Scandal's Bride Read Online Free PDF Page B

firm, too determined. Too self-willed. She was of below average height, petite and slender, yet her figure, though sleek and supple, was not boyish. Indeed not. Her figure made his palms itch.
    Unrestrained by the usual demands of polite dinner conversation, he surreptitiously let his gaze feast. Only when the desserts were set before them did he sit back and let his social senses take stock. Only then did he notice that while the others occasionally exchanged idle glances and the odd desultory comment, none looked at him, or at Catriona. Indeed, with the sole exception of the silent but watchful, and disapproving, Miss O’Rourke, they all kept their gazes carefully averted, as if fearful of drawing his attention. Only Jamie interacted with either Catriona or himself, and then only stiltedly, when need arose.
    Curious, Richard tried to catch Malcolm’s eye, and failed; the youth seemed, if anything, to sink further into his chair. Glancing at Catriona, Richard saw her look up and scan the table; everyone took care not to meet her gaze. Unperturbed, she patted her lips with her napkin. Richard focused on the soft pink curves, and remembered, with startling clarity, precisely how they tasted.
    Shaking aside the memory, he inwardly shook his head. Apparently Seamus’s family were so trenchantly timid, they were moved to treat both Catriona and himself like potentially dangerous animals who might bite if provoked.
    Which definitely said something about his witch.
    Maybe she really was a witch?
    That thought provoked others—like what a witch would be like in bed; he was deep in salacious imaginings when Jamie nervously cleared his throat and turned to Catriona.
    â€œActually, Catriona, I’ve been thinking that, now Da”s gone and you’ll be my ward, that it really would be better—more fitting, I mean—if you were to come and live here.”
    Caught in the act of swallowing a spoonful of trifle, Catriona stilled, then swallowed, laid down her spoon, and looked directly at Jamie.
    â€œWith us, the family,” he hurried on. “It must be very lonely at the vale all by yourself.”
    Catriona’s expression grew stern; her green eyes held Jamie’s. “Your father thought the same, if you recall?”
    It was immediately clear everyone at the table, bar Richard, did; a communal shudder passed around the room, even including the footmen, silent by the walls.
    â€œLuckily,” Catriona went on, her gaze still locked with Jamie’s, “Seamus thought better of it, and allowed me to live as The Lady wishes, at the manor.” She paused, eyes steady, giving everyone time to feel the weight behind her words. Then she raised her brows. “Do you truly wish to set your will against that of The Lady?”
    Jamie blanched. “No, no! We just thought you might like to . . .” He gestured vaguely.
    Catriona looked down and picked up her spoon. “I’m perfectly content at the manor.”
    The matter was closed. Jamie exchanged a glance with Mary at the other end of the table; she shrugged lightly and grimaced. Other members of the family shot quick glances at Catriona, then rapidly looked away.
    Richard didn’t; he continued to study her. Her authority was remarkable; she used it like a shield. She’d put it up and Jamie, poor sod, had run headlong into it. Richard recognized the ploy; she’d tried the same with him with her “ Put me down ,” but he’d been too experienced to fall for it—she’d been all woman once he’d got his hands on her, soft, warm, and pliant. The thought of having his hands on her again, of having her warm, pliant, feminine flesh beneath him, made him shift in his seat.
    And focused his mind even more. On why, exactly, he found her so . . . appealing. She wasn’t, in fact, classically beautiful; she was more powerfully attractive than that. It was, he decided, noting the