Free Seduction by Amanda Quick Page B

a
    free thinker, an intellectual woman of great ability."
    "She was a harlot. She lived openly with more than one man without benefit of
    marriage."
    "She felt marriage was nothing but a cage for women. Once a woman marries she is
    at the mercy of her husband. She has no rights of her own. Miss Wollstonecraft
    had deep insight into the female situation and she felt something should be done
    about it. I happen to agree with her. You say you are curious about me, my lord.
    Well, you might learn something about my interests if you read that book."
    "I have no intention of reading such a piece of idiocy." Julian tossed the
    volume carelessly aside. "And what is more, my dear, I am not going to have you
    poisoning your own brain with the writing of a woman who, by rights, should have
    been locked away in Bedlam or set up in Trevor Square as a professional
    courtesan."
    Sophy was barely able to restrain herself from throwing her full cup of tea at
    him. "We had an agreement on the matter of my reading habits, my lord. Are you
    going to violate that, also?"
    Julian gulped down the last of his tea and set the cup and saucer aside. He came
    toward her deliberately, his expression cold and furious. "Hurl one more
    accusation about my lack of honor at me, madam, and I will not answer for the
    consequences. I have had enough of this farce you call a honeymoon. Nothing
    useful is being achieved. The time has come to put matters on a normal footing.
    I have indulged you long enough, Sophy. From now on, you will be a proper wife
    in the bedchamber as well as outside it. You will accept my judgment in all
    areas and that includes the matter of your reading habits."
    Sophy's cup and saucer clattered alarmingly as she sprang to her feet. The lock
    of hair she had pushed behind her ear fell free again. She took a step backward
    and the heel of her slipper caught on the hem of her dressing gown. There was a
    rending sound as the delicate fabric tore.
    "Now look what you've done," she wailed as she glanced down at the drooping hem.
    "I have done nothing yet." Julian stopped in front of her and surveyed her
    nervous, mutinous expression. His eyes softened. "Calm yourself. I have not even
    touched you and you already look as if you have been struggling valiantly for
    your sadly misplaced female honor." He raised a hand and gently caught the
    dangling lock of hair between his fingers. "How ever do you manage it, Sophy?"
    he asked softly.
    "Manage what, my lord?"
    "No other woman of my acquaintance goes about in such sweet disarray. There is
    always some bit of ribbon or lace dangling from your gowns and your hair never
    stays where it is meant to stay."
    "You knew I did not have the trick of fashion when you made your offer, my
    lord," she said tightly.
    "I know. I did not mean to imply any criticism. I simply wondered how you
    achieved the effect. You carry it off so artlessly." He released the lock of
    hair and slid his blunt fingers around her head, tugging more pins free as he
    went.
    Sophy stiffened as he eased his other arm around her waist and pulled her
    closer. She wondered frantically how long it would take for the tea to have its
    inevitable effect. Julian did not seem to be at all sleepy.
    "Please, Julian—"
    "I am trying to do precisely that, my love," he murmured against her mouth. "I
    want nothing more than to please you tonight. I suggest you relax and let me
    show you that being a wife is not really so terrible."
    "I must insist on our agreement…" She tried to argue but she was so nervous now
    she could not even stand. She clutched Julian's shoulders to steady herself and
    wondered wildly what she would do if she had inadvertently used the wrong herbs
    in the tea.
    "After tonight you will not mention that stupid agreement again." Julian's mouth
    came down heavily, his lips moving on hers in a slow, drugging fashion. His
    hands found the ties of her dressing gown.
    Sophy jumped when the gown was slowly eased off her shoulders. She