Vexed by a Viscount Read Free Page B

Soiled, even.
    The problem was that there was absolutely no doubt in her mind that the man wouldn’t be marrying her if it wasn’t for her tidy dowry and assumed ability to procreate. As her father had stated more times than she could count, a man needed heirs. Squire Jeffries had lived as a bachelor as long as he dared, and was now reluctantly seeing to the task of producing offspring.
    And that was where Prudence came in. She knew it was akin to a business transaction, but it didn’t get any more personal than having to give over every part of her life and person to this man forevermore.
    She bit her lip. There was that dirty feeling again.
    Still, regardless of her feelings, he was to be her husband, and she was determined to make the best of it. She lifted her lips in a small, dignified smile and dipped into a well-practiced curtsey. “Good evening to you as well, sir. It is an honor to have you dine with us this evening.”
    Mama’s eyes sparkled with pleasure. Obviously she approved of Prudence’s manners. Clapping her hands together, she said, “Oh my, I just remembered that I have to speak with Cook about the final course. Would you excuse me for a moment?”
    With all the subtlety of an overeager stage actress, she nudged Prudence toward the squire before scurrying away on her concocted errand.
    Wonderful . Smiling awkwardly, Prudence gestured toward the sofa. “Shall we sit?”
    He shook his head. “No, I think not.” Taking a step closer to her, he wet his lips. “With our contracts formalized, I believe a kiss is both expected and appropriate to commemorate our new status.”
    His pale blue gaze darted down her front before finding its way back to meet her eyes. He looked like nothing so much as a buyer sizing up a potential new horse for his stables.
    Swallowing against the disgust that lodged in her throat—he was older than her own father, for heaven’s sake!—she gave a tiny nod before raising her right cheek obediently. He was right. A kiss was expected, regardless of whether or not it was desired.
    He chuckled, sending his warm, moist breath lapping against her skin. What was so humorous? She may not have ever been kissed, but she’d seen her father kiss her mother at least a dozen times.
    Reaching out, he slipped his finger beneath her chin and firmly guided it toward him. With his height and weight remarkably similar to hers, she was left looking directly into his eyes. They were so close, in fact, that she could see the individual spidery red veins extending toward his pupils.
    “No, Miss Landon— Prudence ,” he corrected, without even asking her permission. “A proper kiss.”
    Before she could think of a way to stop him, to invent some perfectly reasonable excuse for him not to press his lips to hers, he leaned forward and did exactly that.
    Oh, good heavens . She squeezed her eyes shut, but otherwise held still. She was basically already his, was she not? What right had she to refuse him? His mouth was firm and cool. It was almost like kissing a wax figurine. She tried not to think about the fact that this, her very first kiss , was with a man more than twice her age.
    What had she expected? It was never going to be like the kisses she read about in the scandalous romantic novels her spinster aunt used to hide in her bedchambers. There was no passion, no fluttering heart, no swelling of love within one’s breast. Certainly no strong and virile hero fighting to save the woman he loved from certain death.
    Aside from the unaccountable relief that his breath smelled pleasantly of lemon drops, she felt only emptiness and dread.
    And then it was over. He pulled away after only a handful of seconds and gave a short nod. “I think we shall scrape along well enough. A biddable wife is key to a successful marriage, and with that in mind, I think I have chosen well.”
    Yes, she was the perfect, obedient young woman she had been raised to be. It was a good thing. It meant she had lived up to