ROOK AND RAVEN: The Celtic Kingdom Trilogy Book One Read Online Free PDF Page B

Sean Powers is my brother in law and friend.  Lord Carvell approves him so you certainly have no right to cast judgment.”  She turned slightly to better see him reflected in the mirror and gave a slight moue of consideration.  “Clearly my lord you are laboring under some misapprehensions, you’ve been from England a long while. You might consider a little study before inserting yourself back into affairs.  You may find things not to be as you expect…”
    He inwardly cringed at himself.  He had never been so blatantly rude to a woman; his energies were more like to be focused on charming them.  Why did he have such an urge to shake her until her teeth rattled and make love to her at the same time?  After all these years and dozens of other women why did she get instantly under his skin again?  Who was the man she had married?  Why hadn’t he thought to pick David’s brain before confronting her?  Where was the man she married?  Lurking about back stage, setting up her assignations like so many husbands of actresses, more procurer than loving protector?
    “Where might this husband be then while I visit in your dressing room?” 
    He leaned back clearly making himself quite at home.  
    “I am a widow my lord,” she stated simply.  She’d be damned if she would sit here and discuss Michael with this man.  She bent to take off one satin slipper, the chemise dipping low and revealing a generous view of her breasts.  She caught his eyes focused like a cat on a bowl of cream and realized what she had exposed.  It was truly her undoing, as the evil imp in her rose up and took over. Once she had felt herself nearly a slave to his power over her heart and body and oh wouldn’t it feel good to have him in hers?  Even just for a few moments?
    He found himself surge at the word widow; truly was there a more magical word? First he found out she was an actress, then that she had married and almost immediately that she was a widow.  His head already spinning, he was unable to take his eyes from the slender hand that proceeded to roll down one silk stocking over a creamy and shapely calf.  Certain, up until an hour ago anyway,  that he would feel no compulsion to touch her, that the past would be the past, it was shocking how such a little thing could send the blood raging hot through his body.  He had quickly gone from a volatile mixture of guilt and anger to pure, brainless lust.
    She knew how to play the temptress.  Oh she knew.  How many times on stage had she played such a character?  Albeit, she had always played a less obvious and less exposed one. Her only thought in the moment was to step into a role that was in control, not vulnerable. She had seen the fire that lit his eyes when she said “widow.”  Such a typical man!  She was the farthest thing from a whore, but it was obvious that in his mind actress, widow and whore were interchangeable words meaning available .  So let him think it until he learned better and let him want what he would never have again!  She wasn’t ignorant. She had heard the rumors of all the women over the years.  While no regular mail passed between Celtica and England, news still managed to make it to
    London. Gossip could not be stopped by any force on earth. 
    The first dozen times it had ripped her heart to bloody shreds.  It couldn’t be clearer he hadn’t wasted a moment missing her or experiencing any regrets for their parting.  She had once played into his hands, now let him play into hers.
    “You’ll have to excuse me my lord, but I do have an engagement this evening and must get ready.  We can converse as I dress if it won’t offend you.” And the smile came easier this time as she became her role.
    “I’m quite comfortable, carry on as you please.  I simply thought that we should acknowledge each other and ease the moment since our parting all those years ago.  It could be a bit embarrassing to us both not to make certain we have put