Free Simply Sinful by Kate Pearce Page A

and rested his hand on Peter’s shoulder. Abby studied the brief flash of stark emotion that clouded his gaze. “As far as I am concerned, you will always be welcome here.”
    Peter reached up and patted James’s hand. His long fingers were almost as dark as her husband’s. She imagined them against her pale skin—against James’s warmer tones, imagined them all mixed in together…
    James touched her shoulder and she jumped. “I have to go back to London tomorrow. Will you allow Peter to stay and keep you company?” He winked at Peter. “There are two elderly female cousins who live in the house, and my mother resides down the driveway. I should imagine your reputation will be safe.”
    If she said no, would Peter leave as well? She smiled at them both. “It would be delightful to have someone new to talk to. I swear I’ve bored everyone here to death with my stories.”
    Peter took her hand and kissed it. “I’m sure you could never be boring, Abigail.”
    James laughed, his good humor apparently restored. “Oh yes, she can. You wait until she wants to discuss the theories of crop rotation or differing types of fertilizer just when you are trying to eat your dinner.”
    Abby scowled at him. “At least you were so bored you slept well that night.”
    Peter stood up and bowed. “I’m looking forward to many an evening of just such stimulating discussion, my lady. Now I will bid you good night. It’s been a long day.”
    He nodded at James and retreated into his bedchamber. Abby noticed the way James tried not to follow Peter’s movements with his eyes. With a sigh, she hugged him and kissed his cheek.
    “James, if it will make you happy, go to him. I don’t mind.”
    He met her gaze, hope shining in his. “Are you sure, Abby?”
    She touched his cheek. “Yes, go and enjoy yourself.”
    He let out a breath. “Thank you. I’ll make sure we are discreet.”
    Her smile disappeared as she shut the door into her chamber. She leaned against the brightly painted panels and listened for the telltale click of the opposite door opening. It didn’t take long. She imagined Peter with his arms around James. She pictured them removing their clothes…goodness; she wanted to see them, to understand what they did together.
    She wrapped her arms around her waist and stared at her cold, empty bed. Perhaps one day she would be brave enough to ask James to show her exactly what he did, but until then, she’d have to comfort herself and imagine.

7
    P eter stripped off his tight-fitting brown coat and started on the buttons of his blue waistcoat. Eight days had passed since James had left him alone with Abigail, and each one had proved a surprise and a delight. His lover’s wife intrigued him. She was intelligent, argumentative and fond of getting the last word. To his surprise he found her immensely stimulating both mentally and physically. She reminded him a little of Valentin’s wife, Sara, although she wasn’t as beautiful, or perhaps so amenable.
    As he slipped out of his waistcoat and handed it to Tom along with his coat, he glanced at the pile of letters that had been delivered to him from home just before dinner. Even from a distance, he could see one of them bore the distinctive scrawl of his business partner.
    In truth, he was astonished Val hadn’t tracked him down and confronted him sooner. It wasn’t usually his friend’s style to allow matters to fester between them, although perhaps in this instance he was being cautious because of Sara.
    After relinquishing his boots into Tom’s tender care, Peter nodded at him to leave. He was no dandy who needed a servant’s assistance to put himself to bed. He studied the pile of letters again. Damnation, he missed Sara. She accepted him exactly as he was and knew more about him than any other woman of his acquaintance. In bed she was as passionate as her husband, but unlike Val, she was fascinated by the endless sexual possibilities of allowing him to join in