Read Online New World, New Love by Rosalind Laker - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Rosalind Laker
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need to live my own life, which was impossible for me in the past. To be free as I am now once seemed an impossible dream, and I don’t intend to lose my total independence for any reason. I hope you understand.’
‘I do,’ he replied, his eyes narrowed.
‘I’m so glad.’ She felt relieved. ‘I felt it only right to speak frankly.’
‘I agree. It allows me to speak with equal frankness and say that you’re only postponing the inevitable.’
Startled, she gave an incredulous little laugh. ‘You’re very much mistaken!’
He ignored her words as if she had not spoken. ‘The day I saw you on the ship as you waited to come ashore was a turning point in my life. I’m finding it harder to leave you every time, not just when I go back to Boston, but each time I bring you home again to this dreadful place.’
‘You are saying far too much,’ she protested firmly. ‘I’ll bid you goodnight and go in now.’
‘Wait! When I return to Boston again in ten days’ time it’s likely to be the end of the summer before I can come back again. At least say you will write to me.’
She shook her head quickly. ‘No, Daniel. I’ve explained why already. I only write to three people – my childhood friend living near Troy, my aunt in England and my cousin in Boston. I’m sure Madeleine will gladly pass news of Delphine and me on to you whenever you should happen to meet her.’
‘Louise!’ he exploded in total exasperation, seizing her by the shoulders. Bringing her hard against him, his powerful arms went around her, his hand cupping her head, and he almost lifted her off her feet as he buried her mouth in his in a violently passionate kiss as if he would never release her. Against her will her resistance melted, long-suppressed desires searing through her softly pliable body as his strength and warmth encompassed her. She clung to him, exulting in her wild response, all else lost to her. But even as she drifted towards the abyss she regained her sanity and stiffened fiercely in his embrace.
He was breathing deeply as he loosened his arms and she thrust them away from her with both hands, her eyes locked with his.
‘Nothing has changed!’ she declared breathlessly, dismayed that he had roused her dormant sensuality with such burning force.
‘Time will tell,’ he said quietly.
‘You mustn’t come here any more! I don’t want to see you ever again!’
He was astounded by her vehemence. ‘I hope you don’t mean that.’
‘I do! My life is my own! You want to change and disrupt all that I came to find here in my new country.’
He answered sharply. ‘That was never my intention.’
‘Maybe not at first, but it is now!’
‘Since when has love created a prison?’
Her face set angrily. ‘More than you could possibly know! I want none of it!’
‘You’re making a terrible mistake.’
‘No, you’re wrong. I made a dreadful error once and I don’t intend ever to let anything like it happen again!’
‘Who was it that set you against loving?’ he demanded. ‘Your husband? A lover?’
She shook her head fiercely. ‘It’s not love itself, but its consequences. I want to be unfettered by it for the rest of my days! I have no place in my life for you, Daniel!’ Her whole attitude conveyed her implacable determination to end their relationship. ‘So please go! Now!’
She could see he was infuriated by her rejection, his face taut, the skin straining over the bones of his face, and he took a step back from her. ‘Very well, Louise. But it’s not goodbye. I shall hope that when our paths cross again one day – as they will – that we’ll find ourselves on better terms. I bid you goodnight.’
He went quietly out of the house, which disturbed her far more than if he had slammed the main door after him in a final departure. She stood for a few moments with her eyes closed, aware that she was trembling in every limb. Although he had spoken of love, she assured herself that she would
‘I do,’ he replied, his eyes narrowed.
‘I’m so glad.’ She felt relieved. ‘I felt it only right to speak frankly.’
‘I agree. It allows me to speak with equal frankness and say that you’re only postponing the inevitable.’
Startled, she gave an incredulous little laugh. ‘You’re very much mistaken!’
He ignored her words as if she had not spoken. ‘The day I saw you on the ship as you waited to come ashore was a turning point in my life. I’m finding it harder to leave you every time, not just when I go back to Boston, but each time I bring you home again to this dreadful place.’
‘You are saying far too much,’ she protested firmly. ‘I’ll bid you goodnight and go in now.’
‘Wait! When I return to Boston again in ten days’ time it’s likely to be the end of the summer before I can come back again. At least say you will write to me.’
She shook her head quickly. ‘No, Daniel. I’ve explained why already. I only write to three people – my childhood friend living near Troy, my aunt in England and my cousin in Boston. I’m sure Madeleine will gladly pass news of Delphine and me on to you whenever you should happen to meet her.’
‘Louise!’ he exploded in total exasperation, seizing her by the shoulders. Bringing her hard against him, his powerful arms went around her, his hand cupping her head, and he almost lifted her off her feet as he buried her mouth in his in a violently passionate kiss as if he would never release her. Against her will her resistance melted, long-suppressed desires searing through her softly pliable body as his strength and warmth encompassed her. She clung to him, exulting in her wild response, all else lost to her. But even as she drifted towards the abyss she regained her sanity and stiffened fiercely in his embrace.
He was breathing deeply as he loosened his arms and she thrust them away from her with both hands, her eyes locked with his.
‘Nothing has changed!’ she declared breathlessly, dismayed that he had roused her dormant sensuality with such burning force.
‘Time will tell,’ he said quietly.
‘You mustn’t come here any more! I don’t want to see you ever again!’
He was astounded by her vehemence. ‘I hope you don’t mean that.’
‘I do! My life is my own! You want to change and disrupt all that I came to find here in my new country.’
He answered sharply. ‘That was never my intention.’
‘Maybe not at first, but it is now!’
‘Since when has love created a prison?’
Her face set angrily. ‘More than you could possibly know! I want none of it!’
‘You’re making a terrible mistake.’
‘No, you’re wrong. I made a dreadful error once and I don’t intend ever to let anything like it happen again!’
‘Who was it that set you against loving?’ he demanded. ‘Your husband? A lover?’
She shook her head fiercely. ‘It’s not love itself, but its consequences. I want to be unfettered by it for the rest of my days! I have no place in my life for you, Daniel!’ Her whole attitude conveyed her implacable determination to end their relationship. ‘So please go! Now!’
She could see he was infuriated by her rejection, his face taut, the skin straining over the bones of his face, and he took a step back from her. ‘Very well, Louise. But it’s not goodbye. I shall hope that when our paths cross again one day – as they will – that we’ll find ourselves on better terms. I bid you goodnight.’
He went quietly out of the house, which disturbed her far more than if he had slammed the main door after him in a final departure. She stood for a few moments with her eyes closed, aware that she was trembling in every limb. Although he had spoken of love, she assured herself that she would
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