Free Reese's Bride by Kat Martin

at making him laugh.
    Elizabeth arrived a few minutes later, gowned in crisp black taffeta, a circle of black pearls at her throat. Only a glimpse of her pale breasts showed above the modest neckline.
    Reese thought how much he hated her in black.
    “I hope I’m not late,” she said, her gaze going to the grandfather clock in the corner, returning to him then quickly darting away. Faint color rose in her cheeks and he knew she was thinking of those moments in the music room.
    “You’re here just in time,” Reese said. “Shall we go in?”
    Elizabeth cast a glance at his aunt, who drilled her with a glare down the length of her short, powdered nose. He offered Aunt Aggie his arm and she rested her smallgloved hand on the sleeve of his coat for the short walk into the dining room.
    He seated both women, his leg holding up amazingly well, then sat down in the high-back chair at the head of the table.
    The first course was served, a nice hot rice and plover soup.
    “So, what did you think of Lady Aldridge’s son?” he asked, hoping to ease some of the tension in the room and begin a semblance of conversation. The women’s eyes shot to each other across the table.
    “He’s too shy,” Aunt Aggie said sharply. “Needs a man’s influence to give him some gumption.”
    Elizabeth’s hand shook as she lifted her soup spoon, but she made no reply.
    Reese fixed his gaze on her face. “Perhaps one day Lady Aldridge will remarry.”
    She lowered the spoon back into her bowl. “That is never going to happen. One husband was more than enough.”
    Aunt Aggie’s silver eyebrows shot up. “Is that so? Then you must have loved him greatly.”
    Elizabeth’s pretty lips thinned. “Loved him? Marriage is one step away from bondage and I will never allow myself to be put in that position again.”
    Aunt Aggie eyed her shrewdly. Very carefully, she wiped her mouth on the linen napkin.
    “I see,” she said, and Reese couldn’t help wondering what exactly it was the old woman did see. One thing he knew, his aunt had an uncanny ability where people were concerned. In a single brief conversation, she understood more about a person than anyone he had ever met.
    The meal progressed a little easier after that. Duringdessert, egg custard with a delicious raspberry sauce, he mentioned to his aunt that his best friend, Travis Greer, had stopped by for a visit and that he would be writing for the London Times .
    “I only met him a couple of times,” Aunt Aggie said. “Before his dreadful injury, of course. Always seemed a nice enough sort.”
    “He’s become a very good friend,” Reese said, not mentioning the man had once saved his life. The war wasn’t one of his favorite topics.
    “He was very nice to Jared,” Elizabeth added, doing her best to hold up her end of the conversation.
    “The boy craves a man’s attention. Any fool can see that.”
    Elizabeth looked into her dessert bowl as if there were something of interest in the bottom. Reese gave her credit. Clearly, Aunt Aggie was at her irascible best. As soon as dessert was over, Reese led the ladies into the drawing room for an after-dinner drink and both of them seemed relieved.
    “How about a sherry, Aunt Aggie?”
    “Not tonight. I believe I’ll go on up to bed. Where is that strapping young man who helped me before?”
    Timothy, of course, appeared right on cue. “May I be of assistance, my lady?” He had adopted his formal demeanor and Reese almost smiled.
    “Yes, thank you, Mr. Daniels.”
    “Good night, my lady,” Elizabeth said softly, and received a brusque “good night” in return. Timothy led the dowager out of the drawing room toward the staircase, leaving Reese alone with Elizabeth, an occurrence he hadn’t expected.
    Reese thought of the kiss they had shared in the drawing room and couldn’t help wondering what the balance of the evening might bring.

Seven
    S eated on the sofa across from Reese, Elizabeth nervously sipped a glass of sherry.