Read Online The Devil Rogue by Lori Villarreal - Free Book Online

I-I’ll keep her out of your way.”
    “All right . I’ll allow her to stay – for you . But don’t expect me to ever be a father to her.”
    Angela had heard her father’s heavy footsteps as he’d left the room . All was quiet except for the sound of her mother’s sniffling . Too afraid to reveal herself, five-year old Angela had remained hidden , until the sound of her mother’s voice broke the silence . “You can come out now, sweeting.”
    Angela had burst from the armoire and into her mother’s welcoming arms . “No matter what happens, my sweet angel,” she’d said , “ r emember that you are loved.” Angela had sat in her mother’s lap in a protected cocoon for a long time while her mother sang softly, rocking her to sleep.
    My God ! Could it be possible that the baron was not her real father ? Angela had been too young at the time to understand her father’s words . All she knew was that he was angry, and it seemed to be directed at her . Angela had been trying so hard all her life to win his love and approval . T he idea he may not even be her father had never occurred to her .
    You know I had no control over what happened before we married , her mother had said . It could definitely explain a lot . Had her mother been with another man before her marriage?
    Angela may be innocent, but she knew it took a man and a woman to create a child . Had her mother been forced ? Her statement alluded to that very possibility . If so, then who was her real father?
    “There you are, mi ss ,” Rosemary said from the doorway, tearing Angela from her thoughts . “What in bloody blazes happened to all your pretty gowns ? Why, they’re all cut to ribbons, they are!”
    “Compliments of my father , I suspect.” Angela couldn’t help the bitter emphasis on the word ‘father , ’ although , she actually felt a sense of relief that she may not be tied to him by blood . The heavy burden of guilt for hating him also lifted, giving her a renewed purpose, a hardened resolve to obtain her freedom.
    “That slimy bastard ! Here you are, out of the house, and he still find s a way to torment you.”
    “It’s his way of having the last word. ”
    “But what are you to wear ? That dress you have on isn’t going to last for long if you wear it every day.”
    “I’ll figure something out .”
    “We could alter one or two of my dresses, love . They’re not as fancy as these were, but they’d cover your bare arse , at least.”
    “Rosemary!”
    Her friend grinned unrepentantly. “You know I’m right.”
    “I don’t want to take from you what little you already have . I couldn’t ask it of you.”
    “ Pish ! You’ll take them if I say you will and that’s the end of it.”
    Angela couldn’t help her burst of laughter . “All right ! I’ll take one dress.”
    “Two.”
    “Okay, two, but when I get my money, I’m paying you back.”
    “You’ve paid me back a hundred fold with your friendship, M i ss Angela ,” Rosemary said gently . “There’s no need.”
    “We’ll see about it when the time comes . Now let’s go pick out those dresses . I need to get them altered before dinner . I’m to dine with ‘ his majesty ’ this evening, and each night, thereafter.”
    A spark of interest lit Rosemary’s dark eyes. “To be sure, and what else will you be doing with your evenings, love ?”
    “Just you never mind! ”
    Then Angela recalled the things Rosemary had told the other servants . “What have you been telling the people here ? I’m afraid they’re going to next petition me a medal for single-handedly capturing a gang of pirates .”
    “I just thought I’d smooth the way for you, love, seeing as how you’ve had such a rough time of it lately.”
    Angela g a ve Rosemary an affectionate hug . “I do appreciate your thoughtfulness . Is there anything else I should know ? Are there any other defenseless creatures I’ve saved?”
    Rosemary giggled . “It was all I could come up with on short