An Invitation to Pleasure Read Online Free

remembered the way his body felt against hers, recalled precisely the fluttering anticipation as his lips brushed hers. She tugged at the knotted strings of her bonnet. The relief, when she pulled the dratted thing from her head, was enormous. She ran her fingers through her tangled curls with a sigh.
    ‘Have you the headache? I’m not surprised, all that bowing and scraping, I’ve a headache with it myself.’
    She had expected him to bid her goodnight and leave, yet here he was, standing behind her. His strong fingers on her temples were gentle and soothing. His being here was most improper. Perhaps things were different in Scotland. Susanna closed her eyes as the pain surrendered to his touch until it veered from soothing to something more unsettling. Different customs or no, this could not possibly be right. In fact, now her thumping headache was gone, none of it seemed right at all.
    She pushed his hands away and turned to confront him. ‘What is going on? Why did all those people make such a fuss over me? What were all those toasts about? And what are you doing here, in my bedchamber? I am five-and-twenty and perfectly capable of undressing myself.’ Almost before she had finished speaking she started blushing. ‘I beg your pardon, I did not mean to imply that you would—that I would—what I mean is, Fergus, you should not be here.’
    Fergus ran his fingers through his hair. ‘Aye well, actually, Susanna, it’s expected that I stay here, under the circumstances.’
    He should not have attempted the smile. He’d meant to try for endearing, but Susanna, Fergus was fast realising, was not a woman who could be manipulated, even if it was for her own good. She stared at him in astonishment. ‘What circumstances?’
    ‘We need to talk.’
    He sat down, and indicated the chair opposite, but Susanna remained rooted to the spot, crossing her arms across her chest. ‘Then talk.’
    ‘Will you at least take off your coat?’
    ‘Provided you understand that is all I’m removing. And before I do even that much, let me inform you that I don’t care what kind of customs of droit signeur prevail in these parts, I will have nothing to do with them.’
    He couldn’t help it—he laughed. ‘Faith, woman. This is the nineteenth century, not the dark ages. Though if the notion of me as a brawny Highland laird in plaid carrying you off to my lair pleases you, I’ll do my best to oblige.’
    ‘I would not have you go to such trouble on my behalf,’ Susanna replied primly.
    She did not laugh, but the sparkle in her eyes gave her away. That biddable wee lass he had imagined would not have been half as much fun as this woman. Though fun, Fergus reminded himself, as Susanna cast her pelisse aside and sat down facing him, was not the point at all. Fergus drummed his fingers on the arm of the chair, struggling for a subtle opening. Looking up, he met a pair of wide-open grey eyes, and decided that bluntness would serve him best. ‘They think we are betrothed,’ he said baldly.
    ‘Betrothed!’
    ‘There’s no need to screech.’
    ‘I did not screech. And if I did, it was your own fault. “I would consider it an honour if you would join me over Christmas,” your letter said. “I am sure that you will enjoy the way we celebrate the new year here in the Highlands,” you wrote. At no point did you mention marriage. My God, I’ve only just escaped the hell of one union. Do you think I’m so stupid as to repeat my mistakes?’
    Which at least answered the question of whether or not she had been happy, Fergus thought. He grabbed her before she reached the door. This was not going well. ‘Susanna, listen to me. You cannot know how deeply sorry I have been these past three years, knowing how unhappy I made you. I would have written, called on you, but what would be the point when the damage was done? Hearing from me, your nemesis, would only have caused you more pain.’
    Susanna frowned, shaking her head in confusion.