Brocade Series 02 - Giselle by Jackie Ivie Read Free Book Online Page A

Still, I grow tired of lengthy courses rich with sauce. Don’t you?”
    Perhaps he was rambling to put her at ease . It was wasted br eath. The feel of his leg against hers, even through her skirts, was stopping her thoughts, and giving her different ones.
    Giselle started praying then, silently and in earnest. She couldn’t ignore the effect this Navarre had on her any longer. It was unwise and unprecedented. She hoped Etienne’ s presence would be equally…stimulating.
    Stimulating?
    Giselle reeled in place. She’d learned that particular word from a novel Louisa had sneaked in for her to read. Now, she knew what it meant. There was a feeling of expectancy, combined with… mercy! Could this be sensual attraction?
    Sensual ? Attraction?
    Oh . This was bad. She should banish the thoughts! But…how?
    “ I paid the Minots well to provide for your servants,” he continued. “Tell me, Giselle, why is it that you employ a governess? Aren’t you too old for one?”
    “I…I….” She was shaking too much to answer.
    “You’re cold! Here, move closer. I’ll warm you.”
    Oh no ! He can’t possibly mean. ..
    He started the horse moving with one arm, and Giselle was jolted against his side. And then she was held there by his other arm. It wasn’t remotely cold. Her blushes overheated and frightened as she landed into the space beneath his shoulder. She couldn’t stop the urge to snuggle and closed her eyes. It was akin to a dream. And even if it was sinful, it was wonderful, too.
     

CHAPTER FOUR
    “Wake up, Giselle. We’re at the gates.”
    She barely resisted the urge to giggle . She wasn’t sleeping. She was existing, letting many wild thoughts fill her mind. One thing was certain. The next time she saw a priest, she’d have something to confess. She wondered what the penance would be.
    Giselle sat up and stretched, although the gown left little room for the move. A stone gatehouse loomed ahead. Although there were two lamps on either side of the road, it was hard to see color, especially against the mass of light that was glowing from the castle yard inside.
    “Am I presentable, Navarre?”
    Giselle touched her curls and wondered how much damage she’d done as she snuggled against his side. The memory made her warm all over, until there wasn’t anything cold. Anywhere . Perhaps that would be all she had to keep her warm in the future. That was a sobering thought.
    He looked down at her, his eyes unfathomable in the shadow of his hat brim. She raised her chin.
    “ You mustn’t ask that of me, Giselle. I’ve been trying to control myself all during this trip. I still don’t know how I managed.”
    He turned away, and Giselle ’s eyes went wide. Her mouth followed. He couldn’t have just said—? He couldn’t possibly mean—? The waist of her new gown wasn’t the only tight part. The bodice was restricting all the feeling hammering through it. Amazement followed surprise as emotion filled her . Razed her. Tossed her senses into the air somewhere so they could burst free. It was brightness. Light. Joy. Heavens!
    Light flooded the courtyard they entered. A mass of servants surrounded the cabriolet on both sides. It would have been frightening, but she was beyond that at the moment. She was doing her best to control the giddiness.
    ‘‘Monsieur Navarre! Finally! You’ve arrived! This then, is Madame la Duchesse?”
    A groom opened the half-door and held out his hand for her . Giselle looked at it warily, ignoring the woman who’d spoken. It was Navarre who answered.
    “Oui, Esmee. I’ve brought Giselle du Berchald. Pardon, my good man. Allow me.”
    Navarre moved the groom aside and reached for her . Giselle hadn’t even felt the sway of the vehicle as he’d left it. This time she leaned for him, and gasped as his hands encircled her waist. The contact sparked. And then it heated. Rapidly.
    Her feet touched ground, but everything else was soaring. She caught his eye for a moment and the push