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.” Adam’s mobile mouth curled with scorn.“He’s found that without financial sense, even a noble family can be destroyed.”Fumbling with his tobacco pouch, Lord Gaynor objected, “One must have charity.”“No one had charity for me,” Adam retorted coolly.“No matter how reprehensible your father’s behavior was, ye retained your title.” Lord Gaynor waved an agitated hand.“Surely ye agree the elite of this country need to be preserved.”“Do I?”It didn’t sound like a question to Bronwyn, and she watched Adam with big eyes.What kind of background did Adam Keane come from? When her parents informed her of her betrothal, they told her Adam was a viscount from an old and noble family.Plainly they hadn’t told her his entire history, for his brittle scorn for the unfortunate Wilde family told a story of its own.Lord Gaynor poured a measure of tobacco into the pipe and tamped it with a silver utensil.“The nobility are the living reminders of England’s mighty past.”“England’s future is brighter than its past could ever be.” Waving his footman forward, Adam declared, “Let each man make his way on his own, and let the best man succeed.”Lord Gaynor dropped his tobacco pouch.“Good God, that would be chaos.”Mab interposed, “Chaos is a strong word, but my son has traveled a road few can imagine.From the depths of bleakest poverty, he raised himself using only his luck and wit.”“Mab,” Adam interposed.“My bleak past is of even less interest than England’s mighty past.”Bronwyn didn’t agree.She desperately wanted to know the details, but Adam told the footman, “Have the maid clean the tobacco and finish picking up the glass.Lord Gaynor needs a flint for his pipe.” The man hurried from the room as Adam continued, “I had this house built last summer.Mab and I moved in at Christmastime.”As Adam spoke, Bronwyn leaned forward and touched Olivia’s hand.Olivia nodded, and the girls rose.“We will retire now,” Bronwyn announced.Adam rose at once and came to her side.He lifted her hand to kiss it, and somehow his mouth found the pulse beating at her wrist.It leaped beneath his lips, and his gaze found hers.The tide of crimson rose from her toes, dying her chest, her neck, her face.He murmured, “I look forward to Midsummer’s Eve with a fervency I never felt before.” After she choked out some vague reply, he turned to Olivia.His voice softened, he smiled kindly.“We’ll provide you with a pleasant evening, also.” His courtesy for Olivia was all the more obvious after his ardent handling of Bronwyn.It made no difference.Olivia scurried from the room as if she were threatened by his masculinity.Although Bronwyn experienced the same reaction, it irritated her to see Olivia behave in such a manner, as though Adam were a satyr.Bronwyn hurried after her sister and caught her elbow.“Olivia, stop running like a scared rabbit.He won’t harm you.”Olivia grabbed her in a crushing grip.“He frightens me so.Bronwyn, he looks as if he’s about to gobble you up.”“After he got over his first disappointment with his homely bride, he’s been all that is considerate.” It was true, she supposed.One couldn’t—or shouldn’t—complain about too much attention.Unbidden, Rachelle’s invitation to join her salon sprang to her mind.“Sometimes I think life would be easier if I were shut away from all this nonsense.If there weren’t any men to fret me with their tantrums.If I could live as I wished without worrying about what society thinks.”“I wish I could, too.Oh, I wish I could, too.” Olivia cast a fearful glance down the hall to the open door of the drawing room.Pulling Bronwyn along with her, she said in a tone of accusation, “You said he kissed you.”“Men are supposed to want to kiss their fiancées.”Olivia shuddered and climbed the stairs.“A man’s baser instincts lead to dreadful acts.”Bronwyn raced to pass her, stopping her at the landing.“How do you know?”“Sister Mary Theresa told me.” Olivia folded her hands in front of her.“Sister Mary Theresa?” Bronwyn was flabbergasted.“That was years ago!”“I remember,” Olivia said primly.Bronwyn stepped aside and let Olivia pass, then tagged along behind.“You’ll be along to protect me from his baser instincts when we visit the village.”Reaching her room, Olivia said, “I’m sorry, but I’m not coming.”“What do you mean you’re not coming? Da said—”“I heard what Da said.He said St
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Tematy
IndexChristine Amsden [Cassie Scot Cassie Scot ParaNormal Detecti
Christie Craig [Divorced, Des Divorced, Desperate
Moore Christopher Ssij, mała, ssij (II)
Stasheff, Christopher Wizard in Rhyme 6 Haunted Wizard
Christine Feehan Mroczna Seri Mroczny Demon
Cidney Swanson [Saving Mars Saving Mars (epub)
Stasheff, Christopher Rogue Wizard 04 A Wizard in Peace
Feehan Christine Mroczna Seria 01 Mroczny Ksišże
Stasheff, Christopher Warlock 01 The Warlock in Spite of Himself
Christine Feehan Mroczna Seria 13 Mroczne Przeznaczenie