His Wedding-Night Heir by Sara Craven Read Free Book Online

her chin. 'Is that strictly necessary—for such a short
    time?'
    'It's considered usual.'
    'But I thought you weren't interested in conventions,' she said.
    'Besides, I shall only throw it away again, when my duty's
    done and I claim my freedom.'
    'However, while you're living as my wife you'll wear my ring.'
    His voice was soft, but there was a note in it that spelled
    danger. 'Just as you'll get used to sleeping in my bed. Who
    knows? You might even come to enjoy it.' She hesitated.
    'How do you intend to explain my sudden return?’
    'I don't,' Nick responded coolly. 'It concerns no one but
    ourselves.'
    That, she thought, her nails curling into the palms of her
    hands, was not strictly true on a number of counts— not all of
    which she could bring herself to deal with. However, there
    was one she needed to mention.
    She said tautly, 'I presume you've informed Adele—if she's
    still living at the Hall?'
    'She isn't,' he said curtly. 'I arranged for her move to the
    Dower House months ago, when I still thought you might
    return of your own accord.'
    She raised her brows. 'That can't have pleased her.'
    'Nor did the prospect of finding herself replaced as the
    mistress of the house. Once I married, her departure became
    inevitable. She knew that.' He slanted a glance at her. 'Or did
    you wish to go on sharing a roof with her indefinitely?"
    Her mouth tightened. 'No.'
    'That's what I thought." He sounded faintly amused. He turned
    the car under an archway and slotted it expertly in to a
    cramped space in the small hotel car park. As they walked to
    the rear entrance Cally was conscious of his hand under her
    elbow.
    When they reached the desk, she saw the blonde receptionist's
    eager smile lake a disappointed downturn when she realised
    their most important guest was not alone.
    Sorry, darling, but you never had a chance, Cally was tempted
    to tell her. He's already spoken for— and not by me.
    Along with the key, she saw Nick accept a sheaf of messages,
    and then they were walking together to the lift.
    As they rode up to the first floor she tried to think of some-
    thing she could do or say that would let her off the hook for
    tonight at least. She wasn't ready, she thought desperately, for
    such a drastic change in her circumstances. She stole a look at
    her husband, but his dark face was expressionless.
    The bridal suite consisted of a small, nondescript sitting room,
    with a writing desk and a television set, and a much larger
    bedroom containing a king-size bed with a white quilted satin
    coverlet sporting an enormous pink heart in its centre.
    In spite of the nightmare scenario ahead of her, Cally knew an
    almost overwhelming desire to shriek with laughter. At the
    same time she found herself thinking that it was a far cry from
    the Virgin Islands, where their original honey moon had been
    due to be spent. She tensed inwardly. She couldn't let herself
    think like that Allow herself to remember a time when she'd
    been a naive girl, wrapped up in her own fledgling dreams and
    hopes. Oblivious to the harsh truths of the world around her—
    even her small part of it...
    'Your overnight case is there.' Nick's voice shocked her back
    lo the present, and it’s realities, as he nodded toward s the
    luggage stand. 'And the bathroom's through that door. I'll be in
    the sitting room, having a nightcap and dealing with my
    messages. It should lake about twenty minutes.' He gave her a
    brief, formal smile. 'Can I get you anything?'
    'No.' Her mouth was dry. Twenty minutes. "Thank you.'
    The door closed behind him, and Cally was alone.
    Temporarily at least.
    She walked over to the bed and sank down on to the appalling
    cover, looking around her.
    A resourceful person, she thought, should be able lo escape
    from this situation—
    maybe by knotting sheets together and climbing out of a
    window. Except that a loud humming noise and frequent arc
    tic blasts suggested that air-conditioning was in use and that
    the windows were