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.All she could do was blink once and swallow hard.Once more she was mesmerized by his fair beauty.He wasn’t just the most handsome man she’d ever met in her life.Now she remembered why she’d fallen so easily back then.He had a way of making one willingly do almost anything just to hear him say their name, experience his lips against their own, his hands on their body, his body against theirs, his hair tickling their neck and other places the mere thought of which made her blush.Damn him.His smile was triumphant even now, because he knew how she felt when he merely looked at her like that.And curse him.His skin was a sun-baked tan, and Emiline even caught herself wondering for a moment how far his tan would go.His hair, neatly tamed at the back of his head, had faded to a lighter shade in the sun.Now he had small wrinkles around his eyes.Barely there, but they made his alluring, seductive gaze even wilder than ever.He wore a jacket that was exactly the same shade as the green part of his swirling eyes, and his elegant, golden breeches did little to hide the muscular columns underneath.The years had added to his good looks.She’d thought him handsome then? Well, he was as beautiful as an angel now.So beautiful she’d weep if she could.But she couldn’t do anything at all.She was too stunned.She bowed her head and gave him the friendliest smile she could manage.“Reinier.”When he presented his arm, she took it and let him guide her to the table where their tea was set.Aloof politeness was the right course, Emiline decided while she was sorting through the chaos in her mind.Maybe he’d be gone by the evening tide.If it wasn’t too late for it already?Emiline busied herself by filling their cups with tea.She could deal with him.She was a strong woman.She was in charge.Emiline almost believed herself if it hadn’t been for the tiny voice in her head that snickered evilly that she controlled every aspect of her life—save him.But she had a plan to remedy that as well, didn’t she?The awkward silence in the room now felt oppressing.Emiline brought her cup up to her mouth and sipped elegantly while trying to find a way to start a pleasant conversation with Reinier.But what could she possibly say?Reinier leaned back and watched her craning her head a little, blinking at him like she always did.She wasn’t showing him any kind of emotion at all.But she had to feel something.Elation or, more likely, anger.Anything that showed him she felt—for him.But she didn’t.Had she ever?He noticed her hands were trembling.When she put the cup down on the saucer she was holding with her left hand, it clattered.Emiline cleared her throat at the embarrassing noise.Reinier laughed softly.“What amuses you?” She was only smiling at him, her stunningly bright eyes searching his face, and as always she didn’t have the slightest idea what he was thinking.“I see that nothing has changed.”“Oh…” Emiline set out, but he rose to leave and she didn’t continue.Reinier had had enough for the moment.If he’d missed the evening tide, then they had plenty of time to talk before morning.“Since I feel fatigued after the journey, I will retire until supper.I expect you to honor me with your presence, Emiline.”Her mouth opened and closed a few times, but in the end, she nodded, “Of course.”Reinier hid his disappointment behind a detached but self-assured smirk, an expression he’d practiced well over the years.He’d have preferred her sneering at him, or screaming she’d rather starve or eat maggots than dine with him.But no, he wouldn’t get any emotional reaction from her.Emiline.Always polite.Ever the perfect wife.He’d forced himself to forget, but he remembered now why he needed to stay away from her.She filled his sweetest dreams and haunted his nightmares.Yes, he had loved her.But he hated her for not loving him back—and that was why he could not forgive her.4Emiline had lingered in her preparations for dinner hoping to annoy Reinier by making him wait, but now she decided that was a much too petty and cowardly tact for the Mistress of Bougainvilla.Her foot was tapping with apprehension as she sat at her dressing table.She pictured him down in her parlor, with his typically triumphant smirk, the smile that she hated and loved at the same time.She mustn’t let him get to her.Not again.Not ever.He wasn’t worth it.Each emotion Emiline let him pull from her was like another stabbing pinprick, and she wanted them to stop.She ruled here, and now she was overly anxious to get downstairs and show him just that.Justine was humming softly to try and calm her.“Be still, child, or I’ll never be done.”“Sorry [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]