The Seduction of His Wife by Tiffany Clare Read Free Book Online

sweet Emma. And I plan to use them to my benefit.”
    Clenching her teeth, she could do nothing more than stare at him with seething anger and newfound repulsion. She refused to speak. That would—she thought, strangely—give him some leverage over her. She didn’t know how that was possible, but she was listening to instinct now.
    He patted her cheek as if she were no more than a child and turned away. “I’ll call on you in a week. That’ll be enough time to prove my friendship to you. Enough time for you to come to your senses. Or I will hold a party in your honor—your attendance will not be needed, if you catch my meaning.”
    She did not like the slant of his voice as he spoke the word friendship, and dared not question her concern aloud about him revealing the painting to others. She’d find a way to stop him.
    Turning up the door latch, he left. Emma’s body immediately relaxed. A rush of air escaped her, and her shoulders dropped almost as if in defeat.
    She could not let this get her down. Would it be possible for him to just disappear from her life? Something deep in her heart told her it wasn’t going to be that easy. Her gut told her he would call again in a week’s time, just as he had assured her.
    *   *   *
    A certain sentimentality washed over Richard as the carriage crossed the bridge, headed toward the manor, and rounded the main courtyard of the house. He’d always been indifferent to this place. It wasn’t that he particularly hated his childhood home. He just hadn’t liked everything it represented: the title, watching over the local residents, his seat in the House of Lords. Too much responsibility for a young man bent on doing something more thrilling with his life than whiling away in the country looking out for the good of others.
    Not that he’d ever done anything for the greater good. Exploiting weaknesses in others in the hope of gained profit was not a respectable path. Though it had proved rather lucrative over the years. He’d been a man with a passion for adventure. He was done with adventure. Done with the unknown.
    Perhaps the attempt on his life had been good for adjusting his moral compass. It had steered him in a less dangerous direction. One less likely to kill him prematurely.
    He should have left the seedier side of trade years ago. Trading silks had seemed rather boring when he was younger, but would have been a better choice than having someone try to kill him at every turn dealing in opium these past few years.
    He looked out the window to the striking presence of Mansfield Hall. Arched Gothic widows flanked the entrance. Ivy, clematis, and roses climbed the walls of the Tudor-style home, softening the cold white limestone backwash.
    The footman opened the carriage door and set down the steps. Serving staff rushed forward to line up before his foot touched the ground, Dante following directly behind him.
    The butler bowed before addressing him. “My lord. It is a pleasure to have you home.”
    “Have my things brought up to my room, Brown.” At least he’d remembered the man’s name. “I’ll be staying for a while.”
    To my wife’s everlasting disappointment, he added silently. She was rather put out by him when they last saw each other. He hoped he would fare much better today.
    “Right away, my lord.”
    The man bowed again and took a step back. Richard wasn’t interested in greeting his serving staff. All he wanted was to see his wife. She hadn’t come forward. Did she plan to avoid him?
    Before his thoughts turned more ill mannered and he cursed her to hell and back for cowardliness, she stepped through the door, an elegant yet stunning vision in white.
    Richard had a great love for all things of beauty, and what a pretty creature she was. Thick golden locks of hair framed her pretty face under her straw bonnet. White leather walking boots peeked out briefly from the bottom hem of her white sprigged day dress. Emma’s mossy green eyes were