Pleasures of a Tempted Lady Read Online Free

Langley murmured.
    She closed her eyes tight and focused on the rapid thump of his boots over the wooden floorboards.
    Within a few seconds, his hand was on her shoulder again. “Here. Lean forward. I’ve got you.”
    Opening her eyes, she saw the silver gleam of the tin bucket he’d placed in her lap. She leaned forward and released the sparse contents of her stomach as William Langley held the hair back from her face.
    For years she’d fantasized about seeing this man again. Never once had the reunion of her dreams included bile, an overwhelming headache, and dizziness so pervasive she couldn’t think straight.
    When she’d finished, she leaned over the bucket panting, tears seeping from her closed eyes. “I’m sorry,” she murmured. “So very sorry.”
    His fingers tightened on her shoulder. “There’s nothing to be sorry about.”
    He took the bucket away, and when he returned, he drew a handkerchief across her lips and then pressed a glass into her hands. She opened her eyes and stared into the pink liquid, then up at him, her brows drawn in question.
    “Watered-down wine,” he explained.
    She took a cautious sip. The wine flavored the water but wasn’t overwhelming, and the concoction flowed smoothly down, ridding her mouth of the awful taste.
    She offered a game smile to Jake, who had scuttled to the foot of the bed and was still gazing at her, terrified. She reached her hand out to him. “There’s no need to be afraid, darling. We’re safe now.”
    She glanced at William Langley and sent up a silent prayer that she was telling the truth. Eight years was a long time, but she had no doubt that the Will she’d known would have tried to protect her from a man like Jacob Caversham. She could only hope that time hadn’t altered his character too much.
    When Jake took her hand, she murmured, “I’d like to introduce you to this gentleman. His name is Commander Langley, and he’s an old friend”— an old lover—“ of mine. Commander Langley, this is Jake, my…” Her voice trailed off.
    Once they’d escaped from the Defiant and were safely in Ireland, Meg had planned to pass Jake off as her son. William Langley was the first soul she’d seen since they’d slipped away several nights ago.
    For some reason, she couldn’t bring herself to tell him she was Jake’s mother. She closed her eyes in a long blink,and when she opened them, she was thankful that the commander had chosen to ignore her unfinished sentence. Gravely, he held out his hand to Jake.
    “Pleasure to meet you, lad.”
    “Hold out your hand,” Meg murmured. “Like I taught you. Remember?”
    Tentatively, Jake reached out. Commander Langley took the little hand into his grip and shook it firmly. “Good. Now that we’re friends, I trust you won’t try to leap overboard again?”
    “Oh.” Meg gathered the boy against her chest. Jake didn’t speak much, he was easily frightened, and no one would dream of thinking him a “typical” boy. But Meg was convinced that while he would always be rather unusual, with proper love and care he might grow into a well-adjusted and capable man. It was what she wanted so badly to give him in Ireland. She looked up at Commander Langley. “I’m sorry. He’s very easily frightened and was probably terrified when you brought us aboard.”
    He gave Jake an easy smile. “It’s all right,” he said to Jake. “Of course you were frightened, surrounded by unknown men and with your mama unconscious.”
    He’d placed a soft emphasis on the word “mama.” She knew it was a question, and he paused, awaiting a confirmation or correction. She offered neither, instead looking down to hide the heat flaring in her cheeks.
    Meg knew he would assume it was true now. It was as it should be. Just as she’d intended. Though she’d never intended to encounter this particular man when she’d been planning her escape from Caversham. She had been prepared to face the condemnation of society—society meant