In the Garden of Temptation by Cynthia Wicklund Read Free Book Online

the
room.
     
    *****
     
    Catherine watched as Lord Ashworth made an
angry retreat and then turned accusing eyes on her husband.
    “ Well, well,” the baron
said, “it would appear our guest is feeling a wee bit annoyed. I
must confess, I’m hard pressed to understand it.”
    “ Edgar, you behaved
abominably tonight. Have you no shame?”
    “ None. None
whatsoever.”
    He stared at her in that unfathomable way he
had that frightened her so, his black eyes boring into hers, until
she abandoned the challenge and dropped her gaze.
    “ Just so,” he whispered
softly.
    She shivered at the menace in those gentle
words.
    “ Go to bed,” her husband
said. “I’ll expect you to be available tomorrow when I call. It
would seem the earl has a preference for your company over mine.
Difficult to fathom, but there it is.” He chuckled
contemptuously.
    If it would have served a purpose to argue,
she might have made the effort, but Catherine was so relieved that
he wished her to go, she turned and scurried toward the door as
though the devil himself sat at the head of the ancient, scarred
table. His laughter followed her up the staircase.
     
    *****
     
    Willy Gant slipped into the dining room to
stand by his master’s chair.
    “ Tell you what, Willy, I
think we made some progress tonight,” the baron mused. “Lord
Ashworth is feeling hostile toward me and protective of my helpless
wife. I suspect that is not the only emotion he is wrestling with
right now,” he said on a smirk. “My ladylove looked a delectable
morsel in that red gown. I don’t think he enjoyed the food, he was
so busy drooling over my wife.”
    He cast his gaze at his grinning servant.
“Yes, Willy, things are progressing nicely.”
     
    *****
     
     
    CHAPTER 3
     
     
    “ I can’t remember ever
seeing a better example of paired horseflesh. I’ve seen magnificent
individuals, but they have always been one of a kind. This is
remarkable.”
    The earl shook his head in amazement,
reaching up to rub the forehead of one of the horses as the baron
danced around him in gleeful excitement—a major feat of agility,
considering the size and awkwardness of the fellow.
    “ They are fine, aren’t
they?” Bourgeault chirped. “I never grow tired of watching
them.”
    The baron’s boyish enthusiasm was a
surprising change from the arrogant and snide man Adam had dined
with yesterday. But Adam remembered the head groom saying
Bourgeault enjoyed showing off his horses, gauging the reaction of
others as if he were a child bragging about rare and expensive
toys. He realized suddenly that his introduction to the baroness
the night before had been much the same.
    Whatever his motives were, the baron had not
exaggerated when he boasted on the uniqueness of his grays. The
horseman in the earl salivated at the opportunity to own such
outstanding animals. And though he was regretting his visit, he had
no intention of leaving before he had made an effort to buy
them.
    Adam ignored the niggling feeling that there
might be an even more persuasive excuse for continuing his stay.
Every time he thought about Lady Bourgeault, his lower body
tightened with an anticipatory warmth. This was troublesome for, no
matter how comely and alluring he found the baroness, she was still
a married woman.
    “ How do you tell them
apart?” he asked. “They really are identical.”
    “ Didn’t I say? Can’t tell
which is which, can you?” The baron’s laughter was almost girlish.
“Look here, Brown thought of it.” With a gloved hand, he grabbed
the hind leg of the horse nearest him. “Thought this was Cain—I can
tell more often than not, but not always.” He pointed to the iron
shoe. “Can you see it? We always put one brass nail in Cain’s shoe
so there will be no mistaking him. We talked about marking each
animal in some way—perhaps a tiny brand.” He shuddered. “But I
couldn’t bring myself to deface them.”
    Sure enough, there was the yellow nail, worn,
but still