La Flamme (Historical Romance) Read Online Free Page A

Eugenia."
    Stephen laughed, but it was without humor. "How can it be, Garreth, that you are older than me by a year, worldly and sophisticated, yet you have so little knowledge of my stepmother's sort? Think you that my father doesn't know about all her lovers? Did you really believe that you were the first?"
    Eugenia watched helplessly as Garreth's face paled. She could see the growing distaste in his expression. He must not believe Stephen. She had to do something quickly. "You are simply jealous, Stephen."
    "Madame, I may be the only man who finds nothing in you to love or admire," Stephen replied as he walked toward the door. He could only hope that Garreth would see Eugenia's true character for himself.
    Garreth was confused. He did not want Stephen to think that he and Eugenia were lovers. "Before you go, Stephen, I would ask your pardon for deceiving you. You must believe that we have done no more than profess our love, but for the one time I kissed her."
    Eugenia could see that she was losing Garreth. She lashed out at him. "Don't be so noble, Garreth. You didn't have me because I deemed it so. Had I wished it, you would have come to my bed fast enough."
    When Stephen saw the sickened expression on Garreth's face he almost found it within himself to pity his stepmother—almost, but not quite. "If you need me, Garreth, I'll be with my father," he said as he left the room.
    Slowly, Eugenia raised her eyes to Garreth. "If I spoke unkindly it's just because you've wounded me so deeply. Was Stephen mistaken when he told me that you are married?"
    "He was not mistaken," Garreth admitted. "Although I would have preferred to tell you myself. I could not write you about the marriage and there was no time to come to you before the wedding."
    She felt unbridled fury. "You said you loved me. Why would you marry someone else?"
    "I was compelled to take a wife," he said. "That's why I'm here. To tell you."
    Eugenia's eyes flashed and her breath came out in a hiss. "You betrayed our love, Garreth! How long have you professed to love me, while scheming to marry another? For the first time in my life, I discovered the true meaning of love. I wanted to live with you as your wife, to grow old with you, to have your children."
    He looked stricken and confused. "That could never be—you have a husband, and now, I have a wife."
    Eugenia's voice rose. "Could you not have waited for me? My husband is old. Each day I watch as he grows weaker—he is dying. If you had been patient, we could be together!"
    Garreth saw her clearly for the first time. "If I am not myself, you will have to forgive me. My father has but recently died."
    Her eyes gleamed and her hands laced together. "You are a duke now! Oh, Garreth, I knew this day would come."
    He was stunned. There was no pity in her. She saw only his new rank, not the grief his father's death had caused. What had happened to the shy, helpless woman that brought out the protectiveness in him? This woman was a stranger to him. It didn't even matter anymore whether Stephen's accusations about her infidelities were true, though they probably were. How could he have thought he loved her?
    Eugenia fortified herself—she would not give up so easily. She smiled, and her tongue flicked out to moisten her lips as she moved toward him, ever the seductress. "Garreth, Stephen has always hated me. Surely you see that he would discredit me in any way he can."
    Her lower lip trembled and her eyes grew teary—a ploy that had worked on Garreth in the past. But she could see coldness in his eyes, and it pierced at her heart.
    "Would you take Stephen's side against mine?" she asked softly.
    "I'll take no one's side. I want only the truth." His eyes bore into hers and she quickly dropped her gaze.
    "I thought... everyone thought that I was to be your wife." She buried her face in her hands. "How will I face the humiliation?"
    "Eugenia, at no time did we discuss marriage."
    "You said you loved me."
    Garreth