Emily French (35 page)
Authors: Illusion
Sophy pulled her head back in order to see his face. “I think I like your idea of gallantry under fire! To have one’s husband’s undivided attention will set a new fashion!”
He laughed and hugged her tighter to him. She felt the reverberations throughout his body. “Hell, Sophy! Do you want to take odds on how long it will be before all the women in New York are wearing mirrors on their slippers and red underwear?”
“When Madame Bertine opens her Academy of Good Manners and Etiquette. Now that she has secure title over the house in Greene Street, she is giving up her present occupation.”
Seth stilled abruptly, utterly. Though he showed no sign of anger, Sophy saw his lips move as if to protest. She put up her fingers to prevent him speaking.
“Scandalous, is it not? But education is women’s great weapon. Should we not have a voice in our wielding? Why bind us? Why deny us the full freedom that men grant to themselves?”
Seth’s head tilted. His eyes glinted. Did he have a choice? She was the most obstinate, the most unreasonable, the most maddening woman in the world.
And he loved her.
“Now I know why so many men try so hard to keep their women locked in cages. They’re strangers to reason. Freedom is not worth the price women set on it. It is an illusion.”
Sophy’s breath escaped in a rush. “And what price does a woman have to pay? If, after all we have shared, you are going to be unreasonable, I shall bore you to death with conformity!”
Seth grinned, watching the loving expression in her wide violet-gray eyes. No reasonable man would love a woman so much. But love has no logic in it. He accepted the truth of it. Whatever came of this venture, he would not perish of boredom.
“I never said I would bind you. I was just going to say that there are some finer points in our marriage contract I would like to go over again.” He glanced round at the assembled gathering. The way was simple. He met her eyes.
“If we are to keep up with the orders your brand of advertising is likely to generate, there is a little question of additional machinery to meet the demand. I thought you might be interested in increasing your loan, if we can negotiate suitable terms of repayment.”
The laughter of relief began to build inside her until it threatened to erupt. “You’ll be sorry! As a woman of considerable experience and a sharp usurer, I shall expect one hundred percent for my money...in kisses!”
Firm hands seized her about the waist, lifted her, spun her, set her down again with gentle force.
“I would pay no less! And what of my kisses, Sophy?”
Sophy laughed. It was light, free. “Your kisses are mine, just as mine are yours. We share everything we possess, so that it is impossible to know where your half starts and mine begins.”
Seth smiled, tasting the sweetness of his victory. “It is too early yet for certainty, but could you not consider this one of your
worthy causes
?” He touched her flat belly.
worthy causes
?” He touched her flat belly.
Sophy’s cheeks went hot pink as the blood rushed into them. She spun, turned to him, curtsied, laughing delightedly up at the man who seemed to know more about her than she knew about herself.
“This and the dozen others I will gladly bear you!”
His eyes tore her soul. “A dozen others! Sophy, how scandalous! New York society will think we spend our time in bed!”
A small secret smile broke out over her wide lips, the gaslight turning her teeth to dazzle. Her merriment rippled in his ear.
“Let society enjoy its illusions. Only we will know the real truth.”
She stepped into his open arms, which closed tightly around her.
ISBN : 978-1-4592-7519-5
ILLUSION
Copyright © 1996 by Germaine Kennedy
All rights reserved. Except for use In any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills. Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.
All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.
This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books SA
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are trademarks of the publisher. Trademarks indicated with ® are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Trade Marks Office and in other countries.Other books
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