Read Online Druid Temptation (A Druid Quest Novel Book 2) by Stacey Brutger - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Stacey Brutger
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mistook her stunned silence as encouragement, and he spoke faster, taking advantage of her speechlessness.
“By English law, you’ll be my wife, mine to protect. I am not without influence. Once we’re married, he cannot touch you.” He prowled around the room like a caged beast while he plotted out a future for them.
Hope dwindled and turned bitter in her mouth as she worked all the angles. “Ecclesiastical law overrides English law. You would have no say—”
“Ah, but as my wife, you’ll become a lady, a peer of the realm. You couldn’t disappear without causing a stir. At the very least, you would get a trial. If we move to London for the season, alert others regarding the pastor’s deeds, we can set the stage.” He stopped in front of her, his large frame looming over her, triumph glittering in his eyes. “You said it yourself, he preys on the weak. He won’t be able to weasel his way into society. It will give us time to prove him a fraud.”
Diana shivered at the thought of being surrounded by thousands of people. She’d never be able to hide her true self in such close quarters. She shook her head, but he paid no heed, continuing in a loud voice.
“With backing from society, he’ll be unable to reach you.” He reached out to touch her, then seemed to remember himself, and curled his hands into fists. His presence didn’t invite touch, his rugged face demanding people keep their distance, and her chest tightened to realize that his life was just as lonely as hers. “You’ll be free.”
“It’s too dangerous.” Her throat ached at the dream he was offering her, and it broke her heart to refuse him. She wanted to shake his stubborn hide. If anything happened to him because of her, she would never forgive herself. “You could be charged with harboring a criminal.”
“A trumped-up charge. You didn’t steal any money, and his ledger and pursuit of you is proof of his guilt. He can’t afford for you to go before a court. Williams will have to bow under the pressure. The threat of being kicked out of the church should deter him. If he persists in going after you—”
“And he will.” She watched him pace, bemused, knowing he was well beyond hearing any of her protests.
“That book will be enough to convince the court, and he will be tossed in jail.” He tugged at his jacket, absently fussing at the wrinkles. “In the meantime, I’ll have my accountants scour the banks for his accounts. He can’t afford to have that much money lying around. He has to store it somewhere. It couldn’t have vanished without leaving a trace.”
Diana thought over what he said, all the ramifications. Being on constant edge for the past year has left her exhausted and her thoughts murky. That could be the only reason why she even contemplated his suggestion instead of rejecting him outright. “I cannot trap you into marriage.”
“You are not. It is my idea.” Gabriel sounded so sure of himself, so confident, she actually considered his absurd plan.
“You would be forced to spend the rest of your life locked into marriage with a relative stranger. Someone you don’t love.” She whispered the words, her voice hoarse, desperately fighting off the deep ache that built in her chest. She wanted what he offered so badly she was shaking with longing.
Unfortunately, at the mention of marriage, memories of her mother’s bitterly unhappy life surged forward before she could stop them. She’d gotten pregnant with Diana and never let her forget how her daughter had ruined her life. Her father wasn’t much better. At the first opportunity, they’d abandoned her at an orphanage. Her malnourished size made her a perfect candidate to work inside the machinery at the factories.
“I never intended to marry again. You’ll be saving me from a lifetime of loneliness.”
Diana snorted at the absurdity of his statement. “You could easily marry anyone you want.”
He cut her off, shaking his head. “I
“By English law, you’ll be my wife, mine to protect. I am not without influence. Once we’re married, he cannot touch you.” He prowled around the room like a caged beast while he plotted out a future for them.
Hope dwindled and turned bitter in her mouth as she worked all the angles. “Ecclesiastical law overrides English law. You would have no say—”
“Ah, but as my wife, you’ll become a lady, a peer of the realm. You couldn’t disappear without causing a stir. At the very least, you would get a trial. If we move to London for the season, alert others regarding the pastor’s deeds, we can set the stage.” He stopped in front of her, his large frame looming over her, triumph glittering in his eyes. “You said it yourself, he preys on the weak. He won’t be able to weasel his way into society. It will give us time to prove him a fraud.”
Diana shivered at the thought of being surrounded by thousands of people. She’d never be able to hide her true self in such close quarters. She shook her head, but he paid no heed, continuing in a loud voice.
“With backing from society, he’ll be unable to reach you.” He reached out to touch her, then seemed to remember himself, and curled his hands into fists. His presence didn’t invite touch, his rugged face demanding people keep their distance, and her chest tightened to realize that his life was just as lonely as hers. “You’ll be free.”
“It’s too dangerous.” Her throat ached at the dream he was offering her, and it broke her heart to refuse him. She wanted to shake his stubborn hide. If anything happened to him because of her, she would never forgive herself. “You could be charged with harboring a criminal.”
“A trumped-up charge. You didn’t steal any money, and his ledger and pursuit of you is proof of his guilt. He can’t afford for you to go before a court. Williams will have to bow under the pressure. The threat of being kicked out of the church should deter him. If he persists in going after you—”
“And he will.” She watched him pace, bemused, knowing he was well beyond hearing any of her protests.
“That book will be enough to convince the court, and he will be tossed in jail.” He tugged at his jacket, absently fussing at the wrinkles. “In the meantime, I’ll have my accountants scour the banks for his accounts. He can’t afford to have that much money lying around. He has to store it somewhere. It couldn’t have vanished without leaving a trace.”
Diana thought over what he said, all the ramifications. Being on constant edge for the past year has left her exhausted and her thoughts murky. That could be the only reason why she even contemplated his suggestion instead of rejecting him outright. “I cannot trap you into marriage.”
“You are not. It is my idea.” Gabriel sounded so sure of himself, so confident, she actually considered his absurd plan.
“You would be forced to spend the rest of your life locked into marriage with a relative stranger. Someone you don’t love.” She whispered the words, her voice hoarse, desperately fighting off the deep ache that built in her chest. She wanted what he offered so badly she was shaking with longing.
Unfortunately, at the mention of marriage, memories of her mother’s bitterly unhappy life surged forward before she could stop them. She’d gotten pregnant with Diana and never let her forget how her daughter had ruined her life. Her father wasn’t much better. At the first opportunity, they’d abandoned her at an orphanage. Her malnourished size made her a perfect candidate to work inside the machinery at the factories.
“I never intended to marry again. You’ll be saving me from a lifetime of loneliness.”
Diana snorted at the absurdity of his statement. “You could easily marry anyone you want.”
He cut her off, shaking his head. “I
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