Free Taming the Shrew by Cari Hislop Page A

pounds...”
    Belvedere rolled his eyes, “Typical. You’ve lost money sitting in your chair; I have One hundred and twenty-five pounds. Avery, aren’t you going to open your bag?” All eyes watched the slender fingers disappear into the purse and then pull out a single bank note. “How much is it? What did you say?”
    “One thousand pounds...” Avery looked at Hervey with an open mouth while the other brothers gathered around his chair to see and touch a thousand pound note.
    “Don’t look at me Avery, I told her she could buy your undying love for five quid.” Juliana was revelling in the strange tingles caused by the look on her husband’s face when she was picked up and whirled in circles before being soundly kissed on the cheek by an enthusiastic Avery.
    “I adore you a thousand times more than I did this morning.” Money was stuffed enthusiastically back into the bags and then Juliana’s cheeks and hands were enthusiastically worshipped by various lips all similar to her husband’s.
    “You’re welcome...”
    The Hervey creature’s calm voice reached out and caressed her, “Why don’t you lot go celebrate. I want my bride gift.” She waited till the door was closed on the last brother-in-law before approaching her husband’s chair.
    “I didn’t bring you anything.”
    “You brought your lips.” A knock on the door made her start as the black and white figure pulled her down onto his knee.
    “Your carriage has arrived Master Hervey.”
    “Thank you Beecher. Are you ready for a magical evening Mrs de Vere?”
    “Yes.”
    “Then we shall embark after I get my bride gift. You were exceedingly generous to my brothers. Avery will love you forever, but I’m afraid they’ll now think you the Goddess of good fortune and expect monetary gifts for birthdays and Christmas.”
    “Do you think me the Goddess of good fortune?”
    “No, I think you a different kind of Goddess.”
    “What kind of Goddess?”
    “What kind do you think?”
    She growled in irritation and grabbed his cravat. “Why can’t you give me a straight answer?”
    “For the same reason I need to kiss you.”
    “I hate riddles. You make no sense Hervey creature.”
    “I’ll give you a clue. What was in my brown ledger?”
    “It’s a stupid diary of how often you saw me...it makes you look obsessive.”
    “And?”
    “I didn’t read the whole thing.”
    “For pity sake, kiss me...before my heart wilts in despair.”
    “Why would your heart...no don’t ask me what I think.”
    “I won’t...” Warm breath enveloped her senses as her lips were taken captive. “Sweetheart...” The word was whispered against her lips. “...I hope tonight you’ll say it like you mean it. The last four hours have been eternal...”
    She silenced him with a wordless agreement until the door opened and an orange head leaned into the room. “Hervey...ooh sorry...” Juliana scowled in irritation as her lips were momentarily abandoned. Embarrassed, she pressed her face into her husband’s shoulder and breathed in his pleasant scent. “...can you drop us off at Sedgwick’s?”
    “No, I’m taking Juliana on a mystery amusement.”
    “So drop us off first.”
    “I want Juliana to remember this evening as romantic, not a mad crush.”
    “Your leg isn’t broken; she can sit on your knee. We’ll squish in.”
    “I won’t be able to kiss her with my carriage filled with orange-heads.”
    “We won’t see anything unless we pass a gas light.”
    “No, I want this to be a special evening.”
    “David’s wagered me a pound that you won’t drop us off.”
    “I’m leaving as soon as I put on my hat and coat. If you’re not in the carriage you’ll be walking.” The head disappeared whooping his success to the waiting crowd behind him as he shut the door. Juliana could hear them thundering down the stairs shouting and laughing. “Do you mind sitting on my knee in the carriage?”
    “No.”
    “The Goddess with magic lips has