Surrender to a Wicked Spy Read Online Free PDF

gentlemanly, but practical. He'd broken more than a few chairs in his life. He'd learned to judge what would hold him. Leaning forward, he rested his elbows on his knees and gazed with appreciation at his bride. Those really were the most astounding—
    "My eyes sit somewhat higher, my lord."
    Her tone was dry and her expression, when he pulled his gaze away from her bosom, was deadpan. Ah, she'd caught him again. He quirked one side of his mouth. "My deepest apologies, my lady. I intend only admiration, I assure you."
    She tilted her head. "I hardly know whether to thank you or slap you. I suppose being my husband does release you from certain proprieties…"
    He nodded with certainty. "Oh, yes."
    She absently toyed with the top ribbon at her neckline. The knot failed completely, giving Dane another inch of plump cleavage to enjoy. His groin throbbed in response and he shifted uncomfortably. This conversing business was going to be more difficult than he'd originally thought.
    "I hardly know anything about you, my lord," she was saying. "For instance, have you any family for me to meet? I noticed there was no one at the ceremony this morning."
    Family. The word took a long moment to worm its way through his distraction. "No—no, I have no immediate family living. My mother passed when I was a boy and my father—" What was he doing? He discussed Henry Calwell with
no one
.
    She was gazing at him encouragingly. "Your father?"
    Dane forced himself to shrug easily. "Gone two years past. Accident." He ought to elaborate, for she might hear something else entirely, although he'd done his best to keep it quiet. "While he was cleaning his pistol, you see."
    She leaned forward and put her hand over his clasped ones. "It is hard, isn't it? I love my parents, of course, but when my brother Walter drowned last month—" She stopped and swallowed hard. "I think Walter was perhaps the best friend I had in this world," she said quietly.
    Lord Walter had by all accounts been a decadent lout, but hardly worse than most of the other young lords occupying themselves in London these days. She had obviously loved the fellow, despite the reputation that had spread since his death. He liked that about her. "And yet your family did not strictly observe a mourning period," he said, careful to keep the judgment from his voice.
    Olivia had been wondering when someone would ask her about that. She and her parents had donned the muted tones of half-mourning, and had not danced at any of the events they had attended, but those barest of observations did little to properly honor Walter.
    "It was necessary that I make a good match this Season," she said slowly.
    Dane covered her comforting hand with his large warm one. Her hand disappeared entirely. "Say no more, my lady. I deduced as much on my own."
    Olivia liked his hand on hers. Experimentally, she slipped her other one beneath his. There was room for both and more. She felt absolutely tiny next to this man.
    What a charming sensation.
    Not to mention a stimulating one. She tilted her head up to study him, for even when seated on a lower chair, he loomed over her. "I think I should like to receive some of your affections now," she blurted.
    He blinked, then looked about them. "Now? In the chair?"
    In the chair? Oh, my—
    That glint was back in his eye. "You're teasing me again," she accused.
    He nodded slowly. "My apologies. I cannot resist, but now is not the time, is it?"
    She pulled her hands away from his and stood, stepping away. She'd spoken impulsively again. Mother had never been able to rid her of that trait entirely. Still, it was too late to take it back now, and she did find him very appealing, and he had been most reassuring about his tastes…
    Her face flamed, but she did not attempt to hide it. "I thought perhaps we could get it over with."
    The rate of Dane's heart increased immediately, as did something else. Perhaps she was the one. She certainly wasn't frightened of him, at least