Read Online Ghost of Christmas Past by Rebecca King - Free Book Online

Rupert closed the door and turned toward the
woman he had yearned to see. He was aware that she hadn’t made any
attempt to stand and wondered if it was just too painful for her.
“How are you, Thea?”
    “ I am fine, thank you. Please take a seat.” She waited until
he sat on the end of the chaise closest to her. “I am a little
surprised to see you in such an out of the way place as
this.”
    “ I am here for a specific purpose,” he replied quietly. He
struggled to tear his gaze away from her. Several dark curls had
escaped the bun at the back of her neck and they bobbed against the
smooth skin of her cheek as she talked. He itched to touch one to
see if it was as soft as it appeared and clenched his fists in an
attempt to keep his hands still.
    Thea
frowned and sat upright. “Are your parents alright?” She took
advantage of the opportunity to scour him from head to toe but
couldn’t see anything amiss. Indeed, he looked wonderfully hale and
hearty.
    “ I don’t know,” he sighed in all honesty. “I haven’t been back
to Bainbridge in some time.” It was on the tip of his tongue to
admit that he had left his ancestral home at the same time that she
had vanished out of his life but was reluctant to discuss the past
just yet. He remained silent while Tilly deposited a tray of tea
things on the small table between them.
    As soon
as the maid had left the room, Thea rose and poured. The sight of
her standing tall and straight warmed him to his core and he felt a
wave of relief wash over him that rendered words impossible.
Although her movements were slow, they bespoke of an elegant grace
rather than painful awkwardness. She handed him his tea cup with a
hand that shook slightly but he made no reference to it because if
he was honest, he was just as shaken.
    While
she settled into the chair opposite, he took the opportunity to try
to remember the words he had rehearsed on his journey there. He had
considered various ways to tell her about her uncle but, now that
he was here, he found himself extremely reluctant to break the
news. Still, the memory of John looking pale and lifeless against
the pristine white sheets of his bed were enough to prompt him to
say what he needed to say so that they could start to make plans to
leave. As soon as she was in London they would have plenty of time
to discuss the past.
    He knew
one thing for certain, now that she was back in his life he had no
intention of walking away from her a second time. Just seeing her
again, feeling the impact she had upon him was more than enough to
assure him that she was still very firmly a part of his life. She
just didn’t know it yet.
    “ I am afraid that I have come with some news, Thea,” Rupert
announced quietly and placed his cup on the table with far too much
precision. He sighed and moved to kneel before her. The gravity on
his face must have forewarned her that she wasn’t going to like
what he had to say because she started to frown at him. He
carefully picked up her delicate hands in his and studied the
contrasts in her pale skin against his tanned, work-roughened
fingers as he savoured the feel of her so close.
    “ I have had cause to be in London recently and met with your
uncle.”
    “ Is he quite well?” She whispered and stared into his eyes
searchingly. Up close, the thick fan of her lashes against her pale
cheeks held him captive. He had never seen such long lashes on
anyone before; why had he never noticed that about her
before?
    “ I am afraid that he has been injured, Thea.” He felt rather
than heard her gasp and clutched her fingers tighter in an attempt
to reassure her. “He was alive when I left London, but he was
poorly.” He didn’t want to say at death’s door. “He was asking for
you.”
    Thea
swallowed and felt a wave of sickness sweep through her. She didn’t
seem able to draw her horrified gaze away from his wonderfully
familiar features. The stoic support in his steady gaze held her
calm and she found