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Chapter 136
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The League of Rogues Chapter 137
This night was hell on Ashton's control.Watching Rosalind, his Rosalind, going around the dance floor from one man to the nextit was going to kill him. Every time someone touched her hand or made her smile, he flinched."Two more dances. That's all I have to endure." He forced his attention to the rest of the room. His mother was laughing as she huddled in a corner with the other married ladies. A dozen or so ostrich plumes bounced as the ladies bent their heads to gossip. It was his mother's element: the social scene.She was the daughter of an earl, one with a vast fortune, and despite having had her pick of eligible bachelors had married his father out of foolish notions of love. His father's decline had hurt his mother by association. It was only in the last few years that she had entered back into society.He'd helped arrange that, of course, using the fortune he'd built for their family to buy their way back in with wealth and influence. Not that his mother had any notion of
The League of Rogues Chapter 138
Rosalind clutched her shawl tightly about her shoulders as Ashton offered to lift her down from the coach."Come on, darling," he teased. "Don't be frightened.""I'm not." She held out her hand, but he stepped closer and caught her waist, lifting her down. Beyond him the lights of the house bathed the front lawn in a soft golden hue, a lovely contrast to the heavy darkness of the midnight hour."I'll have a footman bring us a bottle of wine. By the looks of it, we'll need it." He was chuckling as he helped her up the steps. The butler opened the door for them, and Ashton took him aside to speak to him while a footman collected her shawl."Ready?" Ashton asked as he returned to her."With you I doubt I'll ever be truly ready," she said as Ashton led her up the grand stairs. Risking her future on a game of chess? It was madness, but it was a risk worth taking if she could free herself from Lennox's manipulative agenda, and it was not much of a risk at that, if Rafe was to be believe
The League of Rogues Chapter 139
Her dressRosalind suppressed a shiver as Ashton stood behind her, his warm breath fanning across her neck. Once she removed her dress, they would both be completely indecent.Exposed.Ashton's hands moved to the laces of her gown, and he began to pull the threads out. His touch made her jump."What about my slippers?"His lips twitched and a devilish gleam settled in his eyes. "I don't want your slippers.""This is entirely unfair.""Steady on, darling." His chuckle was bedroom soft and deliciously dark."Just take it off," she muttered, her temper sparking.His fingertips stroked her bare shoulders, teasing patterns over her all-too-sensitive skin."And ruin the delight of the moment? Not a chance." The heat from his body enveloped her from behind, and she fought the part of her that wanted this infuriating, seductive man.The movements of his hands were slow and methodical. The fabric gaped slightly when he'd undone all the laces. She clutched her hands at her sides as he
The League of Rogues Chapter 140
Ashton stood on the steps of the Sheridan townhouse on Curzon Street and tried to quell the sudden bout of nerves in his stomach. He'd risen well before dawn at his estate and slipped out of bed, pressing a light kiss to Rosalind's lips before leaving. It had taken two hours of hard riding to reach London, and his horse was lathered and exhausted. But it was important that he arrive in time to catch Cedric before he left his house for the day. He and Anne were likely to be selecting new mares at Tattersall's this afternoon.For the mission he had this morning, he only trusted Cedric. Today he was acquiring a special license to marry Rosalind. In the past, he'd always been the one to accompany the others to the Doctors' Commons, but it was strange to think today was his turn.He couldn't ask Godric or Lucien. They had married for love alone and would challenge him for marrying Rosalind for mercenary reasons. He could, perhaps, admit that he was marrying her because he wanted to, becau
The League of Rogues Chapter 141
Nelson Lewis, a footman in the Sheridan household, lingered in the doorway to the servants' quarters, straining to pick up any bits of conversation from the three ladies still standing in the hall."Emily, why did you stop pestering once he admitted Rosalind was wonderful?" Lady Sheridan asked.The Duchess of Essex played with the pearls around her neck. "I don't believe Ashton has ever said that about any woman. I believe he has stronger feelings for her than he admits, even to himself."Nelson nudged the door an inch further, studying the well-bred ladies as they walked back into the parlor. But before they disappeared inside he heard Lady Rochester speak."A wedding in Hampshire. It will be lovely."Lennox was to be married? He shut the door and came down the stairs to find the butler, careful to appear as though he was about his normal duties. The older man was standing in the servants' corridor, speaking to the housekeeper."Ah, Nelson, there you are. We have a few errands f
The League of Rogues Chapter 142
"If I ever have to look at another bonnet again, I'll die." Rosalind laughed as she exited the milliner's shop.Joanna yawned. "Agreed. I didn't know there would be so many to try on."After spending two hours at various clothing establishments searching for gowns and other assortments of items needed for a trousseau, the Lennox House footman was laden with boxes piled so high he could barely see. Rosalind and Joanna couldn't stop giggling each time the poor fellow bumped into something while they walked along the street.Regina joined them, pulling on her gloves. "I believe we must have bought half the shops out." She nodded to the footman. "Thank you, Jacob. We're done for the day. I believe it's time to return home.""Yes, I'm famished." Joanna laid a hand on her stomach. "I missed luncheon becausewell, Charles was there, and that man always makes me so nervous. Besides, Ashton will be home soon."Rosalind's heart gave a wild thump. I should not be so excited to see him. She re
The League of Rogues Chapter 143
The weight of three feminine stares made Ashton's stomach clench. His mother and sister knew nothing of what had transpired all those years ago. Aside from academics, they knew he'd formed deep bonds with his friends and that was all. And he hadn't planned on telling Rosalind more unless he had to. She pulled away from his hold to stare up at him, those gray eyes soft as dove feathers.When he'd first gone to Cambridge, he'd had no friends. His father's death and his subsequent debts had destroyed their societal connections. A year later he'd made true friends, whom he had brought home to meet his family. But he had never shared how he had met the rest of the League."Ashton, I never knew that," his mother said, eyes as wide as saucers from the Lennox family china."It is a bad memory. I never wished to share that burden with anyone else.""I'm so sorry," Rosalind whispered again.He rested his forehead against Rosalind's and stroked her back. She could be furious with him as much
The League of Rogues Chapter 144
Tom Linley lingered in the shadows of the servants' stairs, his heart hammering wildly. A footman came down the steps and froze at the sight of him."You will know my servants by the silver star pin on their neckcloths."His master's instructions were not something he would forget anytime soon. He stared hard at the footman and saw a silver star glinting near his throat."Lovely afternoon for a stroll," he said.The footman looked to Tom. "Indeed, but rain can always come from cloudless skies.""And a black sky sometimes doesn't rain at all," Linley agreed."Why don't you give me a hand with polishing the silver?" The footman gestured to the silver cabinet, holding a set of keys.Linley followed the man and waited for him to open the cabinet door. The footman glanced about, searching the hall for other servants, then leaned close to Linley."I've sent word about the wedding between Lennox and Lady Melbourne.""Good. I've not yet had a chance to." Linley slipped a piece of pape
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