The Marquis' Mystical Witch (BookStrand Publishing Romance) Read Online Free Page A

the memory of her pale face haunted him. He rubbed the right side of his face. The pain, as yet, had not returned. What had happened when she touched him? The evening had brought many surprises and even more questions.
    When her leaf green eyes had locked with his a moment before he’d left the ballroom, he couldn’t deny or forget the anguish in their depths. His own reaction had shocked him. With his first wife, there’d never been the intense need to possess her that Althea aroused in him. If he were in the country tonight, he’d run the fields and howl to loosen the tightness in his chest. Desire swirled through his veins, creating a deep-seated need to make her his, to cherish her, and keep her safe. But would she consider herself safe if she knew about the wolf?
    The warmth of his study and the pleasant silence was not enough to clear his mind of her. The man and wolf desired her and anyone who tried to come between them better beware.
    He’d find a way to ask Jane or his mother more about her tomorrow. His mother always knew every tidbit of the latest gossip.
    And perhaps after he slept, this desire for her would burn itself out, and he’d only be interested in how she managed to stop his pain. A low growl came up through his chest, and he clamped his hands on the arms of his chair to stop himself from going back to the dance and carrying her off.
    But then again, perhaps not. A chuckle escaped him at the picture of his very proper mother’s reaction if he let himself follow through on his thoughts. He glanced at the clock. It was going to be a long night.

Chapter Two
     
    “I didn’t expect to see you,” Jane said and smiled at her brother. “I thought you’d be hiding at your club today.”
    “I decided to join you for breakfast.” Ulric nodded to his mother on his way to the sideboard, where various breakfast dishes lined the top.
    “What a pleasant surprise,” his mother said. She raised her tea cup and watched him fill his plate.
    After choosing ham and eggs, he joined them around the small circular table. “I thought Jane might enjoy riding in Hyde Park later this afternoon.” He glanced at the windows where sunshine streamed through and cast ribbons of light across the shiny oak floorboards. “It does appear we will have good weather, and Jane can greet all her new beaus along the way.”
    Jane blushed, her pink cheeks almost matching her gown. “How you love to tease me, brother.”
    While they ate breakfast, he half listened to his mother and sister’s discussion about the previous night’s ball. His interest roused when Jane mentioned Amy Beckett.
    “Do you know her family?” he asked, noticing his mother’s sharp attention.
    “Why do you ask, Ulric?”
    He forced a bland smile. “Curious, that’s all.”
    She stared at him for a full minute. Still attractive, her few grey hairs did not show among the light blond color. Since she seldom allowed her face to show strong emotion, no lines marred her ivory skin. She held herself straight at all times and always dressed in the height of fashion.
    Ulric cared for her, but they had no true closeness. Early on, she’d shown her preference for her second son. Since Evan's death, his mother had become colder, more rigid and now demanded Ulric find a wife and supply an heir.
    His scarred face and the nickname that he'd acquired after a fight with a wild wolf reminded her of what she called the family affliction. She denied the curse's existence as much as possible, yet, curiously, she wanted an heir to carry on the family name. Her behavior never ceased to confound him.
    Jane spoke, breaking the silence between mother and son. “Amy Beckett is so much fun. She has a cousin, Althea Beckett, although they all call her Thea. She's older and apparently did not have a successful first season." Jane stopped to take a breath. "But I like her. She’s nice.”
    “How damning. ‘Nice’.” Wulf returned to the sideboard for another slice of