her gaze flicking between the pair before she curtsied low. Yves had no doubt she would be the perfect vehicle for news.
It would be news that would ensure he could save Gabrielle’s son.
Gabrielle seemed not to notice the maid, her tirade continuing uninterrupted. “Surely you can see that—” she continued, before Yves caught her in his arms.
Gabrielle was strong and supple, long and lean, just as he had imagined she would be. The top of her head came to just below his chin. She frowned up at him and opened her mouth to argue further, but Yves granted her no quarter.
He captured those lips securely beneath his own and kissed Gabrielle de Perncault with all the artfulness he could muster. She tasted like wine, yet had a sweetness of her own that flooded his senses. Her curves fit against him in an intoxicating way that nearly made Yves forget his motive for kissing the lady.
Then the maid gasped audibly, recalling him to his senses. Gabrielle quivered within Yves’ embrace in a most bewitching manner, while the echo of feet scampering away filled his ears.
The news would be on every tongue within the hour!
Yves tore his lips from the lady’s with a decidedly unexpectedreluctance. It had been a long time since he had kissed a woman, after all, let alone one as alluring as Gabrielle de Perricault.
Perhaps once she understood his intent, the lady would kiss him again. Yves lifted his head, well satisfied with what he had wrought.
He was stunned by the force of Gabrielle’s slap across his face.
By the time he blinked, the lady had ducked into her chamber and slammed the solid oak door in his face. He stared at the door uncomprehendingly and heard a bolt slide securely home. His annoyance followed quickly on the heels of his astonishment.
What ingratitude the lady showed for his foresight!
A man of honor. Ha!
Gabrielle was still seething as the first gray light of the morning crept through the small window of her room. Rain beat against the walls, the gentle rhythm of its pattering making her shiver beneath her bed linens.
It would be a miserable day for traveling, one well suited to the company she was destined to keep! But the sooner she began, the sooner Thomas might be safely back within her care. And that was more important than any nonsense she might have to tolerate from the likes of Yves de Sant-Roux.
And his behavior was nonsense, indeed.
Gabrielle gritted her teeth and swung out of bed, more than ready to be moving after her sleepless night. Why could men never be satisfied with what they already had to call their own?
Oh, Gabrielle could just spit at her own stupidity! She should know by now that all men were selfish brutes!
Yet she had dared to trust a stranger—even against her instincts—when he had asked to accompany her to her chambers. She had thought he was being gracious—ha!
He had wanted only to warm her bed!
And that after accepting her condition for a match in name alone! Now she understood the import of his pledge to seek out no others—he meant to bed her despite granting his word!
What kind of man broke his vow within hours of taking a pledge? What kind of man launched a campaign of seduction after agreeing to set his needs aside?
Gabrielle should have recognized that lie from the outset She should have anticipated this amorous assault! She had been seven kinds of fool to let a man’s thoughtful manner disarm her!
But it would not happen again, regardless of what charm Yves de Sant-Roux used in his pursuit. Gabrielle folded her arms stubbornly across her chest.
She would not let that knight between her thighs, either before or after Thomas was safe and sound. Gabrielle had given her word, and that was worth something, even if Yves’ pledge was not. Should Yves save Thomas, she would wed him.
But he would never warm her bed.
Though the memory of his short, impassioned kiss was tempting, indeed. When had Michel’s kisses ever stirred such trembles within
It would be news that would ensure he could save Gabrielle’s son.
Gabrielle seemed not to notice the maid, her tirade continuing uninterrupted. “Surely you can see that—” she continued, before Yves caught her in his arms.
Gabrielle was strong and supple, long and lean, just as he had imagined she would be. The top of her head came to just below his chin. She frowned up at him and opened her mouth to argue further, but Yves granted her no quarter.
He captured those lips securely beneath his own and kissed Gabrielle de Perncault with all the artfulness he could muster. She tasted like wine, yet had a sweetness of her own that flooded his senses. Her curves fit against him in an intoxicating way that nearly made Yves forget his motive for kissing the lady.
Then the maid gasped audibly, recalling him to his senses. Gabrielle quivered within Yves’ embrace in a most bewitching manner, while the echo of feet scampering away filled his ears.
The news would be on every tongue within the hour!
Yves tore his lips from the lady’s with a decidedly unexpectedreluctance. It had been a long time since he had kissed a woman, after all, let alone one as alluring as Gabrielle de Perricault.
Perhaps once she understood his intent, the lady would kiss him again. Yves lifted his head, well satisfied with what he had wrought.
He was stunned by the force of Gabrielle’s slap across his face.
By the time he blinked, the lady had ducked into her chamber and slammed the solid oak door in his face. He stared at the door uncomprehendingly and heard a bolt slide securely home. His annoyance followed quickly on the heels of his astonishment.
What ingratitude the lady showed for his foresight!
A man of honor. Ha!
Gabrielle was still seething as the first gray light of the morning crept through the small window of her room. Rain beat against the walls, the gentle rhythm of its pattering making her shiver beneath her bed linens.
It would be a miserable day for traveling, one well suited to the company she was destined to keep! But the sooner she began, the sooner Thomas might be safely back within her care. And that was more important than any nonsense she might have to tolerate from the likes of Yves de Sant-Roux.
And his behavior was nonsense, indeed.
Gabrielle gritted her teeth and swung out of bed, more than ready to be moving after her sleepless night. Why could men never be satisfied with what they already had to call their own?
Oh, Gabrielle could just spit at her own stupidity! She should know by now that all men were selfish brutes!
Yet she had dared to trust a stranger—even against her instincts—when he had asked to accompany her to her chambers. She had thought he was being gracious—ha!
He had wanted only to warm her bed!
And that after accepting her condition for a match in name alone! Now she understood the import of his pledge to seek out no others—he meant to bed her despite granting his word!
What kind of man broke his vow within hours of taking a pledge? What kind of man launched a campaign of seduction after agreeing to set his needs aside?
Gabrielle should have recognized that lie from the outset She should have anticipated this amorous assault! She had been seven kinds of fool to let a man’s thoughtful manner disarm her!
But it would not happen again, regardless of what charm Yves de Sant-Roux used in his pursuit. Gabrielle folded her arms stubbornly across her chest.
She would not let that knight between her thighs, either before or after Thomas was safe and sound. Gabrielle had given her word, and that was worth something, even if Yves’ pledge was not. Should Yves save Thomas, she would wed him.
But he would never warm her bed.
Though the memory of his short, impassioned kiss was tempting, indeed. When had Michel’s kisses ever stirred such trembles within
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