Night Fire Read Online Free Page B

assistance from him, to spare him from using his arm, he realized. It was when she was standing in front of him, looking up at him full in the face that he saw that she was beautiful. But it wasn’t her beauty that was making him feel so odd. Burke had known many lovely women, some more arresting than this female. No, it was something else about her, and he could feel his heart pound in slow, steady strokes, feel something change deep inside him. He also saw that she was young, very young, too damned young. He couldn’t believe it. He knew he was staring at her, but he couldn’t help himself. When all was said and done, it was really quite simple. He wanted her. And not as an adult wants to care for a child. No, he wanted her.
    Dear heavens, what the hell was wrong with him? Had he been too long without a woman? He shook his head at himself. He felt like the hero in a ridiculous novel who falls head over arse in love at the first sighting of a female. It was altogether ludicrous and not a little unnerving.
    â€œCome sit down,” Burke said after a moment. “Sorry, but I have no refreshments with me.”
    â€œIt doesn’t matter in the least. All I have is but half a carrot, to give to Mindle if she behaves herself, which she always does. Now Ashes, that is a horse I admire.”
    â€œYou know my stallion?”
    â€œOh yes, but Montrose would never allow me to ride him. He said I was too young and a little female to boot. It is nonsense, of course. I am neither too young nor too little, and I cannot see that being female has anything to do with it.”
    â€œOf course you are not and it doubtless doesn’t.”
    â€œYou are laughing at me.”
    â€œNot I. I am enjoying you. How old are you?”
    She paused for a moment, cocking her head to one side in question, and he looked deeply into her eyes. He was losing and he knew it. He swallowed and thanked the stars that she was too young to realize his obvious besottedness.
    â€œI am fifteen,” Arielle said. “And you, my lord?”
    â€œI am twenty-four.”
    â€œI am nearly sixteen, at least I will be in October, so it is not such a great difference.”
    â€œNo, not in the future, but now it is a gulf—” He broke off appalled at himself. This had to stop.
    â€œNine years. No, eight and a half years. Well, nine years ago I was quite a little girl, really, nothing more than a child. Whereas you, my lord, you were already quite the young man.”
    â€œJust as at fifteen you are quite the young woman?”
    â€œExactly so.” She sounded perfectly serious, but he chanced to see a dimple quivering in her left cheek. “All right,” she said, throwing up her hands, “I must admit that you are quite young now to be all that you are.”
    â€œAll that I am? I am simply a man, Arielle. And please call me Burke. This sylvan setting doesn’t allow for formality, you know.”
    â€œThat is neither here nor there. You are a major and an earl. I do realize that the earl part had little to do with your mental abilities or your worthiness, but surely the major part—you have doubtless dispatched many French devils to hell, and managed it in an awesomely heroic way. I trust you are nearly well now? Will you return to the Peninsula?”
    â€œYes, I am nearly well now, and I will return to the Peninsula, soon. Your hair is lovely, if you don’t mind my saying so. It is an odd color.”
    â€œMy father, Sir Arthur, you know, he says it is the perfect example of Titian, and that is after some rather famous painter who lived ages ago in Italy.”
    â€œYes, I should say he is right.”
    â€œIt is still red, no matter how one dresses it up. One must always face up to things, don’t you agree?”
    He started to say yes, he did agree, but that would be the grossest lie of his life because he was quite consciously refusing to face up to his instant and