Read Online Never a Bride by Amelia Grey - Free Book Online Page A

her.”
    “It’s all right, Uncle Archer,” Mirabella said, walking closer. Her legs were shaky, and her body was stiff with pain, but she had to push all that aside. “I think we do need a moment alone.”
    He uncle sighed heavily. “If you insist, I guess it’s all right. The harm is already done. I’ll stand over there on the patio and wait for you because I’m not letting you out of my sight again.”
    Lord Stonehurst looked at her, allowing his gaze to sweep up and down her face as if seeing her for the first time. His outrage was to be expected. But she was committed to Sarah, and she couldn’t have changed her course of action.
    Tension clogged in her throat. She sensed that he was holding the brunt of his anger in check by a mere breath. The air around them seemed to crackle like lightning during a summer thunderstorm.
    Refusing to buckle under the strain, softly she asked, “Why didn’t you tell me who you were last night?”
    “You didn’t tell me your name.”
    “You were a stranger to me.”
    He raised an eyebrow.
    Mirabella instantly wanted to take back her words. Naturally he would remind her that she had kissed that stranger. “I didn’t know you, but it’s clear now that you knew who I was. That was unfair.”
    “No.” His eyes darkened with anger. “I didn’t know your identity. How could I? We had never met. I had just arrived in London, and I hadn’t even been to see my family because it was so late when the ship docked.”
    She believed him. That he hadn’t deceived her about that made her feel a little better, but there was no graceful way out of this very uncomfortable situation. “The only thing I can do is apologize.”
    “Under the circumstances that’s little comfort.”
    The condemning tone of his truthful words rattled her for a moment, but only for a moment. Who did he think he was to sound so righteous? What encouragement had she received from him these past years?
    She shook off her shame and embarrassment and suddenly bristled with anger. “I understand you feel betrayed, but at least I’ve offered you an apology. I haven’t heard one from you.”
    He folded his arms across his chest and glared at her. “An apology from me? Whatever for?”
    “For being gone six years.”
    “You jest, Miss Whittingham. There’s nothing to apologize for. I’m certain there wasn’t a time limit on our families’ arrangement.”
    “A properly brought up gentleman would have been aware of the passing time and not have kept his fiancée waiting so long.”
    The muscle at the corner of his mouth twitched with tension again. “So in my absence, you decided to seek solace in the arms of another man?”
    Solace was not the word she would have used, and Mirabella wasn’t about to admit to anything. “I’m sure you never sought the comfort of a woman’s arms these years you’ve been gone.” She took a step closer to him and lowered her voice even more. “If you haven’t, then I will confess to being a weaker person than you, Lord Stonehurst.”
    A slight flare of what she thought to be admiration glinted in his eyes for a few seconds, but all too quickly the anger returned. “You give me too much credit, Miss Whittingham.”
    “Accept only what’s deserved.”
    “Are you in love with him?”
    “Who? Mr. Farthingdale?” She lifted her chin. “Certainly not.”
    “You were kissing him. If you don’t love him, then obviously I am to assume you make a habit of kissing men you don’t love?”
    Oh, why had she been so enchanted by him last night that she kissed him? She was trapped. “It would appear to you that is the case, for it is true I have no affectionate feelings for Mr. Farthingdale.”
    He unfolded his arms and advanced one step toward her. “You puzzle me, Miss Whittingham. Last night I found you walking the streets alone. You kissed me when we parted.”
    “It was only a little buss on the cheek.” A powerful kiss.
    His dark eyes stayed steady on her face.