His Jilted Bride (Historical Regency Romance) by Rose Gordon Read Free Book Online

chemise, presumably
trying to keep it pressed firmly to her skin, depriving him of any
glimpse of skin he might have been afforded otherwise. He touched
the back of her hand with the tips of his fingers. “Stop fussing.
You're decent—enough.”
    Her blush made him grin. “Perhaps I
should don my gown from yesterday.” She cast her eyes to the
crumpled blue and white mess just to the left of where her dainty,
stockinged foot dangled from the side of the bed.
    He twisted his lips. “You enjoy your
breakfast, and leave your wardrobe to me.”
    A burble of laughter passed her lips
and she cast him a quizzical look. “I wait with bated breath to see
what you deem appropriate.”
    He frowned. “What is that to
mean?”
    “ If a lady's wardrobe was left to her husband to decide, she'd
spend her days wearing—” She abruptly broke off, then cleared her
throat.
    Elijah casually reached
forward and took another tart from the tray, hoping she'd continue
where she'd left off. He couldn't say why, but he was truly
interested in what she might suggest. Of course he had an idea of
what she was about to say, but wanted to hear it from her—and more
curious than that, why had she stopped? She should know him well
enough by now to know nothing she could say, and he truly
meant nothing ,
could possibly scandalize him or make him think less of
her.
    When it had become clear she had no
intention of resuming her former thought, he said, “Don't worry,
one of Templemore's maids can help you dress before we
leave.”
    “ And exactly where will we be going?”
    He hesitated but a moment. “Watson
Estate.”
    “ But isn't your brother and his wife hosting a house party
there?”
    “ Yes; but we won't have to attend, if you don't wish to.” He
picked up a blackberry tart and brought it to his lips. “I don't
have a country home, so it's either there or London.”
    Amelia idly twirled her hair around
her fingers and looked decidedly unconvinced.
    “ Don't worry,” Elijah said, brushing off the excess sugar from
his fingers. “It'll just be my family. A more scandalous lot I have
yet to meet.”
    She cast him a dubious look. “You must
be talking about your cousins, because I've never heard your name,
or that of any of your brothers attached to a single
scandal.”
    “ Indeed,” Elijah said slowly. “But you forget. I do have a
sister.”
    “ No, I haven't forgotten her; nor how to properly pronounce
her name.” she said, not quite meeting his eyes.
    Elijah chuckled as for a mere moment
it seemed the new constraints of their relationship evaporated and
they were both transported back in time to when they could share
private jests with a few simple words and secret
expressions.
     

Chapter Six
     
     
    From beneath her lowered lashes,
Amelia watched as Elijah sighed and leaned his back against the red
velvet squabs of the carriage Lord Templemore had insisted on
loaning him for their trip to Watson Estate.
    Amelia wondered what he was thinking,
but didn’t dare ask and continued to pretend she was sleeping. It
appeared at first as if he were in deep contemplation, but now he
was squeezing his eyes shut so tightly lines that looked like he'd
just been scratched by the claw of a crow fanned out from the
corners of his eyelids.
    She had no idea what would make him
act in such a way. It wasn't he who had a damning secret. Nor was
it he who'd been married the day before only out of pity. Amelia
immediately tried to swallow the large, uncomfortable lump that had
suddenly taken up residence in her throat.
    Yesterday, she'd foolishly
convinced herself everything would turn out all right. Elijah was
her friend. But that was just it. Elijah was her friend . He had no other
interest in her and his horrible charade earlier this morning
proved it. The stiff, impersonal way he'd tried to kiss her turned
Amelia into a walking contradiction of herself. She'd always
dreamed of kissing Elijah, and fancied herself in love with him for
as long as