Moth and Spark by Anne Leonard Read Free Book Online Page A

of him noticed coldly that he did not burn her.
    Her earrings were tear-shaped blue opals set in gold, and she wore a matching ring on her right hand. An opal pendant rested at the top of the cleft between her breasts. Her wedding ring, ornate gold edged with diamonds, glittered in the firelight. Her perfume was spicy with a hint of bitterness. Her red-brown hair tumbled down her back.
    She took his hands in hers and moved forward, so that they were only a few fingers apart. It was quite clear what she wanted, and usually he would have been undressing her by now. Especially after six weeks surrounded by only men. Corin did not love her and she knew it, but they had a comradely sort of friendship. They had been occasional lovers for several years, when it suited them both and her husband, the Duke of Osstig, was away. The duke, who was more than thirty yearsolder than she was, had to be aware that she was unfaithful to him—and it had not only been with Corin, nor had he been the first. It was widely known to be an unhappy marriage. In the unlikely occurrence of a divorce, the lawyers would be kept busy for years. Corin did not let her share his bed when her husband was at court. Adultery was bad enough, he would not compound it with indiscretion.
    As attractive as she was, he did not want her tonight. The face of the woman in the entrance hall, the beautiful woman who had blushed, intruded into his thoughts. That was not what held him back from her, though. Perhaps he was just tired. Tiredness had never stopped him before.
    He sat down in one of the formal brocaded chairs and looked at her. She took the hint and sat in another, said, “Was it a hard journey, Cor?”
    “No, just dull and wet,” he answered. And I’ve come home to a war. But he wouldn’t say that to her, she would think he was brooding. She was intelligent but had little patience for long consideration and by far preferred acting to thinking. “Are you chilled?” he asked, looking at her bare shoulders.
    “Not especially,” she said. She tugged almost nervously at the pendant. The motion of her hand emphasized her breasts. He wanted to cover them instead of touch them. “How was the north? Cold?”
    “At times,” he said, remembering the thick frost that had furred the buildings some mornings before the sun was on them. “It made one work, instead of sitting lazily.” He could not believe how banal this talk was already, they might as well have been at a state dinner. Did he really have nothing to say to her if they were not in bed?
    He tried. “I’m not used to being back yet. My head is still full of military lists and assessments. What have I missed?”
    She tossed her hair. “Nothing really,” she said. “Oh, there’s plenty of gossip now that the summer court has begun, but you aren’t ever interested in that. You’re about as stiff as a stone wall, Corin, whatever is the matter?”
    “Nothing,” he said. He stood up. “It’s not a good idea tonight, Seana. I think you’d better leave.” He took her hand and raised her from the chair.
    “Simoun will be here tomorrow,” she said, touching his chin. “Are you sure?”
    There had been other times when he had declined her, and she wasnever upset or spiteful. He had no worries that she would make trouble. But there had always been a sense of
not this time, later though
. That was not how he felt now.
    “I’m sure,” he said. He leaned down and kissed her cheek. “I’ll see you later.”
    She trailed her hand down to his waist, then turned without hesitation and left. For a moment he stared out the open door into the wainscoted hallway, watching the flicker of light on the wood. The guards had moved discreetly away; he told them he was not to be disturbed.
    His book no longer interested him. He went to bed, and dreamed of violent things.

CHAPTER THREE

    T am roused with a start. The rain was very loud against the window; that must have been what awakened her. The room was