The Ties That Bind Read Online Free Page B

like you."
    He got to his feet and stared down at her.   "Did your father tell you about my family's finances before or after our wedding?"
    "Why does it matter?"
    He came around the desk and caught her chin in his long fingers. "Because my guess would be that the old bastard told you just before I bedded you. Up until that point in the proceedings you seemed to be delighted to become my wife. While we're being so honest with each other, what else did he say?"
    Arabella studied his harsh expression. "He told me you were a wastrel and the despair of your family. He told me that he'd only agreed to the marriage so that he could wash his hands of me and that you had no intention of making our marriage a reality."
    "And?"
    "He was right, wasn't he? You were an inconsiderate oaf on our wedding night and you left never to return the next morning."
    A muscle twitched in his cheek and he began to laugh. Enraged beyond belief, Arabella drew back her hand and slapped his cheek.
    "Why did you do that?" His smile retreated to his eyes.
    "Because…" she couldn't even imagine where to begin. How dare he laugh when she'd been forced to remember the most humiliating day of her life?
    He took both her hands in his. "Arabella, your father was a master at planting discord and doubt. If we had known each other better, we could've avoided all the hurt and mistrust of the past two years."
    "I doubt it."
    "My family's fortunes were at a low ebb because of my older brother, not me. John was heir to the title and he was the one who gambled away our wealth."
    "Then why would my father say it was you?"
    "Because he didn't want us to be happy." James frowned. "He wanted to retain control of you and keep me on a leash of his own devising." He gripped her hands tightly. "My own father feared I would follow my brother's path. He probably communicated those fears to your father as well."  
    Arabella looked away from him. "Are you suggesting my father was wrong?"
    "About me?" He hesitated. "I obviously think so, but then you have no reason to believe me either."
    But she did. She thought about the sincerity and interest he had shown her before their marriage, his humor and intelligence. The way he'd stolen a kiss whenever they were alone for a few moments. What had happened to that man? The man she believed she'd fallen in love with?
    "So you married to save your family fortune. Why wasn't your brother the sacrificial goat or isn't he as charming and handsome as you are?"
    He released her and strode toward the window, hands clasped behind his back. "John is dead. He shot himself with his favorite dueling pistol when he realized the full extent of his debts."
    Arabella pressed a hand to her mouth. "You never told me that."
    "Well as you might imagine, he wasn't exactly a favorite topic of conversation in our family. My parents told everyone he had died in his bed rather than endure the gossip of the ton . "
    "So you became the sacrificial goat. You were the one who had to marry for money."
    He turned to smile at her, his blue eyes gleaming with an intimacy she couldn't deny. "It wasn't as difficult as you might think."
    Arabella stared at him, her sympathy dying.
    "Of course it wasn't. How stupid of me.   Family duty always comes first for your kind doesn't it?   I'm sure your father told you exactly what to do. Marry and then walk away as fast as a gentleman can. No need to proclaim the connection, just refill the family coffers and pretend that the smell of the shop only clings to your common, money-grubbing wife."
    His smile died. "That's not what I meant. When I met you…"
    Arabella was already on the move. She flung open the study door. "When you met me, you got what you wanted and left. Perhaps you should take the hint and repeat the performance as soon as possible."
    "Arabella!" His roar followed her down the corridor. "Come back here!"
    She ignored his command and hurried upstairs to seek a few blessed moments of silence before she had to face