Beauty Tempts the Beast by Leslie Dicken Read Free Book Online Page B

you stay until there is life out there again?”
    Life in the garden. She could finish the project she started, bring beauty to this dead estate. Her mouth dried with the anticipation of once again planting, of recreating the garden her mother designed.
    But could she sacrifice her integrity and bear witness to Lord Ashworth’s former love? She could easily recall the adoration in his eyes that day. Why had they not married?
    Suddenly he was before her, dropping to his knees. Her breath stilled as his finger traced her jaw. A thrill swirled in her belly and thrummed in her pulse.
    “Vivian.” His voice dropped to a whisper. “Only you can bring beauty to Silverstone. Can you stay, just for a time?”
    Lord, she was a fool, charmed by a man claiming to be a monster. She only hoped she didn’t regret it later.
    Inhaling his sandalwood scent, Vivian licked her lips. “Very well, my lord, I will stay.” Where else would she go?
    A grin curved his lips, tempting her to brush her finger against them. Instead, she recoiled from his allure and sat back against the chair. “Until the garden is complete.”
     
    An unfamiliar quiver raced up Ashworth’s spine. He leaned closer to the thickly paned glass, feeling the air swirl between the window and the stones. Vivian cleared the garden down below. Despite that she was little more than a dress and dark hair from this viewpoint on the top floor, he could not take his eyes from her.
    “Will we meet her?”
    Ashworth glanced at the man beside him, breathing in that ever-present scent of musty books and chalk. Through round lenses of wire-rimmed glasses, warm brown eyes stared back.
    “I haven’t decided, John.”
    The man jerked his blond head toward the rear of the room. “He’ll learn of her soon.”
    “I know.” Ashworth peered down below again, but could not ignore the incessant tickle under his skin. It was unwise to keep Vivian here. A fool’s mission. But how else could he keep Lady Wainscott— Catherine—from invading his heart once more? She had already destroyed it once. He could not allow for it again.
    A hand settled on his arm. “Charles.”
    Ashworth flinched at his given name. Only his friends and his mother called him that. And now he had only John Hughes to call a friend. The others were lost to shame, humiliation…and horror.
    He clenched his teeth, then swallowed. His heart hammered wildly, He could not forget the visions of last night, the sights of Vivian enshrouded in blood. Drawing in a sustaining breath, he turned to a man who should have given up on him long ago. John should have his own bride, his own children. But he gave it all up to tutor Harry. How could Ashworth ever repay him such a debt?
    “Catherine is paying us a visit.”
    John’s sharp intake of breath spoke of his surprise. “Catherine? After all these years? Why would she come here, didn’t she marry Lord Wainscott?”
    “That she did. I assume the man has passed on.”
    They watched Vivian below as she pulled heavy branches from one side of the garden to a pile on the far end. A slant of sunlight gleamed off her shimmering black hair as she stopped to wipe her forehead.
    “I have asked Miss Suttley to remain at Silverstone until Catherine departs.”
    “You need a shield?”
    Ashworth sighed, his chest tightening. He didn’t know what he needed. He didn’t know why it was so bloody important to have Vivian stay. Perhaps it was just that he could not face Catherine alone.
    A chair scraped the floor then footsteps bounded behind them. “Papa!”
    Ashworth turned and knelt just in time for a pair of thin arms to wrap around his neck. The scent of jam and soap and a child’s sweet breath warmed his heart. Ashworth buried his face in the boy’s neck and breathed it all in fully, his throat tightening. What he wouldn’t do for this child, what he hadn’t done already.
    Finally, the boy giggled and squirmed. “Lemme go!”
    Ashworth released him with a quick tickle.