Share
Chapter 25
Related chapters
The League of Rogues Chapter 26
Thomas Blankenship stood in the parlor of Evangeline Mirabeau's townhouse, admiring the woman. She reclined on a chaise and watched him through hooded eyes painted an unusual, rich, honey-colored hazel. Her curveslarge breasts and shapely legs, revealed through a dampened muslin gown in thin bluecould easily harden a man. Her pale blonde hair curled in perfect ringlets down her neck and back.Blankenship smiled. It was no surprise that this courtesan had been the Duke of Essex's lover for a year and then some. If Blankenship didn't contain such a hatred for whores, he would be tempted to sate his desires between this woman's thighs. Evangeline had the body of a siren, one that beckoned men to perish upon the rocks at sea, but she lacked Emily's innocence and sweet nature. He craved that, needed to bathe in it, let it soothe the beast which rampaged in his head."Monsieur Blankenship, we have not met, have we?" A lilting, sultry French, Evangeline's accent alone would have swayed most
The League of Rogues Chapter 27
Emily was stretched out on her stomach, reading a collection of essays about philosophy when Godric entered. Her eyes lifted from the pages as he shut his door and leaned back on it, arms crossed. One dark brow rose, as did one corner of his mouth. Her heart leapt. She had the urge to bolt and hide in the underbrush like a startled fawn. The embers between them had smoldered beneath the surface far too long, and would finally be tended to. There would be no going back. Did she trust him?Yes. Far more than she ought to, but it was too late to question that part of her heart that gave itself over to him."Come to me, darling." Like the serpent offering her an apple, his tone promised to educate her with all of the things an innocent young woman shouldn't know.The book fell from her hands and she eased up into a sitting position. Her mind was clouding with heady desire. He had to be as desperate for this as she was. Emily let her legs dangle over the side of the bed and leaned back,
The League of Rogues Chapter 28
Godric returned to the drawing room, where he found all four of his friends overly interested in their billiards game. They glanced at him, then all looked quickly away, and for a long minute no one said a word.Charles tossed his cue carelessly on the table, ruining the game as it knocked balls out of place. "Bloody hell, if no one is going to ask, then I will. How was it?""How was what?" Godric pretended innocence."We all know that you and Emily" For a man who never failed for words, Charles certainly came up short now. "Well, you know Oh, for God's sake, we have ears, man!"Cedric hissed, "Good God, do you want to get us shot?"Godric wasn't the least bit upset. In fact, he found it rather amusing, the image of his friends scrambling like school boys in the hallway just for a glimpse through a keyhole How could he not laugh?"There will be no shooting of anyone, unless any man here dares to try seducing her now. Remember Rule Four. She has chosen me. Is that understood?"Cu
The League of Rogues Chapter 29
Emily paused at the open doorway to Godric's study. He was seated at his desk, pouring over ledgers and letters. She took the opportunity to memorize his features, paint them on the canvas of her mind, and burn them into her heartthe way his dark hair fell into his eyes, the strong hands that gripped the pages, the lean muscled legs stretched out and crossed at the ankles.With a tentative step she crossed study's threshold. The wooden floor creaked. Godric glanced up at her, smiled and resumed his work. Perhaps another woman would have been upset that she hadn't been addressed. But Godric's polite acceptance of her trespass had a wholly different meaning. It represented trust. She didn't wish to ruin the moment by being bothersome and distracting. She selected a book from the shelves, a botanical discussion of plants native to Kent, and settled herself on the couch near him.After a quarter of an hour she looked up to find Godric glaring down at a ledger before him, his teeth gritte
The League of Rogues Chapter 30
Emily had calmed down after the scare of Evangeline's unexpected arrival before they reached the stairs, but her relief was short-lived. A door at the far end of the hall opened. Godric's arm tightened beneath her grasp."Ah bonsoir, Godric!" The most attractive woman Emily had ever seen walked down the hall. She was radiant with her salmon-toned gown, large breasts and wide hips. Blonde ringlets danced down her back in perfect proportions.Emily's chest tightened. She expected Godric to have taken a gorgeous woman as his lover, but to see this Aphrodite in the flesh was too much to bear. By comparison, she was young and inexperienced. She could never match Evangeline in looks or mimic that lusty gaze or sway of hips. To Emily's mortification, she realized she was no competition. If Godric wanted a real woman he could take Evangeline back without question.Godric frowned, clearly uncomfortable with the required introduction. "Return to your room at once." The sharp tone in his voice
The League of Rogues Chapter 31
Dinner that night was a far more formal affair than any other since Emily's abduction. Prior to Evangeline's arrival, all propriety and formality had been banished where the five lords were concerned. Now they observed every single point of etiquette, even though Evangeline wasn't present. Libba had told Emily that Godric had ordered his former mistress to take her meals in her room. That, at least, gave Emily a tiny sense of comfort, knowing that Godric wouldn't allow her to dine with them.He sat at the head of the table with Emily directly to his right. The rest of the men ranged down on either side according to titled order. Well turned out, each gentlemen wore black knee breeches and well-tailored black coats. Emily wore an ice blue silk gown overlaid with a layer of silver netting. Pale stars were embroidered on her matching slippers and pearls threaded her hair like frozen dewdrops. She couldn't believe the results Libba had wrought. She'd never looked so beautiful, never felt
The League of Rogues Chapter 32
Godric held Emily's body loose against him. One of her bare legs stretched over his abdomen, and he rested a possessive hand on the soft skin of her outer thigh. Her head rested on his chest and her faint breaths betrayed her deep state of sleep. He'd worn her out tonight, she was still adjusting to his voracious appetite. She was bolder too, but she still made love with that strange mixture of wanton innocence.It would be a lie to deny his joy at the enthusiasm and boldness in her responses. She loved him, he heard her breathe it once while asleep, and today, she'd said it without the influence of passion. She'd not taken it back, and for that he was glad.No one had ever claimed to love him before, no woman besides his mother. He was loved by Simkins and the League, but Emily was different. He'd always assumed a woman's love would be a burden, but it wasn't. Her affection and loyalty strengthened him. She knew him for who he was, but she loved him anyway, loved him enough to decla
The League of Rogues Chapter 33
The house was rid of Evangeline Mirabeau long before breakfast was even set. Someone had seen to her early departure, and the rest of the house was none the wiser as to who it was. It would seem that, having played her role, she had wisely chosen to leave lest she still be around when Blankenship's men arrived. The relief among the lords was tangible. Breakfast became a cheery affair, and despite Emily's plans to depart, she took advantage of these last few hours with her friends. For they were just that. She'd miss Ashton mothering over the others. She'd miss Lucien's attempts to hide behind his newspaper while teasing the others. She wouldn't get to fish or hunt with Cedric, nor listen to Charles's outlandish tales.And Godric She would miss life with him, but she had no choice."Toast, Emily?" Charles offered a plate of toast as it came her way, breaking through her dark thoughts."Why, thank you, Charles," she said."You're welcome." The earl winked, and when she fetched a slic
Latest chapter
