by Summer Devon
Rosalie didn’t want to bother to explain that both parties who loved might be a better balance. And that two people who listened to each other as they argued might have a better chance. But she’d long given up the desire to shift her mother’s view of the world.
That’s what we have that Deirdre doesn’t, she thought suddenly. She and Gideon were not afraid to change themselves if the other required it—or even asked it. What a relief to live with a human rather than a force of nature.
She thought of Miss Renshaw and Hawes and his promise to go to church. Another case of love.
An hour later, Mr. Clermont and Mr. Trevner arrived in a large traveling coach. They declined to leave the coach and said they were only there to offer Lady Williamsford a ride.
Beels supervised the servants hauling out Lady Williamsford’s trunks, something close to a smile on his face. Relief, Rosalie supposed. But she didn’t feel particularly happy about her mother’s departure. “Those men? You are going to go with them?”
Deirdre was struggling to get her hands into her gloves. “Yes. Walt has agreed to spend a few weeks with me. I think with his elegant manners and those so very British airs, he’ll take Spotsdale by storm. Mr. Trevner too.”
“They’ll be staying with you?” Rosalie squeaked.
“Naturally. It will be so much fun. I’ve rarely met anyone as sprightly as Walt, and we’ll get along famously.”
Rosalie already knew her mother was never going to change. Still, she felt she had to add, “Until he grows bored.”
“Why, yes, until then. But I have plans to entertain him for a while. Perhaps you’d like to visit soon?”
“No, thank you,” Rosalie said. But she kissed her mother’s cheek and stood on the step to wave good-bye.
Gideon stood next to her and watched the carriage roll away. Clermont leaned out the window and winked. He mouthed words Gideon could easily read: I wish I’d seen you fuck her.
“What do you suppose Mr. Clermont just said?” Rosalie wondered.
Gideon tried, “I wish you all the best of luck in your life with her.”
Rosalie only laughed and shook her head. “I doubt it.”
She grew solemn then. “She’ll visit me again, you know.” Rosalie stroked his arm. “No matter where I live, my mother is bound to make an appearance.”
She turned and walked into the house. Gideon followed, his hand resting on her lower back.
“With that woman in your life and that idiot in hers, you must allow me to stay. I could never abandon you,” Gideon said. “You need a knight to help you face all the dreadful creatures you encounter.”
She was in front of the mirror, unpinning her hat. Their eyes met in the looking glass. “Are you calling my mother a dragon?”
He grinned. “She has been known to cavort with dragons.”
“And satyrs and any other creature that happens along.”
“Exactly.” He wrapped his hands around her shoulders and kissed the back of her neck.
She stiffened, and he wondered if she disliked physical displays of affection. His touch in the hallway might have brought back memories of the party. If that was true, the memories were not bad, because a moment later, she closed her eyes. Rosalie heaved a sigh and leaned back. He stroked her slender throat in the mirror as she rested the back of her head on his chest. Good. Her response was pleasure. Which immediately brought on another heated flash of his own pleasure. He turned her in his arms so he could pull her against him and gave her a soft kiss that turned harder.
“You undo me, sir,” she said. “Who will protect me from the beast in you?”
“No one at all. If we are to play dragons, demons, and satyrs, we don’t require any rescue.”
She slid her hands into his jacket and began to unbutton his waistcoat. “Very well. I should love to play your games, but only if you allow me to be the man-eating creature, at least on occasion.”
He thought of other meanings for man-eating and grinned.
“Wicked man, I can imagine your thoughts.” Her exploring fingers discovered his engorged organ.
He gasped. She pressed a kiss to his throat. “Yes, I’m more than ready to play,” she whispered.
Loose Id Titles by Summer Devon
Powder of Love
Co-written with Bonnie Dee:
Seducing Stephen
The Gentleman and the Rogue
The Nobleman and the Spy
Summer Devon
Summer Devon is the alter ego of Kate Rothwell. Kate invented Summer’s name in the middle of a nasty blizzard At the time she was talking to her sister, who longed to visit some friends in Devon, England—so the name Summer Devon is all about desire. Kate/Summer lives in Connecticut, USA, and also writes books, usually gaslight historicals, as Kate.
Table of Contents
Title page
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Epilogue
Loose Id Titles by Summer Devon
Summer Devon