A Kiss Before Dawn Read Online Free Page A

stealing her breath, her wits, and her reason.
    Dear God, she’d been so certain all her feelings for Peter were dead, that he had killed them with his abandonment that long-ago night, but it seemed he was still entirely capable of bringing her body to life in a most distressing manner. When he had swept her into his arms, the feel of that muscled chest under her hands had caused her mouth to go dry, and his gentle examination of her ankles with his lean, callused fingers had set her stomach to fluttering.
    Remember who this man is, she warned herself. He is the one who walked away and left you without a second thought!
    She had every right to be wary. Once she had believed they were closer than any two people could be. But she’d been wrong. That misjudgment had caused her a great deal of pain and disillusionment, and that was something she could never forget.
    However, at nearly two and twenty, she was a woman now, not a child. Surely she could control these troubling emotions and behave as a proper young lady should. She would be polite, but distant, making it clear in no uncertain terms that whatever had been between them was now firmly in the past.
    Turning in her saddle to face him, she schooled her features into a deliberately casual expression. “You know, you never really answered my question.”
    He glanced at her over his shoulder. “Oh? And what question was that?”
    â€œWhy are you here? Why would my brother ask you to come home now?”
    He gave a careless shrug and looked away to contemplate the tree-lined path before them. “He seemed to think it would be a nice surprise for Lady Ellington.”
    Emily waited a few moments, but when no further explanation was forthcoming, she didn’t force the issue. It appeared that Peter was no more anxious to converse with her than she was with him.
    At that moment, their horses trotted into the stable yard behind the house, and as a groom came forward to take their mounts, Peter swung down from his saddle. Before Emily had a chance to move, he was at her side, reaching up to grasp her waist and lower her to the ground in one smooth motion.
    But instead of releasing her right away, his hold seemed to tighten a bit and he leaned his head close to her ear, his eyes searching her face in an unnerving manner.
    â€œAre you certain you’re all right?” he asked. “Your ankle isn’t paining you?”
    Polite, Emily, she reminded herself, feeling oddly breathless as she met his gaze. Polite, but distant.
    â€œYes, of course. I’m quite recovered.” It wasn’t a complete lie. Right now she could feel nothing but a queer tingling sensation where his fingers spanned her waist.
    Peter opened his mouth to speak, but before he could say another word, he was interrupted by the unmistakable sound of a carriage approaching from the road in front of Knighthaven.
    Feeling an overwhelming sense of relief, Emily took advantage of his momentary inattention to disengage herself and move away.
    â€œThat must be Tristan now.” Without waiting for a reply, she turned and started off along the cobblestone path that wound around the building, grateful for the reprieve.
    By the time she reached the front of the house with Peter at her heels, the carriage was rolling to a stop at the foot of the wide steps that led up to the front entrance of Knighthaven. Recognizing the elegant equipage with the Ellington crest emblazoned on its side, she hurried forward eagerly.
    The coachman hopped down from his perch, swinging open the door to reveal the powerful frame of the Earl of Ellington.
    â€œTristan!” Emily lunged at him as he stepped down from the conveyance and flung her arms around his neck in a fierce hug.
    â€œHere now. What’s this?” His voice was teasing as he bent to press a kiss to her temple. “If I didn’t know any better, I might almost believe my little sister missed me.”
    Her heart lodged in