Free The Earl's Untouched Bride by Annie Burrows Page A

that I would do my best to be a good wife, and never cause you a moment's trouble? I will do whatever you ask of me.' However it hurt her to destroy that which she had spent hours creating, the one thing in her life she felt proud to have achieved, her word of honour meant far more.

    'Heloise, no — dammit!' he cried, reaching out his hand. That had been tactless of him. He should have requested to examine the book, and then decided whether to destroy the one or two sketches which might have caused him some discomfort. Or he should have been more subtle still. He should have asked if he could keep the whole thing, and then ensured it was kept locked away where nobody could see it. Not demand her obedience in that positively medieval way!

    But it was too late. She had fled up the steps to her house, the sound of her sobs sending a chill down his spine.

    How had the evening gone so wrong? He had decided she needed reassurance, and what had he done? Bullied and frightened her, and sent her home in floods of tears.

    If he carried on like this she might still decide to run away to her farm in Dieppe. And where would that leave him?

CHAPTER FOUR

    Heloise gazed wide-eyed around the mirror-lined interior of the most expensive and therefore the most exclusive restaurant in Paris.

    'Most people come to Very Freres to sample the truffles,' Charles had informed her when they had taken their places at a granite-topped table in one of the brilliantly lit salons.

    That seemed inordinately foolish, considering the menu contained such a staggering variety of dishes. 'I will have the poulet a la Marengo.' She leaned forward and confided, 'Although it is much cheaper in the Trois Freres Provencaux.'

    'You do not need to consider the expense,' he pointed out. 'I am a very wealthy man.'

    Heloise shifted uncomfortably as his gaze seemed to settle critically upon her rather worn lilac muslin. 'I am not marrying you for that.'

    'I know,' he acknowledged. 'But you must admit having a wealthy husband will make your lot more tolerable.'

    'Will it?' she replied in a forlorn little voice. She really could not see that it mattered how wealthy her husband was when he was in love with someone else. Someone he could not have. And when she would only ever be a poor second best.

    'Of course,' he replied briskly. He had decided to make amends for his overbearing attitude the previous evening by spoiling her a little. And demonstrating that he was prepared to consider her feelings. 'I appreciate that you may find certain aspects of marrying me more uncomfortable than I had at first assumed.' If he didn't want her bolting to Dieppe, he would have to persuade her that marriage to him would be nothing like the picture she had painted of being chained down by Du Mauriac.

    'I shall not forbid you from pursuing your own pleasures.' He did not want her worrying he would be forever breathing down her neck. 'Nor shall I expect you to hang on my arm.' He would not force her to any event that she would rather not attend. He knew that her rather retiring nature might make it hard for her to hold her own with some of the people with whom he routinely crossed swords during the course of his public life. However, he did not want her to feel he saw her shyness as a failing. 'It is not done for a man to be seen about too much with his wife,' he explained. 'And though we must live in the same house, there is no reason we may not live virtually separate lives.'

    Her heart fluttered in panic. It sounded as if he meant to deposit her in some house in a foreign country, where she knew nobody, and leave her to fend for herself.

    'D...don't you want people to think we have a true marriage?'

    He felt touched that she could still think of his image, when she must have so many reservations about the new life she was about to embark upon.

    'We must be seen about together occasionally, yes,' he acknowledged. 'Just once every se'en night or so should be sufficient.'

    She