Libertine's Wife by Karolyn Cairns Read Free Book Online Page B

at her kindly,
introduced as Samuels. He bowed to her as they passed.
    A huge crystal chandelier hovered
overhead, each tear drop that dangled catching the light from the
many windows, sending a pattern of glitter about the interior. The
wide stairs that lead to the upper level were made of the finest
mahogany and gleamed with recent polish. Portraits lined the walls
there of Ravensford’s unsmiling, dour-faced ancestors.
    Ravensford’s home boasted four wings
with a total of twenty-four bedchambers, thirty sitting rooms, a
billiard room, a ballroom, huge kitchens, a library, a study, a
conservatory, a solar, a sun room, and a wine cellar.
    Also on the ground floor were a formal
and informal salon, a huge dining room, and endless corridors that
would take her weeks to learn and navigate. The procession of maids
and servants that curtseyed and greeted her encouraged her those
few minutes she entered her new home.
    Garret made it clear he was returning
to his residence in London the next morning. He said he intended to
forget he had a wife. Arianne knew she had no right to expect any
kindness from him. After what she helped Eustace do to him, she was
shocked the man was civil. Then there was an awkward silence that
prevailed throughout the journey.
    What had she expected from him? Should
he have tried to act charming in those moments? Like her trapping
him wasn’t as despicable as it was? He was hardly appreciative to
be bailing Eustace out of his financial woes.
    The money lenders descended like hungry
sharks upon Ravensford after learning he was paying his
brother-in-law’s debts. For that alone, his contempt of her was
tenfold. She had more than earned Ravensford’s spite, in an unseen
way as well.
    As much as she would like Ravensford to
leave at once, he insulted the both by demanding they consummate
their marriage. He knew they tricked him the night he was drugged.
He didn’t believe he ever touched her. It was her shame to know she
would have to go that far. He was her husband now. She couldn’t
refuse him. She knew he did it just to punish her for what she’d
done to him.
    Julian’s unforgiving look before he
left her that night came to mind. He would hate her if he knew the
truth. She could have spoken up and put a stop to all of this.
Recalling Lady Adeline’s warnings that day in the gardens proved
the need for such silence.
    It was too late to undo what was set in
motion as soon as she arrived in London. She forced back the tears.
The heavy doors shut behind her, blocking out the sun and freedom.
Ravensford looked down at her. His lip curled when he noticed her
fear.
    “ Put your mind at ease, Lady
Ravensford,” Garret whispered under his breath. “You have but one
night to endure me. That should no doubt please you.”
    Arianne glared at his back. He stalked
away, leaving the housekeeper, Mrs. Greeves, to show her to her
rooms. The housekeeper chattered all the way up the endless stairs.
She didn’t have time to dwell upon her husband’s harsh, veiled
words.
    She was shown into a room that made her
gasp from its sheer beauty. The housekeeper smiled as she went in
ahead and drew open the heavy ivory velvet drapes.
    The room was huge with ivory and pink
damask trappings. The bed was large and had four oak posters and a
daunting canopy with rose silk bed hangings and matching throw
pillows. The fireplace was gilt-edged and surrounded by an
overstuffed chair and a leather divan. Her gleaming oak dressing
table was a treasure trove of drawers and cupboards that delighted
her eye. The oval mirror above reflected her surprise.
    “ I’ll leave ye to settle in,
Lady Ravensford,” Mrs. Greeves said with a cheerful smile on her
round, friendly face. “I’ll have one of the maids bring ye up some
tea. Ye look a bit peaked, my lady. My, what a pretty little thing
ye are too. Welcome to Ravensford Hall, my lady. It be a pleasure
to serve you.”
    Arianne mumbled her thanks. When the
door shut, she slid to the