Beautiful Things (Second Sons, #1)

by Emily Rath

“Good morning, Miss Ha—oly hell.” As she turned, she found Lieutenant Renley standing not five feet away. His eyes went wide as he took in her appearance. Scrubbed free of mud, her hair no longer a mess of sodden curls wedged under a bonnet, she knew she looked good.

Tom sat for a moment, eyes on his plate. Miss Harrow was…odd. No, that wasn’t the right word. Curious? Unique. Special. He smiled. Yes, that word would do nicely.

“Bloody hell,” Lord James murmured. “Don’t move.” His shoulders went rigid as he slowly raised one arm before her. “It’s just a swan,” she whispered. “No, it’s a devil,” he replied, his body tense. “Be quiet.”

The angry swan honked again, leaping off the ground in a flurry of wings. “Fucking dead piece of shit!” James raged, kicking at the bird. Rosalie stepped back a few more paces, watching with wide eyes as the lord battled the swan, landing one more kick as it fluttered away and splashed into the lake. James stood at the water’s edge, chest heaving. He spun around. “I fucking hate swans!” He stormed back over to her, snatching her hand.

He held tight to her hand as he charged into the kitchen. “Burrow! Bring me a shot gun!” Rosalie was giggling now, one hand over her mouth to stifle the sound. She prayed he wouldn’t turn around and see her laughing, not when they’d made a little progress at last. “What happened, m’lord?” one of the maids cried. “Dubois,” James barked, taking the shotgun the hall boy offered him. “Change of plans. The second course for tonight’s dinner is going to be swan.”

“Lady Olivia, I believe a widow and her young children are selling flowers over by the smithy. Why don’t you do us all a favor and go spit on them? Best leave no one in doubt of your ugliness.”

But he knew if he touched her now, he risked breaking the trust he still had. If he wanted any hope of a repeat of those kisses, if he wanted to remain in her confidence, he’d have to play this game by her rules. Good thing he liked games…and he was playing this one to win.

Christ, he wanted Rosalie for himself. He almost laughed aloud at the realization. What was worse, he desperately wanted her to want him too. He wanted passion and love. He wanted hunger that verged on obsession. Instead, he was empty…empty…empty.

“I’m a patient man. It will make it all the sweeter when you set aside this ludicrous notion of restraint. We are inevitable.”

“A lady can never have too many beautiful things.”

She said what was on her mind, and she didn’t hold back…but she also didn’t seek to harm. That was rare in a person in general, and virtually unheard of in a woman. For what lady did not secretly live to tear others down?