My Lord's Lady by Sherrill Bodine Read Free Book Online Page B

indulgence.
    “Sabrina and I shall accompany the children back to their rooms, Laurentian,” she stated crisply.
    Almost bewilderedly, he nodded then fled to the library. Emotion bit at his nerves and he vowed to settle this once and for all!
    A long whistle escaped Amesley’s pursed lips. “Never seen Forry like this.”
    “Father is…”
    “Angry,” Leticia finished for her twin. They stood with clasped hands, gazing around in fear.
    “Father
never
gets angry,” Lawrence uttered softly.
    “Yes, it is quite interesting.” Tildie declared, taking each child by the hand. She settled her dark piercing eyes on Georgina, who had stood immobile since Vane’s attack. “What do you plan to do about it, my dear child?”
    Georgina was stunned by this turn of events. Vane’s whole air of detachment was gone, and decidedly so. He appeared vulnerable. This turn of events was infinitely more threatening to her fragile resolve to put him from her thoughts.
    But she needs must remain strong, not only for herself but for the children. She looked Tildie squarely in the eyes. “I plan to have a long overdue talk with our host, and afterward I shall join you in the nursery.”
    She swept from the room with her chin thrust to the ceiling as armor. She wasn’t sure quite how she’d end this nonsense once and for all, she just knew she had to.
    She pulled the library door open peremptorily and locked it behind her. Vane stood at the hearth, the flickering firelight arcing a halo of red in his shiny auburn hair. His eyes had darkened to navy as though to mask the strength of his inner struggle.
    She was suddenly frightened by what she was about to do, but deep inside she knew it was the only course to follow. She needed answers, not only for herself, but for him.
    She chose to start on the attack. “You have frightened your children over nothing. They have recovered sufficiently to be allowed from their rooms, and well you know it. Your anger is not about something as simple as a picnic and games to amuse your children. You are angry at yourself, and at me, for what seems to be happening between us against our will.”
    “Your boldness is, as always, charming.” His drawl was decidedly pronounced. “But in this case, you are quite correct.” He took a menacing step away from the fireplace and toward her. “What do you propose we do about it?”
    Slightly unnerved, she took a step back and looked at him warily.
    He crossed the room to stand over her. “I repeat, what do you propose we should do about it?”
    She lifted her chin and glared up at him. “It seems obvious to everyone that something is going on. And it’s the height of absurdity. We are not green youths, Vane. We are both five and thirty. If we wish to indulge this totally inappropriate fascination … and kiss, we should do so. It will no doubt be the cure for both of us.” At the blaze in his eyes, her voice trailed off to a whisper.
    “I’m tempted to put it to the test,” he challenged.
    “Then by all means let us do so.” She gave back as good as she got, refusing to back down an inch.
    He stared at her for a long moment until she stoically closed her eyelids. The touch of his hands on her shoulders burned right through to her skin, but she stood unresisting, and waited.
    At last, his mouth met hers in a kiss that held her lips with mesmerizing power. It was the practiced kiss of a passionate man who controlled his emotions with an iron will. The pleasures he was capable of gifting with exquisite perfection were merely hinted at.
    When he freed her, she stepped away and opened her eyes. Where was she? Panic unlike anything she had ever experienced cautioned her to go carefully. She dared not move, either toward him or away.
    “Well, what did we discover?” His tone was a deliberate insult.
    Suddenly she felt on much surer ground. It seemed he was as unnerved as she. “I discovered that you are afraid.” Pointedly she turned away.
    Strong hands at