Read Online The Training of a Marquess by Sandra Owens - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Sandra Owens
Tags: Historical
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her wildest imagination. She was glad now that Thomas had never kissed her. If he had, she would have never asked Chase to do so.
Chase. His name struck a chord in her heart. Would he kiss her again? Claire grinned. How foolish to think one time would satisfy her. She fell asleep and dreamed of kissing an angel.
When the early morning sun on her face woke her, she rang the bell for her maid, performing her absolutions and dressing with a bounce in her step. Not wanting to wear her black bombazine, she settled on a lavender day dress suitable for half mourning.
She arrived in the dining room and, ravenous, piled her plate high with food. As she ate, she watched the door. When Chase hadn’t appeared by the time she finished breakfast, she went searching for Mrs. Smithfield. Claire found the housekeeper in the kitchen.
“Has Lord Derebourne come down to breakfast, yet?”
“No, my lady, he asked that a tray be sent up to him and the boys.”
Disappointed, she went to the stables and spent several hours closed up in her office with Gordon. When she returned to the house for luncheon and there was still no sign of him, she asked Smithfield if he had seen the marquess.
“Yes, my lady, he left not long ago to take the twins to the lake for a swimming lesson.”
Alone for luncheon, she nibbled on her food, her excitement waning. Was he avoiding her? No, he had promised the twins he would take them to the lake today. Harry’s question from yesterday popped into her head. Chase would be swimming in his drawers. The thought refused to leave her mind and she gave up trying to eat. Returning to the stables, she learned he had saddled Mischief and Victory, and had rigged up the pony cart for Bensey.
The marquess was at the lake wearing only his drawers. There was a spot where she could go and see him swimming, and he would never know she was there. No, she mustn’t. Even as she swore to herself she wouldn’t do it, she returned to her room and changed into a green riding habit that would blend in with the trees.
Claire tied Amira to a branch and made her way through the woods. When she arrived at the place from where she could see the lake, she stopped. The most amazing view of a man she had ever seen stood before her. Chase walked out of the water wearing only his drawers. His hair was wet, and water ran down his muscled chest and long legs. He laughed and said something over his shoulder to the boys, but she was too far away to hear.
Sweet heavens, he was beautiful. She chewed on her bottom lip as a battle waged in her mind. She should leave. It wasn’t proper to spy on a near naked man. Oh, but she wanted to see more. And she might never have another chance to see a man’s body as beautiful as this one. If she slipped through the trees just a few more feet, she’d have a closer view. He would never know.
****
Chase stood at the edge of the boulder preparing to dive into the lake. The twin’s lessons had gone well, both of them taking to the water like baby fish. They had learned to stay afloat by paddling their feet and thought it grand fun to hold their noses and sink under. As their reward, he’d agreed to jump off the boulder. Just as he lifted off, he saw a flash of moonlight-colored hair before it disappeared behind a nearby tree.
The minx!
The surprise of catching her spying almost caused him to hit the water on his belly. At the last second, he pulled up his knees, wrapped his arms around them and made such a big splash that when he came to the surface the boys yelled their approval.
“Jolly good, Father,” Harry yelled.
“Do it again,” Bensey said.
So, she wanted a show. Well, he would give her one. He sauntered out of the water and climbed back onto the rock. This time, instead of jumping, he dived—his legs together, his toes pointed and his arms held straight out from his sides. When he neared the water, he swung his arms forward and followed his hands into the lake with the barest of
Chase. His name struck a chord in her heart. Would he kiss her again? Claire grinned. How foolish to think one time would satisfy her. She fell asleep and dreamed of kissing an angel.
When the early morning sun on her face woke her, she rang the bell for her maid, performing her absolutions and dressing with a bounce in her step. Not wanting to wear her black bombazine, she settled on a lavender day dress suitable for half mourning.
She arrived in the dining room and, ravenous, piled her plate high with food. As she ate, she watched the door. When Chase hadn’t appeared by the time she finished breakfast, she went searching for Mrs. Smithfield. Claire found the housekeeper in the kitchen.
“Has Lord Derebourne come down to breakfast, yet?”
“No, my lady, he asked that a tray be sent up to him and the boys.”
Disappointed, she went to the stables and spent several hours closed up in her office with Gordon. When she returned to the house for luncheon and there was still no sign of him, she asked Smithfield if he had seen the marquess.
“Yes, my lady, he left not long ago to take the twins to the lake for a swimming lesson.”
Alone for luncheon, she nibbled on her food, her excitement waning. Was he avoiding her? No, he had promised the twins he would take them to the lake today. Harry’s question from yesterday popped into her head. Chase would be swimming in his drawers. The thought refused to leave her mind and she gave up trying to eat. Returning to the stables, she learned he had saddled Mischief and Victory, and had rigged up the pony cart for Bensey.
The marquess was at the lake wearing only his drawers. There was a spot where she could go and see him swimming, and he would never know she was there. No, she mustn’t. Even as she swore to herself she wouldn’t do it, she returned to her room and changed into a green riding habit that would blend in with the trees.
Claire tied Amira to a branch and made her way through the woods. When she arrived at the place from where she could see the lake, she stopped. The most amazing view of a man she had ever seen stood before her. Chase walked out of the water wearing only his drawers. His hair was wet, and water ran down his muscled chest and long legs. He laughed and said something over his shoulder to the boys, but she was too far away to hear.
Sweet heavens, he was beautiful. She chewed on her bottom lip as a battle waged in her mind. She should leave. It wasn’t proper to spy on a near naked man. Oh, but she wanted to see more. And she might never have another chance to see a man’s body as beautiful as this one. If she slipped through the trees just a few more feet, she’d have a closer view. He would never know.
****
Chase stood at the edge of the boulder preparing to dive into the lake. The twin’s lessons had gone well, both of them taking to the water like baby fish. They had learned to stay afloat by paddling their feet and thought it grand fun to hold their noses and sink under. As their reward, he’d agreed to jump off the boulder. Just as he lifted off, he saw a flash of moonlight-colored hair before it disappeared behind a nearby tree.
The minx!
The surprise of catching her spying almost caused him to hit the water on his belly. At the last second, he pulled up his knees, wrapped his arms around them and made such a big splash that when he came to the surface the boys yelled their approval.
“Jolly good, Father,” Harry yelled.
“Do it again,” Bensey said.
So, she wanted a show. Well, he would give her one. He sauntered out of the water and climbed back onto the rock. This time, instead of jumping, he dived—his legs together, his toes pointed and his arms held straight out from his sides. When he neared the water, he swung his arms forward and followed his hands into the lake with the barest of
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