Read Online Courting His Countess (A Historical Romance Novella) by C.J. Archer - Free Book Online Page A

this because you saw me speaking to
Temperance earlier?"
    She smoothed down the skirt even though it
looked unruffled. "No."
    "I assure you, I didn't want to converse
with her. I can't stand the woman."
    Her quick hands stilled. "How you've changed
then," she said, stiffly. "Six years ago, it was me you could not
stand to be near."
    It had been a mistake to bring her to court.
He could see that now. He'd wanted her with him, wanted her at his
side to show the world how lucky he was and how stupid he'd been,
but he'd not taken her feelings into consideration. Selfish fool.
He should have let her stay home like she wanted to. Now their
relationship had gone backwards because of it.
    "Rose." He went to take her hands but she
put them behind her back. "Rose, please. Six years ago I was an
impetuous youth eaten up by revenge. I betrayed you and I am sorry.
So very sorry."
    "Your words are simply that, Thomas. Just
words. I promised myself I would not allow my heart to be broken by
them again."
    He broke her heart? Oh God. That
meant...that meant she'd cared for him once, perhaps even loved
him. It made his betrayal all the more terrible.
    "Rose." He reached for her again, but she
spun around and walked away. She sat on the window seat and stared
into the darkness beyond. She didn't want him near, but he knelt
beside her anyway. He had to say this. Had to, or he would always
regret it. "Do you know why I came home now, in winter, when it
would have been wiser to wait for spring?" She said nothing so he
forged on. "I wanted to apologize. I've tried to do it for six
years, but you didn't answer my letters. So when the queen gave me
permission to return after Father's death, I took the first ship
out of Ireland and came straight home."
    She kept her hands to herself so he touched
her skirt and rubbed the soft velvet between his fingers. It was as
close to her as he dared get. "It wasn't until we set sail that I
began to have doubts. I was afraid that I might inadvertently
punish you again in order to get revenge upon your father. You know
that's why I did it, don't you? I was furious with Wallan for the
way he tricked Father out of the estate, and I hated being
manipulated by him into marrying you to raise his standing at
court. I grew afraid that the anger would return when I saw him,
and I didn't want to hurt you again. I'd already done enough."
    She looked so calm, so peaceful, it was as
if she couldn't even hear him. As if she'd shut herself off.
    "I'm so sorry, Rose." He stood and backed
away to the door. She didn't turn to him, didn't blink, didn't seem
to be breathing at all. He paused at the door, his hand on the
knob. "Perhaps in time you can forgive me, or perhaps not. It
doesn't matter, because I'll never forgive myself."
    She turned to him then and blinked, slowly,
as if she had just woken from a long sleep. "I will receive you
again back at Lockhart." Then she once more looked out the
window.
    He left and reached his own rooms although
God knows how he made it when his heart felt like it had broken
into a million pieces and his feet felt too heavy to move. He
ordered his servant to leave and collapsed on the bed, burying his
face in the pillow. He welcomed the misery that had threatened to
envelope him ever since leaving Rose's rooms.
    Much later, he undressed and returned to
bed. He lay on his back and tried to think through the fog in his
mind. He'd done everything. Said everything. What else could he do
to win her forgiveness?
    Somehow he didn't think time was going to
heal the deep wounds he'd inflicted. So what would?

CHAPTER 11
     
    As with the last two nights, Annie had a
gown ready for Rose to wear on New Year's Eve. It took Rose's
breath away.
    "The seamstress sewed the pearls onto the
bodice today, according to His Lordship," Annie said, her watchful
gaze on Rose. "He said it wasn't lovely enough to be worn by his
exquisite wife without them. That's what he called you, his
exquisite wife." She blinked hard but