Read Online Dark Obsession by Fredrica Alleyn - Free Book Online Page A

terms of very subtly shaded surfaces and I’d use artificially faded fabrics, anything too obviously new would clash horribly.’
    ‘Do you admire Marina’s wing?’ he demanded abruptly.
    ‘I like the French romantic style,’ Annabel said carefully, ‘but it has to be used in the right rooms.’
    ‘Seems to keep her happy. She’s a romantic type of woman, of course. Are you?’ He pushed his face close to Annabel’s.
    ‘I don’t think so,’ responded Annabel, who felt anything but romantic with her sexual desire for Sir Matthew occupying every spare thought.
    ‘Glad to hear it. Ruins everything that does. She’s not a physical woman, you see,’ he added, dropping his voice. ‘Now me, I’m very physical. I have needs, if you take my meaning.’
    Remembering his son’s comments, Annabel took his meaning only too well, but she kept her face expressionless and didn’t answer him.
    ‘A man needs someone to warm his bed now and again,’ persisted her host, his hand reaching beneath the tablecloth and gripping her left knee tightly.
    Annabel glanced down the table to where Lady Corbett-Wynne was sitting but she was still in intimate conversation with Sir Matthew and totally oblivious to anyone else at the table. As Annabel moved her legs to one side her right foot pressed against Sir Matthew’s. Although he continued to keep his gaze on his hostess Annabel felt the pressure returned softly.
    ‘Not engaged, are you?’ asked Lord Corbett-Wynne, draining his glass of Chablis and refilling it before the waiting maidservant had the opportunity.
    ‘No,’ said Annabel with a polite smile. ‘I think perhaps I’m too fussy.’
    ‘Doesn’t do, doesn’t do! It’s astonishing the number of women I’ve bedded who’ve turned out to be extraordinary once you got them going. Be more adventurous, my dear, that’s my advice to you.’
    Across the table Crispian looked at Annabel and grinned. ‘Ignore him; he’s only hoping you might decide to try the more mature man. Isn’t that right, Pa?’
    Annabel shifted uneasily in her seat, still worried about Lady Corbett-Wynne. Crispian understood her fear. He leant across the table, narrowly avoiding knocking over one of the vases of freesias. ‘Don’t worry about Step-mama, she couldn’t care less what he does as long as he leaves her alone. Besides, it seems she’s having a good time for once in her life.’
    Annabel could see that for herself. She only wished it wasn’t with the first man to have literally set her own pulse racing.
    The second course was rather over-cooked pheasant, served with parsnips, carrots, and game chips. The vegetables were horribly undercooked and this time Annabel could scarcely eat more than a few mouthfuls.
    ‘Not hungry?’ asked Sir Matthew as the plates were removed.
    ‘Not really.’
    ‘You ought to take more exercise. Are you naturally pale, or is it the company?’ he asked with a smile.
    ‘I’m always pale. In fact I only get colour in my cheeks when I’ve got a temperature.’
    He looked thoughtfully at her. ‘I’m sure I could bring some colour to them without making you ill in the process.’
    Annabel knew that he could, she only wished that he’d put his hand on her knee as Lord Corbett-Wynne had done. But he didn’t, contenting himself instead with resting his hand on the top of Annabel’s arm. ‘You must come and look over my place before you go. Some of the ground-floor rooms are in a sorry state. I’d like your advice on them.’
    ‘With pleasure,’ responded Annabel. ‘I’ll be here for at least three weeks, so there’s no rush.’
    ‘Well, don’t leave it until the last minute. We might need to spend a little time discussing things,’ he said quietly. Then his fingers travelled in a slow line down her arm and over her hand before he picked up his spoon for the dessert.
    After that he spent the rest of the meal talking to his hostess again. Annabel began to wonder, as she fended off more and more