A Breath of Scandal by Connie Mason Read Free Book Online

One of Drago’s hands cupped her breast. Turning her head slightly, she peered into his face and was relieved to see that he was sleeping.
    Did he realize he was touching her intimately? Was he so accustomed to having a woman in his bed that he naturally sought out those intimate places? Lying beside Drago felt right to her, but she knew Drago would never honor their Romany marriage, so she carefully removed his hand from her body and scooted out of bed.
    Lara dressed quietly, grabbed a towel, soap, and clean clothing, and let herself out the door. The sun was just rising in the eastern sky when she joined a group of women on their way to bathe in a shallow pool fed by backwater from the firth. Instead of listening to their chatter, she let her thoughts turn to London.
    Lara wasn’t looking forward to the season her father wanted her to have. Her skin wasn’t as white as that of the English misses with whom she’d have to compete. Her hair was a wild profusion of ringlets, inky black, not golden blond, and her eyes, tilted up at the corners, were far too exotic to be considered proper.
    The years she’d spent at her father’s country home outside London had been for the most part happy ones, but a season in London frightened her. She couldn’t disguise the fact that she was part Gypsy, nor did she want to. But she didn’t have the heart to tell her doting father that her Gypsy blood would prevent her from achieving the success he wished for her. Lara knew she was attractive, but her foreign features would cause much talk and speculation. Regrettably, she couldn’t convince her father that she would be happier living in the country.
    “Lara, when will we celebrate your marriage?” a girl named Roxy asked. “I saw you walking with your husband yesterday. He looks well, considering his near brush with death.”
    “Soon,” Lara promised. “A few more days perhaps. When he’s strong enough to enjoy the celebration.”
    “We’ve not had a wedding to celebrate in a very long time,” another young woman added somewhat wistfully. “I am looking forward to it.”
    “Aye,” Roxy agreed excitedly. “Just today Pietro told my father that we must leave this place soon if we wish to reach the Lockerbie fair on opening day.”
    While she bathed, Lara considered the upcoming celebration of her wedding to Drago. After the feasting and toasting, her marriage would become a fact … even if Drago and her own father refused to acknowledge it. Lara sighed. Once she returned to her father, her marriage would be real to no one but her people and herself.
    Lara returned to camp with the others and helped her grandmother prepare breakfast. She filled a plate with boiled eggs, bread, and tea, and carried them to her wagon. Drago welcomed her with a smile that caused her breath to hitch.
    “Where were you?”
    “Bathing in the pool with the women. I’ll show you where it is later.”
    “I’d like that.”
    “I’ve brought breakfast. How do boiled eggs, bread, and tea suit you?”
    “They’ll do.”
    “I’m sorry we don’t have bacon, kidneys, and coffee.”
    He grinned. “You’re making my mouth water.”
    Lara sat the tray on the bench. When she looked up, Drago was smiling at her.
    “Is something wrong?”
    “Were you in bed with me last night or did I dream it?”
    Hot color crept up her neck, staining her cheeks red. “You didn’t dream it. Sharing a bed is expected of us. Would you prefer that I sleep elsewhere?”
    Julian pictured Lara sleeping in Rondo’s arms and felt his stomach lurch. The thought was revolting. “No, though I’m sure Rondo missed you last night.” The moment the words left his mouth, he wanted to call them back. Bloody hell, what was wrong with him? He had no business criticizing Lara’s morals.
    “I’m sorry,” he said before she had time to react. “I shouldn’t have said that. It wasn’t appropriate.”
    “I’ll leave you to your breakfast,” Lara bit out as she fled