Patrica Rice Read Online Free Page A

ahead of schedule. Damien wondered who hated him that much. Or perhaps the fates worked against him, as they always had. He wondered how to keep the apostles of fate away from Melanie. Keeping Jane away from Melanie wasn’t any problem. She’d gone to Hampshire just as he’d said, only the friend she went with wasn’t female.
    “Jane may send ‘round a note when she returns,” Damien answered doggedly. “I have sent the appropriate announcements to the papers of our marriage. Your father will be expecting them. I daresay you’ll hear from Jane then.” It took every ounce of his pride to keep from asking her to marry him in truth again. He didn’t know what Jane would do when she discovered her little sister had fallen into his clutches.
    “It’s so unlike Jane.” Melanie fretted beside him. “Are you quite certain the note was in her writing? Perhaps someone has abducted her to keep her from marrying you. I know she must still love you. I just cannot understand this at all. Are you sure we shouldn’t wait a while on those announcements? She will simply be devastated if she sees them before we have time to explain.”
    Damien leaned forward and tipped her chin upward so she met his gaze. She had the most amazing heart-shaped face, with wide violet eyes and the sweetest lips when they weren’t pursed with concern as they were now. He wondered what she would do if he kissed her. He had no wish to diminish his prospects by rushing his fences. He merely brushed his thumb reassuringly over her bottom lip and watched it tremble. Good. She wasn’t immune to desire.
    “You have not seen your sister in ten years, sugar plum. I assure you, Jane knows precisely what she is doing. We meant to marry this time around for the same reasons we meant to marry the first time: my title and her money. I don’t like to hurt your harmless dreams, Melanie, but love is not a commodity easily traded in society’s market. Should you and I marry, the trade is the same one, only perhaps I can earn my way a little better with you since I can also trade experience. Jane never needed that.”
    She gave him one of those shrewd looks that reminded Damien all too uncomfortably of her papa, and he removed his hand from her chin, sitting back in his seat. He knew she’d led a sheltered life. Her parents had seen to that. He just kept forgetting that innocent face disguised an all too creative mind.
    “You are trying very hard to name yourself cad, Damien. A true cad wouldn’t, you know. You ought to be whispering loving sentiments and stealing kisses about now. I’m certain I’m as susceptible to both as any other maiden.”
    He laughed. He couldn’t help himself. He wanted to hug and kiss her and tell her he never was such a fool as to try to get past her. But he was, and he would, and she just made it that much more challenging with remarks like that.
    “I shall do just that, if you wish, my lady. I aim to please. Shall we visit the bootmakers first or just repair to the park where I shall start on those kisses?”
    “The bootmakers,” she announced firmly. “I wish to be quite splendid before you’re seen about with me.”
    By the time they returned to the house late that afternoon, Melanie felt quite drained. She refused to acknowledge her exhaustion to Damien who had become more pensive as the day wore on. She knew she had spent an enormous amount in just a few short hours, but she thought it vindicated a lifetime of saving. He really shouldn’t worry. She had more than enough for herself and whatever debts he’d run up. She supposed they should have gone to the bankers first, but the temptation of new clothes had diverted all good intentions. Besides, she kept waiting for her father to appear, roaring over his discovery of their lack of marriage lines. Or for Jane to come back and fall at their feet to plead her love and apologies. She just really couldn’t believe all this was happening and wanted to grasp every