Emerald Desire (Emerald Trilogy) by Lynette Vinet Page A

back."
    "Aye, I'm back. Now turn over."
    With a sensual smile, she rolled onto her back and opened her legs for him. He was inside her almost before she had positioned herself.
    Peg's face was before him, but hers wasn't the face he longed to see. Quint shut his eyes tightly and imagined a woman with long, raven hair and large, violet eyes. He felt her soft, hungry caresses and tasted her sweet pliant mouth. He groaned. His movements became gentler; he stroked the woman's body tenderly until she moaned in rapture. More quickly than he had intended, he released himself into her. A warm pleasure engulfed him. When he opened his eyes, her name died on his lips, for the woman beneath him was not her.
    "Oh, Quint, that was the best of any time," Peg said. "I love you, my darling."
    He rolled off of her and turned on his side. "Go to sleep, Peg," he said wearily. She curled up beside him like a warm, well-fed kitten.
    He lay there a long time, listening to Peg’s quiet, rhythmic breathing. When he knew she was asleep and wouldn't hear him, he whispered the name that burned his tongue like a brand.
    "Dera."
    CHAPTER THIRTEEN
     
    Lady Cecelia silently gazed at the park like beauty of the demesne, enraptured by the winter loveliness of the gardens and lawns. She envied her brother for living in a place so awesomely beautiful and wild. In the distance, a doe and a fawn grazed peacefully, while the trees rose behind them like obelisks.
     
    She knew she should have departed for London earlier, but she had resisted. Most certainly she would be gone before long. Her strict sensibilities refused to permit her to spend one more night under the same roof with the peasant girl her brother had married the previous day. She was so upset by the whole unseemly business, that she had forgotten that this was the Christmas season. The watch fob, which she had carefully chosen for Avery, was still lodged in her valise. So far, he hadn't given her a Christmas remembrance; and she vowed she wouldn't humiliate herself by presenting him with one.
     
    Her mouth twitched in disgust. Avery was more interested in his bride than in her, but she determined to wait until he came downstairs. She wouldn't leave without learning the truth and putting her worry to rest: had her brother been able to consummate the marriage? If so, an unexpected Fairfax heir would ruin everything for her. The house and the grounds were becoming more important to her with each passing day to lose them.
     
    She settled herself at the table and rang for breakfast. More than an hour later, after she had finished and was sufficiently agitated, Avery strolled into the dining room. He smiled at her.
     
    "Good morning, dearest sister." Pecking her cheek, he took his seat.
     
    "I was beginning to wonder if you were ever going to grace me with your presence!” she snapped, her mouth settling into a thin nail-like line.
     
    “ I'm extremely tired this morning. I didn't sleep well last night." He took a large helping of bacon and a boiled potato offered to him by a servant, then waved her away.
     
    "Did your bride provide you with such a night of pleasure that you are exhausted?"
     
    He dropped his fork onto his plate and nearly choked on his food at the impertinence of her question.
     
    “ I am shocked!" he said, genuinely horrified. For my own sister to inquire into such a personal matter ... Well, dear God, you are a jealous shrew." He threw down his napkin, recovered himself and stood up. "I believe it's time you left."
     
    Cecelia rose also. "My bags are packed and waiting in the coach. Frankly, I shall be glad to depart. I can well imagine the merry chase you’ll be led now that you're married to that peasant. I admit she is beautiful, but, Avery, you're a fool. I know you can't make love to a woman any longer. Do you think your nubile bride will content herself with domestic duties and an impotent aging man for a husband? I wager that within a month she seeks solace in the