The Widow and the Wastrel Read Free Page B

know," he replied.
    "I know exactly what I want. To marry Jeremy," Elizabeth stated without qualification.
    "Do you?"
    His fingers closed over her chin and tilted it up. Her green eyes rounded in surprise as she stared into the lean face bending closer to hers. The astonishment at his action was so complete that she had made not one word of protest nor attempted to draw away. Nor was she prepared for the hard, passionate possession of his kiss, the raging fire scorching through her veins. Inexperience had held her frightened by what was happening. When the bruising pressure had been lifted, Elizabeth had only been able to stare into the satisfied gleam of his gold-flecked eyes, reminiscent of a cat playing with its prey.
    "I doubt that Jeremy has ever kissed you like that, Liza," Jed had smiled mirthlessly. "His emotions are too severely checked to permit it."
    "I certainly hope not," Elizabeth had whispered breathlessly, a frightened pulse throbbing in her throat.
    She and Jeremy had kissed many times. Warm satisfying exchanges they were, too. But never had she been left with the sensation that she was about to be seduced.
    "Jerry r-respects me too much to treat me like that," she had added in a more forceful voice that was still quivering slightly.
    "Is that what you want from him? His respect and the Carrel name?" He was laughing at her youth, but she was powerless to stop it. "He will be making love to you, you know."
    "But with gentleness and consideration." A flush began creeping into her cheeks at his open discussion of such an intimate subject.
    "I hope some day, Liza, you'll be honest enough to tell me if that's what you really want." He had sounded almost sorry for her.
    "How dare you speak to me like this? How dare you treat me this way?" she had demanded, now angry that be thought she should be pitied.
    "You've got to wake up, little Liza. Jeremy isn't the man for you," Jed had pointed out smoothly, showing amusement at her display of temper.
    "What's going on here?" Jeremy was visibly bristling at the end of the hallway, his dark eyes looking accusingly at Jed and Elizabeth.
    With a guilty start, she had pulled away from the band that was curled along the side of her neck in an obvious caress. She had been frightened that Jeremy would misunderstand and think she had invited this accidental meeting with his brother.
    "I was just coming in—" she had begun to explain, but Jed broke in calmly.
    "Yes, she was," he agreed, "but I waylaid her before she could hurry back to the safety of your side. I wanted to be the first to kiss your official bride-to-be. I didn't want her to have any doubts that I would welcome her into the house with open arms."
    The suggestive emphasis Jed placed on the last brought a stormy thundercloud into Jeremy's expression. Elizabeth had sensed that Jed was deliberately goading him into anger.
    "You keep away from Elizabeth, Jed," Jeremy had growled.
    "Then congratulations are in order." Jed turned to Elizabeth, who was still too paralyzed to move and smiled. "The verdict is in and the sentence is about to be life. I wouldn't expect much mercy if I were you, Liza. The Carrel family isn't a forgiving lot—know from first-hand experience."
    "Elizabeth, come here," Jeremy ordered crisply.
    As she started to walk by Jed, she read the silent message in his hazel gold eyes, repeating again that she was making a mistake. Her reply was to practically run to Jeremy's side, letting his arm circle her shoulders and draw her to him. She smiled into his face, seeing that her quick obedience had dulled the edge to most of hit anger.
    Then Jeremy's dark eyes had turned to his brother, standing alone several feet away, the expression in Jed's eyes shielded by half-closed eyelids.
    "Mother suggested that for appearances’ sake you should be the best man," Jeremy had announced.
    "I suppose I'm supposed to be honored to be included in the festivities at all. Do you think by giving me a major role that it will