The Stranger She Married Read Online Free

the strength to resist his very forward, intimate action. He reached toward her as he had a moment ago. His fingers lightly touched her skin as he pick up the locket. She shivered at the touch, her senses reeling. He examined the tiny painting of Maman inside.
    "My mother,” she explained.
    "She's lovely. I see the resemblance.” He released the locket and it fell back into place.
    A flash of memory assaulted her. She blinked, astonished at the intensity of emotion that swept over her. Time hadn't healed those wounds yet.
    His hushed voice was almost a whisper. “Is she departed?"
    "There was a ... carriage accident...” Her voice cracked. Alicia put a hand over her mouth and squeezed her eyes closed. She should have died with them. An image burst into her mind of an overturned carriage, the thrashing legs of horses, and the bodies...
    "Miss Palmer?” His voice sounded so concerned that it nearly undid her again.
    His glove felt warm on her arm. Alicia firmly clamped down on her emotions and opened her eyes. Lord Amesbury stood only a heartbeat away, gentleness in his face.
    "I recently lost my mother, too. Her loss is killing my father.” For one brief moment, sorrow shadowed his eyes. Then he looked away and all expression closed over.
    She wanted to step nearer and put her arms around him, comfort him, tell him she understood. Her grief faded and a new, more foreign, more adult desire slipped into its place.
    She swallowed. “I should return, my lord. Mrs. Hancock will wonder where I have gone. Thank you for your assistance."
    He fixed her with an unreadable stare. “Why do I have the feeling I'm being dismissed?"
    Uncertain what to make of his comment, she searched his face for clues but only got lost in its chiseled angles and curves. “I only meant that there are probably others with whom you wish to dance."
    "Because you are not eligible for a man like me?"
    If only she were. If only he wanted her. She glanced in the direction of the doors, but a rosebush obscured her view. “Is a man there looking as if he seeks someone?"
    Lord Amesbury's gaze moved to the open doors again. “No. You're safe for the moment."
    Alicia took his offered arm, and they went up the garden steps toward the ballroom while music wafted through the open doors. She missed her step but hardly had time to cry out before his free arm encircled her waist, steadying her. Their eyes met. With his face so near hers, she saw his eyes focus on her lips. Her heart began thumping against her chest so hard, she wondered if he could hear it.
    Acutely aware of his presence and the danger of behaving unseemly, she put her hand against him and pressed lightly. His chest felt hard under her hand. She drew in a deep breath but it failed to steady her. Instead, it filled her with the scent of soap, linen and citrus, a curious combination of raw masculinity and civilized gentleman. Underneath it all, another scent lingered, something uniquely him .
    "Thank you.” She laughed nervously but it sounded more like a hysterical giggle. She wanted to clap a hand over her face. “You appear to be making a habit of coming to my rescue. First my lookout, and now this."
    A crooked grin quirked his mouth. “I hope I'm always present when you need rescuing."
    Handsome, wealthy, and kind? This had to be a dream. Alicia had never believed in love at first sight, but she now understood what gave birth to the idea. If only she could transform into someone beautiful and poised, he might be interested in her.
    What was she thinking? She came from the impoverished gentry, without a respectable dowry, and her family was quickly losing acceptance in society. A man of Lord Amesbury's ilk would never wed someone like her.
    And yet, his eyes held a gleam suggesting he might be interested in her at some level. That gleam should have frightened her, but instead only quickened her pulse. She pushed harder, and he released her. Slowly.
    "We should go in separately so people will