Free The Bride's Necklace by Kat Martin

chessboard. “You’re certain taking the castle wouldn’t have been the smarter move?”
    Her confidence returned. “Quite certain, my lord.”
    The earl studied the chessboard, then moved his queen, neatly capturing one of her pawns.
    The play went on. The wind howled and wrenched the leaves from the branches of the trees, but in the small circle of light in the earl of Brant’s study, Tory felt oddly protected.
    She moved her castle. “I’m afraid that is check, my lord.”
    Brant scowled. “Yes, so it is.”
    The play continued, pawns and pieces falling as if in a savage battle. It was well past two when the final move was made.
    “Checkmate, my lord.”
    Instead of being angry, as she somewhat feared he might be, the earl merely laughed. He shook his head as he looked over to where she sat on the opposite side of the board.
    “You continue to surprise me, Mrs. Temple.”
    “I hope that means I also continue to retain my position as your housekeeper.”
    One of his dark brown eyebrows went up. “Perhaps you should lose to me once in a while, simply to ensure you keep your position.”
    She smiled. “I don’t think you would like that in the least.”
    The earl smiled, too. “No, not in the least. I shall expect a rematch, Mrs. Temple, in the very near future.”
    “I would be delighted, my lord.”
    The earl rose and helped Tory to her feet. She found herself in exactly the position that she had been in before, so close she could see the deep gold of his eyes. They seemed to hold her where she stood, to fix her feet to thecarpet beneath the table. She felt his hand on her cheek, tilting her face up, then his mouth settled gently over hers.
    Tory’s eyes slid closed as soft heat enveloped her. He didn’t reach for her, just continued to kiss her, his lips moving slowly over hers. He sampled and tasted, coaxed her to open for him, then slid his tongue inside. She started to tremble. Unconsciously, she reached her hand out and clutched the front of his evening coat. He made a deep sound in his throat and his arm came around her, pressing her more fully against him.
    It was in that moment, as she felt the hard length of his arousal, that Tory’s senses returned, slamming into her with the force of the wind outside the window.
    Breaking away, she stumbled backward, desperate to be free of him, to regain her self-control. “My lord! I—I know what you must be thinking, but you are…you are sorely mistaken if you believe that…that I… If you think for an instant that I would…would…”
    “It was only a kiss, Mrs. Temple.”
    Only a kiss? It felt as if her world had just turned upside down. “A kiss that shouldn’t have happened. An indiscretion that will not…not occur again.”
    “I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy it. I assure you I did.”
    Heat rushed into her cheeks. She had enjoyed it—far too much. “It isn’t proper. You are my employer and I am your housekeeper.”
    “That is true. Perhaps there is something we could do to remedy that.”
    What on earth was he saying? The word doxy popped into her head. “You aren’t…you aren’t suggesting…? You can’t possibly mean that I should…?”
    Knees wobbling, she squared her shoulders and picked up the lamp. “I’m afraid I must bid you good-night, my lord.” Turning away, she marched past him. As she crossed the study, she could feel his eyes on her, burning like fire into her nightclothes.
    “Good night, Mrs. Temple,” he said as she walked out of the room.

Five
    S tanding in the darkness of his study, Cord struck flint to tender, lighting another lamp now that Victoria had carried hers away. He smiled to think how the evening had progressed. Having returned early to the house on purpose, he had been hoping to catch out his chessboard culprit. Secretly hoping it might be Victoria Temple.
    She had surprised him with her skill. And pleased him. He liked intelligent women. His cousin Sarah was bright and interesting. As had been his