Free The Invisible Husband by Cari Hislop Page A

at dawn with pen and paper. You might get some vile
poetry, but I assure you that will be from the creature…Ouch! It
just pinched me. It says I’m a vile mannerless toad who couldn’t
win a woman with ink and paper if my life depended on it.”

    “Which one of
you wrote me the charming note this morning?”

    “That was me.
Your creature says I’m a liar…”

    “Well since you
can’t decide I’ll have to thank you both.” She kissed her hand and
pressed it to his shirt front and then kissed her hand again and
reached into the darkness of his hood to touch his chin.

    Adam took hold
of her hand pressed a firm kiss to her palm before reluctantly
allowing it to escape. “Until dusk my Lady…”

    “Until dusk my
Lord…” He turned and watched her shadow cheerfully skip back down
the long hall. How long would it take to win her heart? He wanted
to order every oil lamp in the house to be brought to his study. He
wanted to look her in the eyes as she entered and see that she
wasn’t repulsed by his face. He flung the hated hood back off his
head and continued towards his study mumbling curses on silly
hopes.

Chapter
13

    Eve was still
smiling to herself as she handed her cloak and bonnet to a servant
and asked them to be delivered to her husband’s study. Hopefully
he’d hang them up and think of her every time he looked at them. He
might even decide to stop hiding and show himself. The thought
produced a pleasant ache in her stomach. She didn’t care if he was
hideous; she needed to see the face of the man whose kisses had
changed her. Her heart agreed as it slumped in dejection against
its cage as it whispered with longing; Adam…Adam…Adam…

    Finding Mr and
Mrs Roberts cheerfully stuffing themselves with cake, Eve sat down
nearby and poured herself a cup of tea. Mrs Roberts chatted away at
lightening speed about Adam’s mother’s last dinner party as Mr
Roberts eyed her with a smile that reminded her of a dog waiting to
snatch food off its master’s plate. She ignored the man and
concentrated on his wife. Adam was probably right about the couple
being charlatans. They appeared comfortable with each other, but
there was no sign of intimacy or tenderness. Mrs Roberts only once
glanced at her husband and that was with a scowl as he snatched the
last piece of cake. The pregnant woman kept touching and fondling
her large belly as if the child inside needed reassurance that it
would still have a father after its birth.

    The
conversation remained a one-sided affaire until Mr Roberts excused
himself, presumably for a call of nature. As soon as the door was
closed behind him, Mrs Roberts effortlessly jumped off her seat and
replanted herself next to Eve. “My dear Lady Latham, do you mind if
I sit next to you?” Eve opened her mouth to reply, but the lady
continued, “I’m so glad he’s finally left! It’s so hard to have an
interesting conversation with a man mooning at one’s elbow. Don’t
tell my husband or he’ll be furious, but I wasn’t really having
pains. Lord Latham’s mother has sent me on a special mission.” Eve
again opened her mouth, but wasn’t given time to reply. “I have
something for you. Her Ladyship gave me repeated instructions to
implore you not to tell your husband that you’ve received it. Her
Ladyship says the last time she mentioned it in his hearing she
thought he’d kill her.”

    “I don’t…”

    “For your own
safety, you must give me your word.”

    “I think…”

    “I’m sure
you’ll understand the delicacy of my mission when you see what I’ve
brought you. Has Lord Latham revealed his face to you?”

    “No, but…”

    Mrs Roberts
solemnly nodded her head. “It’s as Lady Latham, the Dowager,
feared. She’s long worried that her son would be driven mad by his
scar.”

    “I don’t think
he’s…”

    “Lord Latham
would be furious if he knew what I’m about to give you.”

    Eve was
starting to get irritated at the overblown theatrical