Dancing the Maypole by Cari Hislop Read Free Book Online Page B

don’t
know.”
    “It’s two if
you include your sister-in-law Agnes Sophia. Remember the year your
brother, John Sebastian, was presented? Isabel Désirée was a
debutante. Remember your mother suggesting you dance with the giant
wallflower? Poor Isabel Désirée, she’d been sitting behind her fan
feeling painfully large and undesired for over an hour when she
looked up and saw a tall handsome man standing next to her mother.
The poor child was in love before she knew your name. The fact she
didn’t know you were married till the end of the dance didn’t help.
Her mother mentioned it, but Isabel wasn’t listening and who can
blame her? She’s been in agony all these years praying and hoping
to win your love, but too terrified of rejection to meet you.
Calling her a maypole and throwing her over your shoulders like a
sack of flour merely added weight to the blow.”
    “How would you
know what she felt?”
    “I’ve read her
diary. Being dead offers certain liberties. It’s a pity you didn’t
listen and leave that insipid house party before you lost your
reason. Your sons saved you from Helene Carteret. The fool who weds
that heartless woman will end up…”
    “How dare you?”
Peter was offended by the insinuation that he wouldn’t know a good
woman from a bad one. “Miss Helene Carteret is a sweet girl.”
    “As sweet as
sack infused with inheritance powder.”
    “I admire Miss
Carteret, and I won’t listen to anyone abuse her.”
    “No, you don’t
admire her; you feel free to lust after her because she looks like
your dead wife.”
    “Silence!”
    “You can’t
silence me, I’m dead.”
    “I’ll put my
fingers in my ears.”
    “Don’t be a
fool. Wake the lusty wench in your arms, kiss her and tell her
she’s the woman of your dreams. You’ll have to admit why you flung
her over your shoulder, but hearing she’s been your dream mistress
for eighteen years may ease her broken heart. By some miracle, she
may forgive you for being an idiot and love you for your honesty.
Cry on her lovely bosom and admit you were shocked to see your
dream lover in the flesh. Women like that sort of thing. She wears
a vinaigrette on her necklace. Pull it out of her bosom and wake
your sleeping princess.”
    “I’m not
attracted to tall brunettes, but thanks to my helpful sons I’m
going to marry one.”
    “Liar! You’re
intoxicated by her nearness. She’s everything you’ve ever wanted in
a woman, but never allowed yourself to find until it was too late.
Admit it Peter Augustus, you married the wrong woman and now you’re
going to make the right woman pay for your guilt. She’s already
served eighteen years in an emotional prison for loving you, are
you going to set her free or throw away the key? Don’t punish
Isabella Désirée because she’d make you happier than Katie.”
    Feeling guilty,
Peter couldn’t admit the truth even to himself. “No-one could make
me happier than Katie. I loved my wife!”
    The agent
sighed as he shook his head. “If you insist on suffering, please
yourself.” The agent turned and floated out of the chambre through
the wall. Alone, Peter looked down at the woman in his arms. She
didn’t look like a sleeping princess. With her cheek on his
shoulder and her arms hanging at her side she looked like a dead
princess. He caressed the soft pale lifeless cheek and wondered if
his kiss would wake her. Resisting the temptation, he forcefully
reminded himself that her father was waiting downstairs with a
loaded pistol. Holding his breath, he pulled the vinaigrette free
from her bosom and wafted it under her nose.

Chapter 6
    Isabel groaned
in disgust as the sharp smell of ammonia brought her to her senses.
It took several long seconds for the sharp burning in her nose to
fade into the scent of happiness. Opening her eyes she found her
head resting against a masculine shoulder in black. She inhaled,
but her breathing was restricted by a tightness around her middle.
Stretching out a