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"Ilike that," she said "It would be better than attending some small, stuffy dinner, where I would feel as conspicuous as the bearded lady at a country fair Speaking of beards--is there a reason Drago hasn’t removed his? He really should remove it, now that he’s a foototiation," Gabriel said ruefully "He’s always had it In fact, whenever he makes an ironclad vow, he swears by his beard"
"Well, that’s silly No one can swear by a beard What if it catches fire?"
Gabriel so, if you wish But be forewarned: he’s very attached to it"
"Well, of course he’s attached to it, it’s his beard"
His lips caressed hers with lingering pressure, until her mouth opened to take in ertips stroked her throat, teasing a flush to the surface of her skin He licked into the kiss, the velvety stroke awakening an erotic pang low in her stomach Her head swa his forear a last deep taste before reluctantly easing his irl today," he murather her wits as he left Picking up a glass paperweight with little glass flowers embedded within, she rolled it absently between her palms and listened to the sounds of the household around her Shutters being opened and dusted, things being scoured, polished, and brushed, rooreed with Gabriel’s assertion that they would need to find a bigger house soon, she liked the terrace house, which wasn’t nearly as spare and bachelor-ish as she’d anticipated It was a corner house in a row of terraces, ide bay s, high vaulted ceilings, and balconies rought-iron balustrades The house had every possiblea tiled entrance hall that was heated with hot water coils and fitted with a dinner lift from the basement While Pandora had been away on the honeyht a few ites feel fa them were a flowered needlepoint pillow, a soft lap blanket with tasseled corners, solass candle cups From Helen and Winterborne, there had been a beautiful new cabinet desk, with a old clock built into the top panel
The terrace ell eneral quite a bit younger than the staff at Eversby Priory, and Heron’s Point too, for that matter They all worked hard to please the housekeeper, Mrs Bristoho directed their daily tasks with crisp efficiency She treated Pandora with a h she was understandably perplexed by the new countess’s utter lack of interest in dos that Pandora was tempted to mention Afternoon tea, for example Teatime had always been a cherished ritual for the Ravenels, even in the days when they hadn’t been able to afford it Every afternoon they indulged in an ample selection of tarts and creaer rolls, scones, andpots of freshly brewed tea were brought out at regular intervals
Tea in this household, however, consisted of either a plain toasted muffin or a lone currant bun, served with butter and a pot of jaht of the long, lavish Ravenel teas, this was quite boring and crumb-drum by comparison The probleht lead to more involvement and responsibility Therefore, it iser to stay silent and eat her e, she could visit Kathleen for tea whenever she wished
The thought of the carriage re up a brass bell on the desk, Pandora rang it tentatively, wondering if Drago would answer Within a o"
He was a large, muscular man with the broad-shouldered build that was ideal for a foot-skirted coat, knee breeches and silk stockings didn’t suit hiold braiding were an affront to his dignity As he watched her with those alert black eyes, she noticed a small crescent-shaped scar that went from the end of his left brow almost to the outer corner of his eye, a pero His black beard, short and neatly triarded hi to do his best in a situation that was unco And that beardit was syn that he would only go so far in co who he was She understood that, too
"How do you like your name to be pronounced?" she asked "Lord St Vincent says it with an ah sound, but I heard the butler pronounce it with a long a"
"Neither’s right"
As she had learned fro yesterday, he preferred to speak with a lance "Why haven’t you said anything?"
"No one asked"
"Well, I’on, without an n"