Bronwyn Scott's Sexy Regency Bundle (93 page)

By supper tonight, everyone would know Alejandro di Duero had been cast up by the sea and spent his first night home in bed with his wife. In the

his old friends may even talk

about the explicit details of the morning, how Elena and Alejandro had both been naked and tangled in the sheets. As in the past, they would think nothing of sparing Elena's modesty with their ribald comments.

Elena picked up the

and started the trip

back upstairs. In some ways the decision had already been made for her. There would be a scandal later if her duplicity was discovered. But in truth, there would be a scandal
now
if she denounced the man. How could she explain her

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naked presence in a man's bed who wasn't her husband? All of her household had seen them.

The idea of saying 'I threw off all my clothes because I thought it could save his life' sounded ridiculous even to her, despite the fact that it had worked. Such a scandal would not help her keep her lands when Senor Alicante pressed his suit.

In fact, the scandal would destroy her entirely and Senor Alicante would not hesitate to brand her as a loose woman. She could just hear his accusations: how could such a woman who was irresponsible with her affections be with

the responsibility of a pazo the size and merit of the Duero holding? Elena knew already how such a case would play out. In this rugged coastal land, women were necessary but secondary citizens.

By the time Elena reached the top of the stairs, she knew what she had to do. There had never

been a choice.

plan was

audacious but the woman's quick thinking had no doubt saved Elena

gossip. Elena

didn't like that events had been set in motion without her approval or control but there was nothing to be done

nothing except opening

the bedroom door and seducing the man beyond it into compliance.

Chapter 7

Elena pushed the door open with her hip, balancing the tray

She'd been prepared

to keep up a stream of chatter but all thought of easy small talk faded at the sight that greeted her.

The man had gotten out of bed. He stood at the window, his back to her, bare and magnificently muscled. He'd wrapped a sheet around his waist and his dark hair hung to his shoulders. He looked strong and uncontrollable.

"I've brought you some hot broth. It will feel good to your

she managed to say, finding

herself somewhat

by his physical

beauty. But Alejandro had been a handsome man, and in the end, it had accounted for nothing.

She must exercise caution.

He

at the sound of her voice. "Here, let me take that. The tray looks heavy." He was a gentleman in spite of whatever aches and sore muscles she knew he must possess

last night.

He

relieved her of the tray and set it on a

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small table in the room. "Will you sit with me while I eat?" he asked.

Elena smiled and sat down, wondering how to begin her deception. She needn't have worried.

He picked their conversation up right where she'd left it.

"So, my name is Alejandro. We are married?

This is my home?" he asked.

Elena hesitated only a fraction before she gave the nod that would commit her fully to the deception and to this nameless man. "Yes, you are my husband,

di Duero, and I am your

wife, Elena. I had given up hope of ever finding you alive again."
And

it hadn't been for Don

A licante

awful ultimatum, I'd have done my
mourning and moved on with no desire to look
back.

His dark brows furrowed. "Why is that?"

"Last year, you

on a ship to see about a

cargo of Madeira but your ship went down in a off

coast, not unlike last night. The ship was destroyed before it could make it home. No survivors were found. Many bodies washed up on shore but not yours." Elena cast her eyes down, though the story was true. Alejandro's body hadn't been found. And as a man of means, he would have come home to his wealthy pazo if he