Emerald Desire (Emerald Trilogy) Read Online Free
Author: Lynette Vinet
were of the same color, and his shoes were black with silver buckles. He walked with a cane, not because of any infirmity, but because it made him appear authoritative. He seemed to be the same age as Timothy---perhaps a trifle younger; there were no lines around his eyes, and his mouth was thin-lipped. In his eyes, which were green and shining, she thought she discerned something akin to meanness. But whatever she saw quickly disappeared as he gazed appreciatively at her.
"I can readily see how a man could be driven to perilous straits by your beauty, Mistress Dera."
''I'm honored you remembered my name your lordship. 1 was just a child when 1 came to live with my uncle and never imagined you knew of my existence. I was very sorry to hear of Lady Fairfax's death," she said in an attempt to change the subject and keep the flush from her face.
He sighed to himself, but continued walking with his hand touching her elbow. "Poor Elvina was in great pain at the end. It's a blessing the Lord took her. The subject depresses me. Now tell me, my dear, is it proper for me to ask your age?"
"Next month I shall be seventeen, your lordship."
"So young, but you possess a maturity others your age do not. Answer me truthfully--do you think 1 am an old man?" He smiled as he asked this odd question of her and she thought her answer must be given honestly. To her, Avery Fairfax was old in comparison to Quint; however, he wasn't old in comparison to Paddy, their neighbor, who was eighty. She decided to circumvent the question for Uncle Timothy's sake. She didn't want anything she said to hurt either him or Lydia. She had heard rumors that things could be hard for those who disappointed his lordship.
Dera licked her lips, watching his unreadable expression. "I cannot say, my lord, for I don't see with your eyes or feel your feelings. It's not for me to decide such a thing."
For an instant his eyes clouded, then he threw back his head and gave a great laugh. "You are all I thought you would be, beautiful, serious and tactful. Come." He led her along. "I have something I want you to see."
He guided her through the crowd, heads turning as they passed, people whispering behind their hands. She was uncomfortable but somewhat proud to be seen with Lord Fairfax.
"Here he is," he said. "A more beautiful animal you'll not find in Ireland." They stopped under a canopy of sorts and beneath it stood a black stallion, blacker than the devil's heart, with nostrils flared in protest. His whole presence seemed to defy anyone to touch him.
"He's beautiful," she said in admiration. "Have you just purchased him?"
"Yes, this morning. He cost me a great deal, but anything worth possessing is worth whatever one has to pay." Lord Fairfax looked at her in a strange way, an expression passing across his face that she chose not to dwell upon.
"Have you given him a name?"
"Choose one for me, Mistress Dera. Name this noble beast for me." He leaned in closer, his breath on her face and she suppressed a shudder. He had saved her from Jem and was kind to her, but he repulsed and intrigued her at the same time. She had a sudden wish to be somewhere else, far away from his lordship, somewhere alone with Quint.
Almost as if she wished Quint to materialize, she heard his deep voice behind her.
"Aye, Dera, name the horse for his lordship." Disapproval was etched upon his face. His features were hard as a stone wall; his eyes were blacker and wilder than the stallion's.
His shirt sleeves were rolled up, the muscles flexed in his arms with every movement; his dark breeches molded to his powerful thighs. Quint walked with the lightness of a jungle animal. Each time she saw him she never ceased to catch her breath in wonder at his handsomeness and dream of the day they would marry. But now he regarded her like an angry god who might easily strike her down with his wrath.
"How dare you refer to Mistress Dera by her Christian name, you whelp ! You are too familiar." Avery
"I can readily see how a man could be driven to perilous straits by your beauty, Mistress Dera."
''I'm honored you remembered my name your lordship. 1 was just a child when 1 came to live with my uncle and never imagined you knew of my existence. I was very sorry to hear of Lady Fairfax's death," she said in an attempt to change the subject and keep the flush from her face.
He sighed to himself, but continued walking with his hand touching her elbow. "Poor Elvina was in great pain at the end. It's a blessing the Lord took her. The subject depresses me. Now tell me, my dear, is it proper for me to ask your age?"
"Next month I shall be seventeen, your lordship."
"So young, but you possess a maturity others your age do not. Answer me truthfully--do you think 1 am an old man?" He smiled as he asked this odd question of her and she thought her answer must be given honestly. To her, Avery Fairfax was old in comparison to Quint; however, he wasn't old in comparison to Paddy, their neighbor, who was eighty. She decided to circumvent the question for Uncle Timothy's sake. She didn't want anything she said to hurt either him or Lydia. She had heard rumors that things could be hard for those who disappointed his lordship.
Dera licked her lips, watching his unreadable expression. "I cannot say, my lord, for I don't see with your eyes or feel your feelings. It's not for me to decide such a thing."
For an instant his eyes clouded, then he threw back his head and gave a great laugh. "You are all I thought you would be, beautiful, serious and tactful. Come." He led her along. "I have something I want you to see."
He guided her through the crowd, heads turning as they passed, people whispering behind their hands. She was uncomfortable but somewhat proud to be seen with Lord Fairfax.
"Here he is," he said. "A more beautiful animal you'll not find in Ireland." They stopped under a canopy of sorts and beneath it stood a black stallion, blacker than the devil's heart, with nostrils flared in protest. His whole presence seemed to defy anyone to touch him.
"He's beautiful," she said in admiration. "Have you just purchased him?"
"Yes, this morning. He cost me a great deal, but anything worth possessing is worth whatever one has to pay." Lord Fairfax looked at her in a strange way, an expression passing across his face that she chose not to dwell upon.
"Have you given him a name?"
"Choose one for me, Mistress Dera. Name this noble beast for me." He leaned in closer, his breath on her face and she suppressed a shudder. He had saved her from Jem and was kind to her, but he repulsed and intrigued her at the same time. She had a sudden wish to be somewhere else, far away from his lordship, somewhere alone with Quint.
Almost as if she wished Quint to materialize, she heard his deep voice behind her.
"Aye, Dera, name the horse for his lordship." Disapproval was etched upon his face. His features were hard as a stone wall; his eyes were blacker and wilder than the stallion's.
His shirt sleeves were rolled up, the muscles flexed in his arms with every movement; his dark breeches molded to his powerful thighs. Quint walked with the lightness of a jungle animal. Each time she saw him she never ceased to catch her breath in wonder at his handsomeness and dream of the day they would marry. But now he regarded her like an angry god who might easily strike her down with his wrath.
"How dare you refer to Mistress Dera by her Christian name, you whelp ! You are too familiar." Avery