Free An Honorable Wish (A Lady's Wish 2) by Eileen Richards

from her as he flipped through the pages. He turned one of the books to look at the pictures. Then he looked at her with heat in his eyes. “These are worse than the one you were reading in the library. You naughty thing.”
    Heat crept into Juliet’s cheeks. She made a grab for the books. “I told you I had them.”
    He dodged her. “I thought you were joking.” He turned another page and tilted his head.
    Juliet swiped at his arm. This was too much. She needed those books back. “Oh, come, Tony. I’m certain there is nothing in those books that would shock you.”
    He paused and gave her a long look. “You might be surprised. What were you planning to do with these?”
    “Hide them on the floor of your cupboard where the maids wouldn’t find them,” Juliet grumbled.
    “Why?”
    She didn’t want to tell him the truth, so she shrugged instead. Surely that was answer enough.
    “Does this have to do with your behavior last night?”
    “Was something amiss with my behavior last night?”
    Tony shook his head. “You know better than to lie to me. Tell me what’s going on.”
    Juliet crossed her arms. “Nothing is going on. Can I not enjoy the company of a gentleman without raising suspicion?”
    “So you admit to liking Mr. McDonald?”
    Juliet glared at him. “Mr. McDonald is a friend, nothing more.”
    “You seemed a great deal more interested in him than friendship would account for.”
    “That’s not true! Give me those. I’ll find another location to keep them.” Juliet reached for the books, but he held them high in the air where she couldn’t reach them. “Please return them.”
    “Not so fast. Why are you looking at these?”
    She poked him in the chest. “Why is it that men are allowed to look at such things while we women aren’t even allowed to ask questions?”
    “Jules, don’t get angry with me. I just asked a simple question.”
    “May I have my books back, please?”
    “On one condition.”
    “What is it with this penchant for conditions? First Sophia and now you.” Juliet stomped her foot.
    He chuckled, clearly enjoying teasing her.
    “What is the condition?” she asked.
    “You learn to ride a horse.”
    Juliet could feel the color leave her face. “Not that. Tony, please, not that.”
    “Jules, it will be fine. There’s nothing to be afraid of.” He tucked a stray hair behind her ear.
    “I can’t do it.” How was she going to get out of this?
    “We’ll take it slow. In fact, wear your breeches. It will be easier than riding sidesaddle.” His voice was gentle.
    “I will do anything, Tony. Anything but go near horses.” She hated the pleading tone of her voice.
    “Then tell me why you’re so curious about these books,” Tony said as he picked up the smaller of the two and flipped through it. “Especially this one.” He opened the book and showed her a picture. “Explain.”
    “Anything but that.” It was either die by horse or embarrassment. “I have several married friends and I was simply curious about what they were talking about.”
    Tony showed her another picture. “You were curious about this?”
    “That one is odd to me.” Juliet didn’t think her face could get any redder. Maybe the horse wasn’t so bad. “It looks like she’s kissing him on his—uh, privates? Why would someone do that?”
    Tony snapped the book shut and turned away from her.
    “Do people really do the things in that book?” she couldn’t stop herself from asking.
    “Some do, yes.”
    “So that picture you showed me is something a wife would do?”
    “I wouldn’t know . . . but I doubt it.”
    “Please hide the books for me? I don’t trust Sophia not to grab them and show them to Anne. I will never hear the end of it if Anne finds out.”
    “I’ll hide them.” He studied her for a long moment. “But you will get on a horse.”
    Juliet shook her head. She looked up into his face to tell him so but became lost in the warmth of his eyes. They were dark, almost a