Jane Feather - Charade by Unknown (top rated books of all time txt) 📗

to offer Linton my condolences or my felicitations."

"The latter, my love," his wife said with a sniff into herhandkerchief. "They will deal extremely together. They already knoweach other a great deal better than most couples starting along thatroad and Linton loves her as much for her unconventional ways asdespite them, I suspect."

The earl at that point was plunged in thought, debating how best toconvince the silent figure at his side that his offer of marriage wasmade through much more than chivalry. Then it occurred to him thatDanielle was such a direct, honest person herself that a simplestatement would most likely be believed. The main problem would be toachieve her acceptance.

They had reached the rose garden. Danielle moved toward the low stonewall separating this fragrant spot from the cliff road. The evening airwas heavy with the scent of June roses and a soft breeze from the seawafted the fresh tang of salt and seaweed across the cliff top.

"I would like to sit on the wall, milord," she announced calmly,breaking the long silence. The earl did not respond, merely rested hisforearms on the mellow stone, looking intently but unseeing down theroad.

"Milord?"

He turned with an abstracted smile.

"I would like to sit on the wall."

"Then do so, child."

"If I were dressed otherwise, sir, I could manage myself, but these—"she gestured to her gown—"give me some difficulty."

He laughed then, picking her up by the tiny waist and lifting her ontothe stonework. "It is most indecorous of you to be sitting on wallsand, besides, you will dirty your gown, but I daresay suchconsiderations do not weigh with you, my brat."

"Not in the least," she concurred cheerfully. "Now that we arecomfortable, sir, you have something you wish to say to me?"

Her hands disappeared into a firm warm clasp. "Danielle, you have saidthat you trust me, you must therefore believe me when I say that I haveloved you for these many weeks. I have not behaved as a lover but, asyou have already proved once today, you are sufficiently aware of thefacts of life to understand why."

Her response to this blunt statement surprised him. She did notquestion his statement, but instead asked with quiet interest, "Whendid you start to love me, milord?"

"It's a little difficult to be exact." He frowned thoughtfully. "But Ithink it all began that moment when you stood like some little Amazonwith those entrancing breasts bared, daring me to take advantage ofyou. In fact," he added with a rueful smile, "I felt merely ridiculousand at a great disadvantage."

"You did not appear so, sir." She laughed. "You were quite horrid to meand made me feel most uncomfortable."

"For that, I apologize." Justin laid a firm finger over her lips,continuing seriously, "I wish you to be my wife, milady."

"I do not know a great deal about the love between husband and wife,sir.

Maman,

I fear, hadlittle experience. In the beginning there wassome love, I think, but it lasted only a very short time. Youunderstand that I talk not about the physical aspects of marriage,milord, but of the spirit?"

He nodded gravely. What an extraordinary creature she was.

"Of the former, I perhaps know more than I should." Her dimples danced."But that will not surprise you."

"Not at all," he concurred, suppressing a smile.

"But of the latter—you will teach me, milord,

n'est ce pas?

" She heldout her arms to him in a completely unself-conscious gesture of trustand invitation.

"I will teach you of both, Danielle," he said softly, lifting her offthe wall. "You cannot truly know of

what you have never experienced."

He continued to hold her by the waist, looking seriously into those bigbrown eyes regarding him with a gravity to equal his own.

"Would it be most improper of you to kiss me, milord?"

"I do not think I should pay much attention to the proprieties if itwere." His hands left her waist, cupping the heart-shaped face as hislips very gently touched hers. She held herself still and breathless,eyes open, waiting for she knew not what. The pressure on her lipsincreased as his thumbs began to trace her cheekbones, fingers toexplore the softness of her shell-like ears.

Justin raised his head for a moment. "Close your eyes, brat. This is anexercise in sensation, not observation."

The long lashes dropped instantly and his lips twitched beforereturning to their original position, but now they began to demand ashis tongue flicked, darted between her lips, forcing entry. In the darkworld behind her closed eyes crimson flashes of panic sparked as, for asecond, she fought the intrusion, tried

to draw her head back. But thegrip tightened and suddenly the sensation of violation disappeared. Hermouth opened and he was inside her head, a strong, muscular presenceexploring the softness of her mouth, becoming a part of her as itbecame familiar with the contours of her cheeks, the roof of her mouth,slid across her teeth, drawing from her something she did not know shepossessed. Tentatively

her own tongue began to move, to fence with the,other, stroking and curling as a tightness began to build deep withinher and her body moved involuntarily against his. One hand left herface, the fingers stroking the taut skin of her throat before heatexploded through her body as it found the soft swell of her breastbeneath the lace collar of her gown. Long fingers slipped inside theneck, reaching further and, to her utter confusion and embarrassment,she felt the tips of her breasts take on a life of their own, beginningto burn as theyhardened, pressing against the taffeta bodice.

"No, no, milord, please!" She pulled back desperately and was instantlyreleased, whirling away from him, one hand unconsciously on herbreasts, the other touching her warmed, swollen lips.

"Danny?" Hands held her shoulders, slipped down to seize her own as itplucked at her bodice.

"You don't understand,"