The Bride's Necklace. Kat Martin

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СКАЧАТЬ eased up out of her chair, hoping to feel less at a disadvantage. She realized her mistake the instant she was on her feet, for only a few inches separated her from the earl. He didn’t back away, just kept her pinned there between the chair and the solid wall of his chest.

      “Well, Mrs. Temple? Is that the reason you disobeyed my orders? Because I am such a very good player?”

      She swallowed. He was a tall, well-built man and she knew firsthand how very volatile his temper. She had learned from her stepfather the consequences of angering such a man. Still, for some strange reason, she wasn’t afraid.

      “I—I can’t exactly say why I did it. Chess is a game I enjoy. I was challenged in a way. Then you came to my room that night and I…I thought that playing again might be good for you.”

      Some of the tension seeped from his shoulders. “Perhaps it has been. Why don’t you sit down, Mrs. Temple? You are prepared, are you not, to make your next move?”

      Her own tension eased, replaced by a different sort of nervousness. Unconsciously, she moistened her lips, running the tip of her tongue into the corner of her mouth. In the lamplight, the gold of his eyes seemed to darken. He watched her with such sensual awareness that a little frisson of heat sparked in her belly.

      “Yes, my lord. I’m ready.” It was insane. She was barefoot and dressed in her nightclothes. It would be no small scandal if someone chanced upon them.

      Unable to stop herself, knowing the risk she was taking, she sank back down in her chair, hoping her hand didn’t tremble as she reached out and picked up her bishop. She angled it along an open row of beautiful inlaid squares, and captured one of his knights.

      The earl chuckled as he seated himself on the opposite side of the chessboard. “You’re certain taking the castle wouldn’t have been the smarter move?”

      Her confidence returned. “Quite certain, my lord.”

      The earl studied the chessboard, then moved his queen, neatly capturing one of her pawns.

      The play went on. The wind howled and wrenched the leaves from the branches of the trees, but in the small circle of light in the earl of Brant’s study, Tory felt oddly protected.

      She moved her castle. “I’m afraid that is check, my lord.”

      Brant scowled. “Yes, so it is.”

      The play continued, pawns and pieces falling as if in a savage battle. It was well past two when the final move was made.

      “Checkmate, my lord.”

      Instead of being angry, as she somewhat feared he might be, the earl merely laughed. He shook his head as he looked over to where she sat on the opposite side of the board.

      “You continue to surprise me, Mrs. Temple.”

      “I hope that means I also continue to retain my position as your housekeeper.”

      One of his dark brown eyebrows went up. “Perhaps you should lose to me once in a while, simply to ensure you keep your position.”

      She smiled. “I don’t think you would like that in the least.”

      The earl smiled, too. “No, not in the least. I shall expect a rematch, Mrs. Temple, in the very near future.”

      “I would be delighted, my lord.”

      The earl rose and helped Tory to her feet. She found herself in exactly the position that she had been in before, so close she could see the deep gold of his eyes. They seemed to hold her where she stood, to fix her feet to the carpet beneath the table. She felt his hand on her cheek, tilting her face up, then his mouth settled gently over hers.

      Tory’s eyes slid closed as soft heat enveloped her. He didn’t reach for her, just continued to kiss her, his lips moving slowly over hers. He sampled and tasted, coaxed her to open for him, then slid his tongue inside. She started to tremble. Unconsciously, she reached her hand out and clutched the front of his evening coat. He made a deep sound in his throat and his arm came around her, pressing her more fully against him.

      It was in that moment, as she felt the hard length of his arousal, that Tory’s senses returned, slamming into her with the force of the wind outside the window.

      Breaking away, she stumbled backward, desperate to be free of him, to regain her self-control. “My lord! I—I know what you must be thinking, but you are…you are sorely mistaken if you believe that…that I…If you think for an instant that I would…would…”

      “It was only a kiss, Mrs. Temple.”

      Only a kiss? It felt as if her world had just turned upside down. “A kiss that shouldn’t have happened. An indiscretion that will not…not occur again.”

      “I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy it. I assure you I did.”

      Heat rushed into her cheeks. She had enjoyed it—far too much. “It isn’t proper. You are my employer and I am your housekeeper.”

      “That is true. Perhaps there is something we could do to remedy that.”

      What on earth was he saying? The word doxy popped into her head. “You aren’t…you aren’t suggesting…? You can’t possibly mean that I should…?”

      Knees wobbling, she squared her shoulders and picked up the lamp. “I’m afraid I must bid you goodnight, my lord.” Turning away, she marched past him. As she crossed the study, she could feel his eyes on her, burning like fire into her nightclothes.

      “Good night, Mrs. Temple,” he said as she walked out of the room.

      Five

      Standing in the darkness of his study, Cord struck flint to tender, lighting another lamp now that Victoria had carried hers away. He smiled to think how the evening had progressed. Having returned early to the house on purpose, he had been hoping to catch out his chessboard culprit. Secretly hoping it might be Victoria Temple.

      She had surprised him with her skill. And pleased him. He liked intelligent women. His cousin Sarah was bright and interesting. As had been his mother, dead now seventeen years. He could imagine passing enjoyable hours with Victoria at the chessboard—after he had spent even more enjoyable hours in the lovely lady’s bed.

      Getting there, however, might not be as easy as he had imagined.

      Cord walked over to the carved wooden sideboard against the wall and poured himself a brandy. He had hinted at the notion of an arrangement tonight. Surely the girl was not so naive she didn’t understand that as his mistress her situation would be immensely improved for both her and her sister.

      Next time he would explain the advantages in practical, no-nonsense terms, but he had a niggling suspicion it wouldn’t do any good. Victoria Temple had principles. She was an unmarried woman, regardless of the Mrs. he had placed in front of her name. Sleeping with a man not her husband wasn’t something she intended to do.

      Oh, she was attracted to him. He knew women well enough to know when a woman returned his interest—which he most definitely had. His interest yet remained hard and throbbing inside his breeches, reminding him of the soft warmth of her СКАЧАТЬ