Unicorn Vengeance by Claire Delacroix Read Free Book Online Page A

that possible. His gaze danced over her face, her hands resting on the silent lute, the barely discernible outline of her crossed legs beneath her faded kirtle, then darted back to her face.
    He was surprised. And Genevieve fancied that he was not surprised often. She rather liked that she had managed to unnerve him so in such a short span of time. Well it seemed that the odds had shifted decidedly in her favor. Seemingly of its own volition, her smile broadened, and her lips parted slightly. He stared fixedly but did not move.
    A shocking thought assaulted Genevieve with an abruptness that fairly tore the smile from her lips.
    What place was more private than bed?
    Blood surged hotly through Genevieve’s veins at the idea, and she imagined that she flushed scarlet at her audacity. She was suddenly warm beyond compare, though indeed she knew precious little of such matters. Was not her virginity a gift to be cherished by her spouse alone?
    Still she could not readily cast the idea aside, particularly given the way the stranger had already responded to her smile. And she had no betrothed who would be bereft.
    Truly it might be time to face the reality that she was old to be making a match of any kind. Any man who would have her at the ripe age of nineteen might well not be fussy about details.
    Genevieve would have been a fool of the worst order to not realize that this man was attracted to her. Well could she use that fact to her advantage, and ‘twas true she might well need every advantage she could muster to emerge victorious from this mission.
    And naught said that she would have to make that final sacrifice before accomplishing her goal. Nay, should fortune be on her side, she would not even come close to such a concession. Emboldened by that thought, Genevieve straightened coquettishly and arched her back slightly. His gaze flicked to her breasts and she stifled a surge of victory.
    â€˜Twould be almost too easy, she thought.
    â€œI would thank you for your coin the other day,” she called encouragingly. He looked momentarily startled before he hastily composed his features. He took a step forward that made Genevieve feel more powerful than she ever had before. Indeed, he stepped willingly into her web.
    â€˜Twas truly the perfect strategy.
    â€œYour playing is quite fine,” he said carefully. His tone was stiffly formal, and Genevieve thought she detected an accent. Was he a foreigner, then?
    What manner of man could take the task he had?
    Before a hundred questions could clutter her mind, Genevieve deliberately stifled her curiosity. Predators never showed curiosity about their prey. ‘Twould only make the deed more difficult in the end. She swallowed her lingering reservations and forced herself to continue the conversation, that he might come closer.
    â€œYours was the first coin I earned in Paris,” she said in as genial a manner as she could manage.
    He took another pair of steps closer but looked away as he slapped his gloves agitatedly against one palm. Well it seemed that he might be uncertain of how to proceed.
    Genevieve almost chortled at the sight. Simple as taking a sweet from a child. Indeed, she might well accomplish her task this very day. He cast a glance over her again that made Genevieve suddenly feel so exquisitely feminine that she momentarily lost track of her intent. She forced herself to take a steadying breath and recovered herself.
    Until he spoke once more.
    â€œRegrettably, I must ask for its return,” he said stiffly.
    Genevieve regarded him in shock. She blinked, but he did not look away. Her composure completely lost its footing in the face of this development. Surely she had heard him incorrectly. That coin was long spent.
    â€œI beg your pardon?” she asked breathlessly, feeling markedly less the seductress than she had planned to be.
    He cleared his throat and frowned, impaling her with that pale regard so suddenly that it fairly took her