The Scarlet Bride by Cheryl Ann Smith Read Free Book Online Page B

“Miss Eva makes sure her courtesans eat well. She is very considerate of her young ladies.” She reached out for the cheese and popped a wedge into her mouth. Simon watched, fascinated, as she delicately chewed before reaching for a sandwich.
    Watching her eat was a dangerous thing to do. She had a mouth meant for kisses. It took a huge measure of discipline to turn his eyes from her full lips to the treats spread out near his knees. The food was certainly less fascinating than his lovely companion.
    Simon took a fork to the meat pie and put a large bite into his mouth. The taste was delicious. After he swallowed it down, he grinned. “Do you think Eva would be piqued if I stole away her cook?”
    Laura looked at him sidelong. “I think you have pushed her patience too far already. If you abscond with Cook, I think she will set the hounds on you.”
    “She has hounds?” Simon asked, frowning.
    “If she doesn’t, I’m sure she can find some.”
    Simon realized Laura was teasing him, and he chuckled. It showed him, in spite of her sober demeanor, that she didn’t despise him. Not completely anyway. If she could banter with him, surely smiles and laughter would follow. Someday.
    “Then I shall leave the cook to the school.” He made a face. “I do not relish the thought of being torn to bits.”
    The corners of her mouth twitched. He froze, watching and waiting for the smile. It didn’t come.
    They ate in companionable silence until a good half of the food had disappeared. Once satisfied, Laura leaned back on her hands and lifted her eyes to the blue sky, mottled through the expanse of leaves overhead. For an unguarded moment, she seemed relaxed and carefree.
    The wary strain around her eyes and mouth vanished, and Simon wondered what it would be like to hear her laugh—a full, open, belly laugh. He considered recent events and suspected she hadn’t had much cause for laughter.
    He’d treaded into a perilous tide and knew spending the day with her was a terrible idea. He had Brenna’s future to consider. He should be in London courting Lady Jeanette. But for a few hours he wanted to forget the weight of his responsibilities and simply enjoy Laura’s company.
    They sat quietly for several minutes. She watched thebirds and he watched her. Her every innocent movement drew his attention, from the way she tipped her head, to the motion of her hand as she twirled a length of grass between her fingers.
    Eventually he forgot himself when her seductive draw proved too much for his male urges to resist. Her perfect mouth was a beacon for his attention. He leaned forward and stepped over an invisible boundary.
    “Now that our appetites have been sated, what shall we do next?” Without thinking, he reached out and drew a pair of fluttering hairs away from her lips. His fingertips brushed her silky skin and his mouth parted. The overwhelming ache to kiss her overcame his good sense.
    He lifted his eyes to her face for some sign that she wanted to kiss him, too. What he saw was not sensual hunger. She was stock-still, her eyes wide.
    Panic flashed across her features. She blinked, scrambled backward off his coat, stood, and jumped away from him like a startled deer. “Don’t touch me,” she cried and lifted her hands to hold him off.
    Simon was stunned by her reaction to a simple touch. Did she think his plan was to violate her here in the grassy meadow? Did he look to her like the sort of man who’d force himself on a woman?
    He felt a rush of annoyance and stood.
    “Keep back,” she ordered. Her eyes darted to the horses as she appeared to assess her chances of escape.
    “Laura.” He lifted his hands, too. The encounter was teetering on odd and he was darn certain he had no idea why she’d reacted to him so vehemently.
    Laura shook as though she’d fallen into an icy pond. “Don’t you come near me or I’ll scream.”
    “Laura.” He turned his hands palms up and open in a gesture he hoped would appease