Free Taste of Desire by Lavinia Kent

have much to teach you ,” his voice caught and dropped as his body reacted to his thoughts. He would be sure that by morning she knew the full meaning of pleasure. Her cheeks would flush with color and her eyes gleam with delight. He reached out and ran a single finger down the side of her face. “No woman should be left with so little comprehension of what can be.”
    “I hardly think –“ She finally lifted her head and met his gaze.
    “I am your husband. ” He refused to let her look away. She shivered and then dragged her glance downward again.
    His task might be more difficult than he anticipated – but he was up and ready for it . He traced down her cheek again. Her skin was softer than a peach.
    She nodded, “Yes.” It was a whisper. “I just thought that. . .” Her diminutive shape seemed to shrivel even smaller. What had been done to her? He’d heard that young girls feared the wedding night, but she was no longer an innocent. What bungling fool had she chosen for a lover? He would have to explain that it only hurt the first time.
    “I just thought that . . .” He could see her trying again to force out the words . “I thought that it would be a marriage of convenience. I never imagined that you would want to . . .”
    “I always intended a real marriage . I would not even consider the other.” He sounded harsh, but she had taken him by surprise.
    He watched her pull a deep brea th in to her chest. She nodded once and placed her hand upon his arm and indicated they should proceed into the house.
    The girl had gumption . There was only the slightest remaining tremble in her fingers.
     
    The walkway was fifteen bricks across. There was more space between the middle bricks than the others. Was it by design or a mistake? If she’d had a few more moments she could have counted how many more bricks it took to make a stair than a simple path.
    The wedding night . How could she not have considered that? Her body felt so hot and heavy. She had spent the last days thinking of all the reasons they should not wed and she had never even considered . . . she still could not think. Did he really expect her to do that? It was so strange being this close to him, knowing he had the right to touch her, all of her. It was hard to breathe. All of Rose’s curses rushed through her mind.
    She pushed her shoulders back, but could not raise her gaze from her half boots. She was still in her wedding dress, but her shoes were still the same practical ones she had worn for well over a year. They were somehow reassuring, reminding her who she was.
    She could do this.
    She let him lead her through the entry as the door swung wide.
    Winters stood just inside, freshly starched.
    “Your lordship, you have guests.”
    Tristan turned towards his butler . “Oh, and who would –“
    “And what do you have to say for yourself , girl?” The voice screeched.
    Marguerite felt breakfast rise in her throat . She had been wrong. The day could get worse.
    “Hello, Mama,” she said. “How wonderful to see you.”
    She turned and faced her husband . She knew this had not been part of his plan.
     
    Only by sheer perseverance did Tristan keep his jaw from dropping open. The woman who stood in the door to the parlor was more than three times the width of his wife and a full hand shorter. Her grizzled gray hair was pulled tightly back and her lips clenched shut – until they opened.
    “Do you know what you’ve put me through , girl? I’ve been so worried. Haven’t slept the night through since you’ve been gone. It’s a wonder I haven’t wasted away to nothing. Why I would never have found you at all if not for the betrothal announcement in the papers and even then it would have taken me well over a week to read it if dear Mr. Clark hadn’t noticed it and brought it to my attention. He gets the paper immediately to be sure he doesn’t miss any opportunities. Such a wise man. In any case, daughter, gather your belongings and get