Free Eden's Pleasure by Kate Pearce

your heart in yours.”
    Despite the apparent ease of her tone, her fingers tightened on my arm. I was glad
    to exonerate Gideon.
    “I am happy to reassure you that Gideon has always been the perfect gentlemen.”
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    Eden’s Pleasure
    Her nails clamped into my skin and her voice came out in a hiss. “Oh yes, Gideon’s
    always so perfect. Too perfect to allow anyone else to make a mistake.”
    I tried to ease out of her grip, alarmed by the feral glare in her yellowish eyes. She
    refused to release me. I looked around for my maid, caught her eye and beckoned her
    closer. I sighed in relief as my maid’s presence seemed to release the tension in the
    woman before me. I made a point of stepping away and smoothing out my sleeve
    before I turned to confront her.
    “Miss…” I stopped in confusion as I realized I didn’t know this worrying creature’s
    name. My breath nearly ceased as a flicker of triumph lit her eyes.
    “You don’t know who I am, do you?”
    “All I know is that Gideon told me to keep away from you and now I understand
    why. You are clearly unstable.” I gave her a sharp nod. “Good day to you, whoever you
    are. I shall definitely heed Gideon’s advice from now on.”
    Her smile grew even wider, exposing her sharp pointed teeth. She began to laugh
    hysterically.
    “Oh, God, this is wonderful. You really don’t know who I am, do you?”
    I refused to drop my gaze and she gave me a formal curtsey. “I am Lady Harcourt,
    Gideon’s wife.”
    I pushed past her, my mind in turmoil. Her mocking laughter pursued me through
    the glade of trees and beyond the cast iron gates of the park.
    I joined Gideon and Gervase in the dining room at the appointed hour, dressed in
    one of my old black gowns. I curtsied to Gideon, accepted an enthusiastic kiss on the
    cheek from Gervase and allowed them to seat me between them at the table.
    Silence fell as the men attacked their food with their usual gusto. I tried to subdue
    the appalling suspicions my encounter with Gideon’s wife had raised in my heart. After
    a while, when we were settled with our dessert and port, Gideon waved away the
    servants and we were alone.
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    Kate Pearce
    I wiped my mouth with my napkin and received a glass of port from Gideon. I
    caught a searching look of inquiry from Gideon to Gervase and the helpless shrug of
    Gervase’s broad shoulders in response.
    “She seems unhappy with us,” Gideon remarked.
    Gervase half smiled. “I have not quarreled with her, if that’s what you are
    implying.” He gave me a sly wink. “She seemed quite well satisfied when I left her in
    bed this morning.”
    I half rose to my feet and glared at the pair of them.
    “If you insist on speaking about me as if I were invisible, then maybe I will oblige
    you by retiring.”
    Gervase stood up, his intention to bar my way clear in his intense blue eyes.
    “Eden, if you have something you wish to say, please say it.” He spread his hands
    wide to include Gideon. “We are all friends here, we have no secrets.”
    “No secrets?” I managed a tight smile and focused my attention on Gideon who sat
    at his ease at the head of the dining table with his habitual air of distance.
    “I too thought that we were friends but I find that I am mistaken. I met your wife in
    the park today, Gideon.” I sought some reaction in Gideon’s expression but nothing
    changed. “Do you remember her? The redheaded woman you warned me to stay away
    from?”
    Gervase opened his mouth and made a sudden movement towards me. I stayed
    him with a gesture. “Your wife implied that you never bed her and it occurred to me
    that you never allowed me to touch you either.” A muscle twitched in Gideon’s cheek
    as I advanced towards him suddenly furious. “What is it, Gideon? Do you get pleasure
    from making women beg?” I shot a glance at Gervase. “Or in my case were you merely
    acting as a procurer for your twin?”
    After a hasty shared glance, both men stared at me