Captives' Charade Read Online Free

forbidding American ships to sail to any foreign port! The British may not have been able to defeat us, but we’ve almost done the job ourselves. It is indeed fortunate that President Madison has rescinded the Act, which enabled this visit to England.”
    Thus set the tone for a lively conversation, politics stumbling over into geography, culture, and before Sarah knew it, the evening had flown. She was so enraptured by the handsome stranger’s account of his travels and his native land that it was only the noticeable hush, caused by a break in the musical performance, which made her aware of the passage of time.
    “Ibegyourpardon,Mr.Chamberlain,”she pleaded sincerely when she realized the lateness of the hour. “I have sorely monopolized your evening when you should have been inside enjoying yourself.”
    “Oh,butIhavebeenenjoyingmyself,”he crooned in his wonderfully rich baritone, making no effort to rise. “So much so, I could not begin to tell you.”
    His appreciative gaze, illuminated by a shaft of moonlight, at once warmed and startled the innocent young woman. It was as if she had only this moment clearly realized the magnetic quality of this dangerously attractive man.
    Tearing her eyes away from his, Sarah tensed noticeably, a cautious aura settling around her as real as the shadowy light torches near them in the suddenly numb, she removed his tailcoat from her shoulders, standing as she did. “Thank you,” she whispered self-consciously, “for sharing your coat. I-I have to go now ....”
emanating from the garden. With fingers
    Stewart stood, too, his towering height and broad build overwhelming her. But he made no attempt to reach for the coat she offered with trembling hands.
“Do you ride?” he asked quite unexpectedly. Sarah blinked at the strangely mundane question.
     
“Ride?”shereplied,hersurpriseobvious.
    “Yes, ride?” he grinned in that disarmingly relaxed way. “As in ‘ride a horse.’ Do you, Lady Sarah?”
“Why yes, of course,” she breathed shakily. “Why do you ask?”
    “I thought perhaps you would be so kind as to accompany me tomorrow morning. Your father suggested that I might enjoy the countryside.”
    “You will be spending the night?” she asked incredulously, clutching the silk tailcoat against her bosom. Part of her was thrilled; the other part feared the extended presence of this hypnotic man.
    He nodded, smiling. “A week perhaps. Your father has suggested, wisely, I think, given the circumstance, that relative seclusion.” deter him from his purpose. “Would you accompany we conduct our business in But her question would not me then?” Noting her wariness, he added, “Being a stranger here, I would appreciate a guide.”
    How could she refuse him the courtesy? After all, he was her father’s honored guest. “Very well,” she capitulated, feeling outmaneuvered and quite foolish for agreeing to spend any more time than necessary with this handsome foreigner. How much more could her throbbing pulse endure? “After breakfast then. I will meet you at the stables.”
    “I shall be counting the hours,” he replied smoothly, reaching out toward her, his smoldering brown eyes holding hers fast.
    Sarah took a skittish step backward, blushing visibly when she realized he was merely asking for his jacket. Thrusting the rich cloth in his hand, she was again undone by the startling warmth of his fingers making contact with her through her glove.
    The unexpected touch evoked an immediate reaction that the stranger could not help but notice. Tearing her fingers away, she mumbled a stunned farewell. grasped chest, his wide mouth meshing with hers in a sudden but gentle kiss.
But before she could turn, Stewart had her shoulders and pulled her into his
    Her surprise at his unexpected embrace in no way compared to the jolt of excitement caused by his wonderfully sensuous assault. Nervous fingers that had intended to push him away instead contoured with the hard wall