A Scoundrel's Surrender Read Online Free Page B

her.
    â€œMarah,” he said as he moved forward, almost against his will.
    She froze at the sound of his voice and looked around Justin’s form toward him. When she saw him, she actually took a long step backward, staggering until Victoria caught her elbow to steady her. She opened and shut her mouth once, then again before she found her voice and whispered his name.
    â€œCaleb.”
    With those two syllables he was undone all over again.
    M arah’s heart pounded so loudly in her chest that she could scarce hear anything else above its rattling. The entire world had slowed to half time around her and all her focus had been shifted to that one person, the one man she had allowed near her in any way that mattered . . . only to have him run away from her. Ever since, she had been torn between wishing to see him again and praying she never would.
    But here he was, standing not five feet away from her and advancing in her direction with slow, steady steps.
    Caleb Talbot.
    Their time apart had changed him, there was no denying that. Oh, he was still devilishly handsome, his bright blue eyes still as beautiful, his harsh jaw and full lips as kissable as they had been when they last met.
    But gone was his sparkling air of mischief that had always made her smile. Gone was the hint of pleasure that forever quirked the corner of his lips.
    Now there was a haggard quality to him. Like a dishtowel wrung too hard and left out to dry. He seemed leaner, but not in a healthy way. Like he didn’t eat, like he hardly slept.
    And despite herself, despite all her attempts to remain stoic toward him, her heart momentarily ached for him and his pain. She knew why he had changed, perhaps she was the only one who had fully glimpsed the heartbreak of what he had discovered about his parentage. Of course, that memory brought others. Like his kiss. His touch. His—
    She blinked and viciously ended the stream of her thought. When he left, Caleb had made it very clear that he didn’t want her, that whatever they had shared, it meant very little to him. She refused to make a cake of herself over him now.
    Clearing her throat, she steeled her heart and steadied her tone before she spoke again.
    â€œMr. Talbot,” she said softly before she speared Victoria with a glare. “I didn’t realize you were in Town.”
    He stared at her for a long, charged moment before he spoke. “I had no idea you were here, either.” He hesitated. “You aren’t staying with Victoria and Justin, are you?”
    â€œIndeed she is,” Victoria said, saving Marah the effort of replying. If Marah hadn’t been so furious at her friend, she might have hugged her, for her own tongue felt thick and her mind sluggish. “She is our guest for the remainder of the Season.”
    Justin let out a slow sigh as he turned toward his wife. “My dearest, circumstances have dictated that my brother will also be our guest for the duration of his stay in the city.”
    Victoria turned on her husband with a gasp of shock that Marah had no doubt was real. It seemed her friend was as surprised by this news as she was. Caleb . . . under the same roof as she? Great God, what a disaster!
    â€œNo!” Victoria said, then turned to her brother-in-law with an apologetic shake of her head. “Not that you aren’t welcome, Caleb, but my understanding was that you would be staying at your own town home.”
    Caleb seemed to have pulled his emotions into check, for, when he shrugged, it was with the nonchalance of a man who couldn’t have cared less who stayed in what house and for what duration.
    â€œI would have, my lady, but when we arrived we found the place in great disrepair. It seems I have been remiss in my duties.” He faced Marah slightly when he continued, “But I can see I’ve intruded here and upset your prior plans. I shall quit the house immediately.”
    Marah’s eyes