stool covered with gold satin.

      ‘Oh, Gideon,’ she breathed, ‘is it for me?’

      ‘Of course. We have been in town for three months now and it is something of an...er...anniversary present.’

      She ran forwards and began to inspect it, running her fingers reverently over the strings.

      ‘It is beautiful.’

      ‘You said you used to play and I would like to hear you.’

      ‘Yes, yes, once I have had time to practise a little.’ She went back to him, unable to prevent herself from smiling. ‘You are too generous to me, Gideon, thank you so much.’

      Without thinking she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him full on the mouth.

      ‘Oh! I beg your pardon.’ She blushed and would have drawn back, but his arms slipped around her.

      ‘Not at all. I must give you more presents, if that is the way you thank me.’

      He was grinning down at her and suddenly all the careful restraint, the polite friendliness she had worked so hard to cultivate was forgotten. She could not speak for the heavy tattoo her heart was beating against her ribs and the sudden breathlessness that had overtaken her. She still had her arms about his neck and she could feel the silky softness of his hair against her fingers. The grin softened into a smile and the glint in his eyes heated her blood. She felt the tug of desire deep in her core and instinctively her body pressed against him.

      Gideon’s arms tightened as his body responded to the feel of her. It was the first time since their wedding night that she had taken the initiative and kissed him and he was surprised that her display of affection should please him so much. She felt so right in his arms and his sudden arousal was completed when he breathed in the scent of her, a mixture of summer flowers and an indefinable fragrance that he had come to recognise during those dark intimate nights as hers alone. The memory of her naked body heated his blood. He lowered his head to nibble at the tender lobe of her ear. She shuddered, but pressed even closer. A bolt of white-hot desire shot through him as he thought of the heights they might attain together.

      ‘There is still an hour before we need change for dinner.’ Dominique’s very bones liquefied as his deep voice caressed her heightened senses. ‘Would you like to—?’

      A knock on the door interrupted them. As it opened Dominique quickly stepped out of his arms, but Gideon hung on to one hand, linking his fingers through hers. ‘Yes, Judd, what is it?’

      ‘The Earl of Martlesham, sir, wishing to know if you are at home.’

      Gideon sighed. ‘I suppose we must see him. Send him in.’

      He cast a rueful look towards Dominique, who tried to hide her disappointment. Every fibre of her being screamed out that he should send her cousin to the devil, but the damage had been done, the magic of the moment was gone—perhaps Gideon had never felt it at all. The butler withdrew, to return a moment later and announce the earl in sonorous tones. Max came in, his fair features a little flushed from the heat of the day and his eyes going immediately to their linked hands.

      Unhurriedly Gideon stepped forwards, saying calmly, ‘Martlesham, good day to you. Have you come to see how we go on?’

      Max returned Gideon’s bow with a brief nod.

      ‘Good day to you, Albury, Cousin. I thought I should call to let you know I was back in town.’

      ‘How very good of you.’

      Gideon’s voice was heavy with sarcasm, which brought a dull angry flush to Max’s face. Remembering her place as mistress of the house, Dominique invited him to sit down.

      ‘Have you seen my mother?’ she asked, when they had made themselves comfortable. ‘Is she well?’

      ‘Aye, as well as she ever will be. She came to see me just before I left Martlesham Abbey. Wanted me to use my influence to get her an audience with the Foreign Secretary. As if I had any! Told her she must look to you, Albury, for that sort of thing. As her son-in-law I have no doubt you would like nothing better than to seek out your new French relatives.’

      The sneer in his voice was unmistakable. Dominique stiffened and opened her mouth to respond, but Gideon caught her eye and gave the slightest shake of his head.

      ‘I shall of course do my best to assist Mrs Rainault,’ he said evenly. ‘Now we have signed the Treaty of Amiens I am sure there is a much greater chance of success.’

      ‘Fustian,’ Max retorted. ‘Jerome Rainault’s been dead these ten years. You of all people should know what savages the French are.’

      Dominique flinched, but Gideon’s smile did not falter. If anything, it grew as his eyes flickered in her direction.

      ‘Not all of them.’

      Max frowned, but after a moment he sat back in his chair, his brow clearing, and he addressed Dominique with at least a semblance of friendliness, ‘So, how do you go on, Cousin? How do you like London?’

      ‘Very much.’ Dominique took her lead from Gideon and kept her tone light. ‘I have made so many friends here. Everyone is very kind.’

      ‘Well, perhaps they don’t know—’

      ‘Oh, everyone knows the circumstances of our marriage,’ Gideon interrupted him, his voice dangerously quiet. ‘The society columns of the news-sheets carried little else for weeks after we arrived. They were very well informed.’

      A cruel smile curled Max’s mouth.

      ‘Were they, indeed? I wonder how that occurred.’

      ‘Some malicious troublemaker,’ replied Gideon. ‘But their efforts were wasted. We have shown everyone that we are the epitome of domestic bliss. And you will be pleased to know my wife is becoming a firm favourite with all the hostesses. Ask anyone in town.’ He smiled. ‘But what are we thinking СКАЧАТЬ