His For The Taking Read Online Free

the life you
want or need."
    Julianna allowed her tears to flow
freely. "Perhaps a trip to London
will ease the ache in my heart."
    Grandmother kissed her cheek.
"That’s my sweet girl. And remember, you are a Chesterfield,
that in itself is deserving of more."
    ***
    Jonathan urged Arion forward, the
stallion groaning at the sharp knock of his master’s boot heels against his
ribs. Of course the animal wasn’t in a hurry to go anywhere, having been
deprived of his breakfast and morning apple.
    "Move your blasted arse,"
he grumbled. Arion blew out an impatient breath and increased his pace from
cantor to full gallop.
    "Thank you," Jonathan
shouted and tapped the bay on the neck. "Atta lad!"
    Oh but the wind felt good against
his unshaven face. He knew he must look a wreck but damn it all, sleep had
evaded him. Food didn’t interest him. All he wanted was to confront Julianna.
To reclaim his friendship and end the silliness of the night before.
    Surely, Lady Chesterfield’s claims
were wrong. There was no way on earth that Julianna could love him. Not in a
romantic sense. It was absurd. Ridiculous. More than likely brought on by too
much champagne or perhaps a bout of senility on the old girls part.
    Still, he had to see Julianna, for
despite his suspicions, he knew he wouldn’t rest until the foolishness had
ended and he had recouped his life. For without Julianna to discuss things he’d
be doomed to listening to the postulating of his friends or worse the silly
prattle of some conquest he had yet to come upon. She was the constant in his
life and he liked it that way. And despite his admiration for Lady
Chesterfield, until he heard Julianna tell him their relationship was over
unless they wed, he simply wouldn’t skulk away like a whipped dog. He had his
pride, after all.
    Dashing across the stream that
divided the Denbigh and Chesterfield Estates, he slowed Arion to a cantor. The
sight of Oak Park sprawled out
before him and melancholy spread over him like a wet cloak. Julianna was behind
those thick stone walls, reeling either from his lack of a declaration or more
than likely the stupidity of her grandmother’s misguided observations.
    Slowing Arion even more, he raked
his fingers through the horse’s wild mane, the idea of seeing his best friend
suddenly leaving him with stones deep in his gut. Was he nervous?
    "No!" he very nearly
shouted. He wasn’t nervous. He didn’t get nervous when he was chasing a skirt
across a ballroom and by God, he didn’t get nervous when he called on Julianna.
"Damn it," he muttered. Clenching his jaw, he tapped Arion’s sides
and the horse sped up. He would put an end to this nonsense once and for all.
    ***
    Julianna walked the path, the soft purple
rhododendron blooms leaving her heart to ache. For when she returned to Oak
Park, they would be gone, the camellias would be
finished, the azaleas done for another year. She would miss her favorite
season, trapped in the Whitcomb’s townhouse, surrounded by Constance’s
things and not her own.
    But she would enjoy them now and
she plucked a purple bloom and studied it, still walking. Still trying to enjoy
the moment despite the ache in her heart.
    As she turned the narrow cobbled
path that led deeper into the back garden and toward the orchard, she heard the
soft thud of hooves on the packed earth of the drive just beyond the garden
wall. Looking up from her blossom, her heart lurched. For just beyond the stone
fence, atop his dark stallion was Jonathan, the sun glinting off his dark
blonde curls.
    Her breath caught in her throat at
the sight before. There was no joy in his countenance. His intense gaze pierced
hers and sent her heart in to a spasm of rapid beats. Dear Lord, what did he
want? Anxiety skittered across her skin and left her feeling light headed.
    Still, she lifted her chin and
refused to look away. If he had something to say, he had better say it. You're a Chesterfield . That in itself has you deserving more…
    Her