The Marsh Hawk Read Online Free PDF

like to tender my felicitations in an appropriate manner when the time comes.”
    She clouded, hesitating. She’d forgotten all about Rupert. There was an odd, unreadable expression in the earl’s face again, just as there had been when she’d first set eyes on him, and when she’d come to in the anteroom after fainting. He was studying her, and that enigmatic look was more disarming at close range than anything she’d encountered in his presence yet.
    â€œWe plan a winter wedding, my lord,” she said, her voice steady for all that she was a shambles. “The actual date has not been set. I must go to Paris first. My trousseau is incomplete.”
    Silence replied to that. He was still observing her.
    â€œB-before the new year, though,” she added during the awkward gap his hesitation rent in the conversation.
    He strolled dangerously close—so close the body heat between them was palpable. The intoxicating aroma of leather and tobacco infused the air. The marriage of scents was dizzying, and provocative. How he towered over her. They were almost touching, and she had to bend her head back to meet his eyes, which studied the curve of her slender throat and décolleté. Drat and blast! Why hadn’t she worn her Brussels lace chemisette?
    All at once he took her hand and lifted it to his lips, which were warm, riddling her with prickling swells of unexpected sensation, like shock waves, coursing to regions of her shuddering body that were heretofore virgin territory. His moist breath on her skin set swarms of butterflies loose in her stomach and threatened her balance.
    â€œI hate to be the one to make an end to this delightful meeting,” he said, lifting his mouth at last. “However, considering the situation, I do not think it wise that we linger here longer. I’ve cost you enough distress this visit, my lady. Any more would be unforgivable. Permit me to leave before you. I think it would be best.”
    â€œOf course, my lord,” she murmured, crestfallen that the interview had come to an end so soon. Dazed, she swayed as he gave up her hand. “Will you be staying on, then?” She wished she hadn’t said it the moment the words were out. Ninnyhammer! Why wouldn’t he stay on? What a jingle-brained thing to say.
    â€œOh, yes, my lady,” he said. He flashed her a positively diabolical grin, and his left eyebrow lifted in punctuation. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” He bowed then, and moved toward the door, but turned back when he reached it. “About the wedding, my lady,” he said, taking hold of the knob. “In the spirit of friendship, I ask you to consider a thought from one older and more . . . experienced than yourself.”
    â€œMy lord?”
    â€œThink carefully, my lady,” he said softly, crossing the threshold. “You do not love him.”
    The heat that rose in her cheeks narrowed her eyes, but the door closed behind him. Her heart was pounding visibly, moving the pink lawn bodice of her frock with every breath. How dare he issue directives! Albeit true, who was he to make such an assumption—and on so brief an acquaintance? Her blood was boiling. No, this was definitely no tryst. Why did the man’s eyes say one thing and his lips another? Was he making mock of her?
    Tears welled in her eyes again, but the library door opened suddenly and she blinked them back as Lady Evelyn waltzed into the room in a cloud of butter-colored muslin that matched her hair. She was alone, and the last person Jenna wanted to see in that moment. She was trapped. She couldn’t run: that would be impolite. She plucked a book from the shelf and pretended to read again.
    â€œGood morning, Lady Jenna,” the girl chirped. “Feeling better, I hope?”
    â€œMuch,” Jenna replied succinctly.
    â€œWe missed you at breakfast.”
    â€œI had a tray in my room.”
    â€œAhhh! Well,