Wicked Delights of a Bridal Bed Read Online Free PDF Page B

taking their meals in the schoolroom rather than joining the adult company. But as Mallory knew, given that Esme had spoken of little else this past month, her sister was simply glad to have so many other young people in residence and didn’t mind being relegated upstairs.
    And arranged in a last, very elegant group, were those at the opposite end of the age spectrum. Among them were: kind, plump cousin Wilhelmina, who’d acted as London chaperone for her and Claire last year; Claire’s parents, Lord and Lady Edgewater; the local vicar, Mr. Thoms; family friends, Lord and Lady Pettigrew; and her mother, Ava.
    Being with them all should have put Mallory at ease. Yet as comfortably familiar as the assembled guests and relations might be, she no longer felt as though she belonged.
    Why, she asked herself, did I ever let Adam talk me into coming downstairs tonight?
    Suddenly Meg tensed for a moment before relaxing again. “Gracious, that was a hard one. Right under the ribs,” she said, laying a hand on her rounded belly. “This baby certainly can kick. I keep telling Cade I’m carrying a boy again, but he says he wants a daughter this time. I suspect we’re going to have to try for a third baby if he’s to get his wish.”
    “Well, I’m sure you won’t have any trouble talking Cade into helping you with that particular endeavor,” Grace remarked with a saucy smile. “But perhaps you ought to give birth to this baby before you mention wanting the next.”
    Meg nodded. “You’re right. Poor love, he nearly paced a hole in the drawing room last time I went into labor. I believe he was in more pain than I was.”
    All the ladies laughed, everyone except Mallory, who couldn’t muster the requisite humor. After that, the conversation turned to babies and the third-floor nursery, which was full of nursemaids and little Byrons. India’s firstborn son, Darius, was also there, a lively playmate for his other toddler cousins.
    If she and Michael had married, Mallory realized, she might have a baby in the nursery now too.
    Rubbing her icy fingers together in her lap, she wondered if she could find a way to slip out of the room unnoticed and make it back upstairs. She was considering her options when Adam suddenly appeared.
    “Ladies,” he said, sending them all a dimple-flashing smile. “Pardon the intrusion, but I wondered if I might borrow Lady Mallory for a moment or two?”
    Feminine eyebrows arched with curiosity, but no one voiced an objection.
    Less than a minute later, Mallory found herself off the sofa and halfway across the room, standing with Adam in the only quiet corner remaining.
    She folded her arms at her waist. “So, what is so urgent that you had to drag me away?”
    “Is that what I did?” he drawled. “And here I thought I was providing you with a much-needed rescue.”
    Her gaze shot to his before glancing away. “I had no such need,” she dissembled, perversely refusing to acknowledge that he was right.
    “So you weren’t on the verge of bolting? Because from my vantage point, you looked as though you were contemplating mutiny.”
    Why does he always have to be so deuced observant? she thought. “I haven’t the faintest idea what you mean.”
    A soft chuckle rumbled from his chest. “Of course you do not.” Reaching over, he caught one of her hands in his and drew it over his arm.
    “Now, what are you up to?” she asked.
    “Dinner. If I’m not mistaken, Croft just informed the duchess that everyone may go in.”
    And so it would appear he had, Mallory realized, as Claire rose from the sofa and began circulating among the guests to share the news.
    Mallory released a sigh. “You were right before, you know, when you said I wanted to mutiny. I do, so why don’t I just slip out when no one’s looking and go upstairs to my room?”
    “Now now, none of that.” He patted her hand. “Anyway, you’re doing fine.”
    “Am I?” she said. “Well, I suppose we shall see just how fine I