The Earl Claims His Wife by Cathy Maxwell Page A

let him in. She’d worked too hard to be free of him to give it all up now. She raised a distracted hand to her head and knew what she was going to have to do.
    It’s what she should have done from the very beginning.

Chapter Six
    Brian leaned against the door. He swore he could smell her light floral scent through the wood.
    Who had known Gillian could kiss the way she did? She was passionate, giving, and yet innocent.
    There was a hint of chasteness in the way she approached kissing. The Spaniard had not had her yet.
    Brian would have staked his inheritance on it.
    Memories of their wedding night came flooding back to him. He’d only been unfaithful to Jess once, and it had been that night.

    Of course, he’d been so angry at his father for forcing the marriage and so determined to keep his beloved Jess in mind, he’d done little more than was necessary with Gillian. He’d been young, full of brass, and arrogant.
    He’d also had the ill grace to tell her of his love for another.
    His callousness stunned him. No wonder Gillian wanted nothing to do with him.
    Dear God, he was seven kinds of fool, especially since Gillian was worth twenty-five of Jess. Time had proven his father right. Jess would not have been a worthy wife. The disappointment of the shallowness of her love still burned like an acid on his heart. He had wanted to offer Jess the world and she’d tossed it aside.
    But Gillian was different. She was quality. She had intelligence, grace, and the courage of her convictions. She was also educated. She’d make an honorable mother to his children.
    For the first time since his brothers’ deaths, since he’d been ordered home and discovered everyone he had trusted had betrayed him, Brian felt hope. His instincts had been to send for Gillian. He was now overjoyed that he’d taken matters into his hands and come for her.
    She was a jewel beyond price. A blessing!
    Brian leaned against the door, anxious to claim his wife. If he could reach through the door, he would. No woman had ever taken him to this level of arousal.
    “Gillian,” he whispered against the door. “Let me in. I’m ready for you.” He was also very aware that the door to the other room, the one the family was using, was right across the hall. He didn’t want to wake them.
    But instead of the sound of the door handle being turned, instead of a whispered, “Come hither,” he heard the sound of something being dragged on the other side of the door.
    He frowned and listened again. He wasn’t mistaken.
    Alarmed, Brian decided being gentlemanly and polite could be damned. Something was wrong on the other side of this door. Gillian might need his help. He grabbed the handle, opened the door, leading with his shoulder—and came to a halt.
    The door wouldn’t open more than a few inches of the way.
    Brian frowned and tried to shove it open, realizing something was blocking the doorway. Furniture.
    A big piece of furniture like a wardrobe had been placed in front of the door. “Gillian? What’s this?”
    Her voice came from the other side of the door. “It’s protection, Wright. I’ve pushed the wardrobe in front of the door. I’m not sleeping with you. Go make your bed someplace else.”
    “You’ve thrown me out of my own room?” he asked in disbelief.
    There was a moment’s hesitation and then she said, “Yes, yes, I have.”
    At first, he was confused, but as her words sank in, a red haze fell over his eyes. Had she played him for a fool? Was this some sort of scheme to exact revenge for their years apart?
    And he was furious that she was now hiding behind a wardrobe like some spinster when only moments before she’d been panting in his arms.
    “Open this door,” he said in a voice that brooked no disagreement.
    There was no reply.
    There was also no compliance.
    He threw his weight against the door. It slammed against the wardrobe but didn’t move it. He pushed against the door with all his weight. “You’d best move,