Read Online Rogues and Ripped Bodices by Samantha Holt - Free Book Online

“You can
stay here.”
    She let her brow rise. Was this simply him trying
to apologise or something more? Why had he gone from wanting her gone to asking
her to stay? No, she wouldn’t read more into it. She had already made a fool of
herself enough as it was. The likelihood was he did not want her running home
and telling Papa what an awful man he was and how they shouldn’t do business.
    “In your house,” she clarified.
    The thought of being able to explore the
beautiful house appealed greatly. She tried not to smile at his stiff nod.
Having been sick for all of her stay here, she hadn’t managed to see even a
quarter of the house and from his letters, she knew there was much to explore.
The gardens, the woods, the secret passageways. Then, of course, there were the
castles of which he had talked and the abbey, and even his home by the sea.
Perhaps she could talk him into taking her to the seaside.
    “Will you take me to the castle?”
    “I will.”
    He didn’t look pleased about it. Was it simply
because it was her or was there something more to it? Jenny had implied the
marquess had only been like this since the death of his last wife. Was this
grief taking its toll on him? Maybe, if she tried hard, she might be able to
find that man who had written such beautiful letters. Even help him out of his
grief perhaps.
    Well, there she went again with her fanciful
thoughts, but either way, she would at least have some wonderful memories and
experiences to carry her through her embarrassment when she returned home
empty-handed.
    “Very well, I shall stay.”
    A hint of a smile tilted his lips and he nodded.
“Excellent. I shall let Mrs Whittleworth know.” He cleared his throat and
shuffled his feet a little. “I hope you will join me for dinner tonight so we
can plan your outings.”
    “I would like that, thank you.”
    He gave her a formal dip of his head. It surprised
her as Julian had been so far removed from the rich, powerful marquess she’d
expected him to be. But the movement didn’t seem like that of a man constrained
by rules and society. Instead it was a simple movement of respect, and one that
sent her heart skittering up into her throat.
    “Until this evening.” He retreated from her room
and shut the door.
    Viola twisted to unbuckle her bag. Poor Jenny
would have to press her clothes again. Still, even with the thought of all her
crumpled clothes and having nothing to wear for the evening, she couldn’t
resist a smile. She might not get her husband but she would get the experience
of a lifetime, all on the arm of a handsome Englishman. It was not what fairy
tales were made of but it would do.

Chapter
Seven
    Julian
debated the decanter of wine on the bureau and shook his head. Now was not the
time to get foxed, no matter how tempted he was. He paused when he heard a
creak outside. But, no, it wasn’t her. Would he be forever waiting on Viola
during her stay? Did she have any idea how simply being around made his heart
hitch?
    What had he been thinking? He should have let
her go. He’d only intended to try to make some kind of bumbling apology. The
idea of her crying over him made him feel bitter inside. He was not worth
crying over. But when he’d realised she intended to leave, something odd had
come over him. A wild kind of desperation. He hadn’t even realised what he’d
done until he felt the flex of the delicate bones of her wrist beneath his
fingertips.
    So his mind had latched onto the only convenient
reason for him begging her to stay. For her to truly experience England. Today
they would take the carriage to Kenilworth Castle. He’d only been there himself
once, in spite of it only being an hour’s carriage ride away. He supposed it
was easy to take these things for granted when one had these things on one’s
doorstep.
    Julian drew out his pocket watch and snapped it
shut. No one would be angry with them for being late—this was not a ball or an
important social event. However,