Viscount of Vanity by Tammy Andresen (little red riding hood ebook free TXT) 📕

She hated gambling with a passion. Almost as much as she despised drinking. And he owned an establishment that made money off the endeavor. She clasped her hands in her lap. How could she not have known that?

What if he turned out to be addicted to gaming like her father, and ended up losing everything? What guarantee did she have she wouldn’t end up the same way she was when her father wanted to auction her? Alone and destitute.

“Vanity, guess what else,” Abigail clapped. “Eliza sent a letter that arrived yesterday. There is big news with my cousin Avery. I can’t wait to hear what’s happened.”

“Infamy took Avery out of the city, didn’t he?” Austin asked.

Gabriella looked over at Austin. “Infamy? Another of your partners?” She hadn’t intended any bitterness to color her words but a bit of it leaked out.

Austin’s jaw clenched a muscle ticking in his jaw. “Yes.”

The door opened and the butler entered. “Dinner is served.”

Gabriella stood, determined to be more gracious for the rest of the evening. But when they returned to the cottage, it was time for her and Austin to have another discussion about the parameters of their relationship.

Chapter Eleven

Austin had learned in the past few days that Gabriella was a woman who enjoyed silence. It suited him quite well. He liked her quiet personality.

But the silence in the carriage as they returned to the cottage was…stony.

He’d been searching for a way to breach it since they entered the vehicle, but his meager attempts had failed.

He’d begun with, “My friends enjoyed your company.”

“And I theirs.” Then nothing. Not even a glance.

“The evening is mild.” He’d tried again.

“Yes,” was all she replied as she stared out into the darkness.

Finally, he leaned down onto his knees, staring at her. “You’re angry.”

“Quite.”

Well. That was direct. And he appreciated her honesty. But he had the feeling he’d be far less pleased with whatever had upset her. He scrubbed the back of his neck. “Would you mind telling me why?”

Her dark eyes met his, her head high as she stared at him. “I’ve been trying to discern the finer points of my irritation all evening and I believe I’ve landed on it.”

“What is it?”

“We don’t actually have a legitimate match in any sense.”

That made him sit back in his seat. “I beg your pardon?”

“We’ve not consummated our marriage. I’m not your lover. I know almost nothing about your life, your work. For example, I had no idea you ran a gaming hell, an establishment I find—” She stopped, rubbing her temples. “This isn’t even your home. I’m not intertwined into your life in any way. We didn’t even kiss to seal our vows.”

His mouth opened and then closed. Opened again, but he couldn’t form words. She was right. There was nothing to say but that. “We’ve only known each other a few days. Soon you’ll know everyone I know. And you’ll be intimately acquainted with all my homes and—”

“Homes? You have multiple homes? How many homes do you have?”

He cringed. He’d stepped into that one. “Three. One of which isn’t entailed. Which means I’ll bequeath it to you as soon as I can meet with a barrister.”

It was her turn to open her mouth and then close it again. Her hands fluttered and then settled back into her lap. “You’re going to give me a house?”

“Yes, Gabriella. You are my actual wife, regardless of what you just said, and it’s my duty to take care of you. Which I will do to the fullest of my ability.” He reached for her hands, taking them in his larger ones. “I told you, I was sick as a child. I’m always afraid something might happen to jeopardize my health. I’ll take steps to make certain that you are provided for no matter what happens to me. You’ll never have to be under your father’s care again.”

In a rush of skirts, she was across the carriage and in his lap, her lips finding his. He pressed her closer to his front as he allowed her to kiss him senseless. It had only been a few days. He’d built a life on discipline and control, and yet, as he held her, he was already tired of holding himself apart from her.

He wished to lose himself in her body, drown in his feelings for her.

She leaned back. “If you truly want to protect me, we should start having children. With an heir, I’ll have the full protection of the viscountcy always.”

He closed his eyes as he pressed his forehead to hers. The woman had a point. And besides, creating a child was one of the reasons he’d married her. He wasn’t giving in to his desire, he was fulfilling an important duty to her and to himself. “That is a most excellent point.”

Their lips met again in a slow, sensual breath that made his heart race in his chest. Her breasts were pressed to his chest and he ran a hand down the curve of her spine. He trailed his fingers over the ample swell of her behind and then, grasping both cheeks, settled her closer.

She whimpered into his mouth, her gloved fingers stroking at his neck.

The carriage rolled to a stop and he made a noise deep in his throat. He didn’t want to set her down even for a second, but then again, the sooner they made it into the cottage, the better.

He slid her to the side and snapped open the door, swinging her out of the vehicle and into his arms again.

The carriage drove off, returning to Chad’s as Austin carried his wife inside.

She kissed him again, and somehow he managed to get the door open and stumble inside with her in his arms, their lips locked together.

He pressed his back against the door to shut it again and then unbuttoned her pelisse with his free hand.

Progress to the bedroom was slow as a trail of clothes scattered on the floor, but by the time they’d made it to