Read Online Mary Jo Putney by Sometimes a Rogue - Free Book Online
Authors: Sometimes a Rogue
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seen, the duchess was admirably levelheaded and down to earth, traits Sarah shared, even if they both did resemble fluffy golden chicks....
He awoke with a burning erection and a soft female body locked in a heated embrace, only clothing preventing them from joining. His “Good God!” sounded at the same time as her “Merciful heaven!”
Shocked into wakefulness, they scrambled apart. Rob lay on his back and knotted his hands as he cursed himself. He was a grown man, not a hot-blooded youth!
Once more giving thanks that Miss Sarah wasn’t given to vapors, he managed to say in a level voice, “I’m sorry. I don’t generally seduce the females I rescue.”
Sarah made a breathy sound as if she was also clenching her fists. “I don’t think that was a seduction. Just . . . animal warmth in action. Because I’m very warm now!”
“So am I.” He forced himself to consider how Ashton would react if he learned that Rob had bedded the duchess’s sister. That helped his pulse go down quickly.
“You said you don’t usually seduce the females you rescue,” Sarah said, her voice curious. “Does that mean you do sometimes?”
“Of course not! When I’m hired to save girls from being ruined, I certainly can’t ruin them myself.”
“Saving runaway heiresses from their own folly, I presume.” Sarah chuckled. “That doesn’t apply to me. I’m no heiress.”
Rob smiled a little into the darkness. “But the principle remains. My job is to return you uninjured and unruined to your family.”
“I know, and believe me, I’m grateful.” She sighed. “But sometimes I fear that I’m destined to die a virgin.”
Rob choked. “This is not a discussion we should be having!” He drew a deep breath as he tried not to imagine educating this lovely and willing young woman. “Even if you’re not a great heiress, any girl as beautiful as you can’t lack for suitors.”
The light note that had been in her voice vanished. “I don’t. But I loved and lost, and I . . . don’t think that will happen again.”
“I’m sorry.” The pain in her voice made him find her hand and hold it comfortingly. “But a man fool enough to leave you doesn’t deserve endless mourning.”
“He left me by dying, not by an inconstant heart. With him, I felt like the most beautiful, fascinating woman alive. The betrothal ball was to be on my eighteenth birthday. He . . . he was killed in the hunting field a fortnight before.” Her voice broke. “I’d been choosing my bride clothes.”
“Oh, Sarah.” He rolled onto his side and gathered her to his chest. “I’m so sorry. But if he truly loved you, he wouldn’t want you to mourn forever.”
“I’m sure he wouldn’t. Gerald believed in enjoying life to the fullest.” She sighed. “After mourning for a year, I told myself it was time to start looking. But when I did, I couldn’t find anyone I wanted to marry a fraction as much as I’d wanted to marry Gerald. I’ve been looking for over seven years without success. Solid, worthy men don’t interest me, and I realized that the dashing sorts would break my heart sooner or later.”
“As Gerald did,” Rob said softly.
“Exactly.” Her voice was rueful. “We were both young, and I think we could have grown up well together. But I’ll never know. Because I never had time to fall out of love with him, he still . . . holds my heart. Being a maiden aunt will suit me very well, though. In many ways, I prefer being an independent woman.”
He wondered if that was really true, or if she was just good at making the best of her lot. “Independence has many advantages,” he agreed. “But don’t dismiss the possibility of finding a man who will be a good and honorable companion even if you don’t love him as you did Gerald.”
“Would you marry a woman who is merely a good companion?” she asked skeptically. “I suppose if one hasn’t been madly in love, a congenial companion would seem quite
He awoke with a burning erection and a soft female body locked in a heated embrace, only clothing preventing them from joining. His “Good God!” sounded at the same time as her “Merciful heaven!”
Shocked into wakefulness, they scrambled apart. Rob lay on his back and knotted his hands as he cursed himself. He was a grown man, not a hot-blooded youth!
Once more giving thanks that Miss Sarah wasn’t given to vapors, he managed to say in a level voice, “I’m sorry. I don’t generally seduce the females I rescue.”
Sarah made a breathy sound as if she was also clenching her fists. “I don’t think that was a seduction. Just . . . animal warmth in action. Because I’m very warm now!”
“So am I.” He forced himself to consider how Ashton would react if he learned that Rob had bedded the duchess’s sister. That helped his pulse go down quickly.
“You said you don’t usually seduce the females you rescue,” Sarah said, her voice curious. “Does that mean you do sometimes?”
“Of course not! When I’m hired to save girls from being ruined, I certainly can’t ruin them myself.”
“Saving runaway heiresses from their own folly, I presume.” Sarah chuckled. “That doesn’t apply to me. I’m no heiress.”
Rob smiled a little into the darkness. “But the principle remains. My job is to return you uninjured and unruined to your family.”
“I know, and believe me, I’m grateful.” She sighed. “But sometimes I fear that I’m destined to die a virgin.”
Rob choked. “This is not a discussion we should be having!” He drew a deep breath as he tried not to imagine educating this lovely and willing young woman. “Even if you’re not a great heiress, any girl as beautiful as you can’t lack for suitors.”
The light note that had been in her voice vanished. “I don’t. But I loved and lost, and I . . . don’t think that will happen again.”
“I’m sorry.” The pain in her voice made him find her hand and hold it comfortingly. “But a man fool enough to leave you doesn’t deserve endless mourning.”
“He left me by dying, not by an inconstant heart. With him, I felt like the most beautiful, fascinating woman alive. The betrothal ball was to be on my eighteenth birthday. He . . . he was killed in the hunting field a fortnight before.” Her voice broke. “I’d been choosing my bride clothes.”
“Oh, Sarah.” He rolled onto his side and gathered her to his chest. “I’m so sorry. But if he truly loved you, he wouldn’t want you to mourn forever.”
“I’m sure he wouldn’t. Gerald believed in enjoying life to the fullest.” She sighed. “After mourning for a year, I told myself it was time to start looking. But when I did, I couldn’t find anyone I wanted to marry a fraction as much as I’d wanted to marry Gerald. I’ve been looking for over seven years without success. Solid, worthy men don’t interest me, and I realized that the dashing sorts would break my heart sooner or later.”
“As Gerald did,” Rob said softly.
“Exactly.” Her voice was rueful. “We were both young, and I think we could have grown up well together. But I’ll never know. Because I never had time to fall out of love with him, he still . . . holds my heart. Being a maiden aunt will suit me very well, though. In many ways, I prefer being an independent woman.”
He wondered if that was really true, or if she was just good at making the best of her lot. “Independence has many advantages,” he agreed. “But don’t dismiss the possibility of finding a man who will be a good and honorable companion even if you don’t love him as you did Gerald.”
“Would you marry a woman who is merely a good companion?” she asked skeptically. “I suppose if one hasn’t been madly in love, a congenial companion would seem quite
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