Read Online Night Fire by Catherine Coulter - Free Book Online Page B

Have you children?”
    That startled him, and he arched a dark brow. “Why would you think me married?”
    Because you have to be. “I just assumed that you would be. You are the earl and have need of an heir. You are older now, fully grown, and I—” She ground to a halt, so embarrassed that she could only stare at the loose blades of grass that would certainly stain her skirt.
    â€œI was fully grown that first afternoon three years ago, Arielle. As I recall, you told me so yourself.”
    â€œI was a child, a foolish, trusting child. I didn’t know anything.”
    Her bitterness was a live thing. What the hell had happened? Was this because of Paisley Cochrane? He said calmly, “I am back now to do as I ought. You are right. As the Earl of Ravensworth, I have need of an heir. For that I shall need a wife.” He smiled at her and despite his best intentions, all the tenderness he felt for her was in his eyes. “Have you any thoughts on the subject? Any recommendations, perhaps?”
    No, she thought wildly, he couldn’t mean what she thought he did. Oh, no. He couldn’t want her, at least not as a wife. She was used and dirty and—It would mean bedding him, doing all those disgusting things, being beaten again and crying with the pain, the helplessness. She realized that she was shaking her head. She jumped to her feet. “No, I have no thoughts. Well, actually, yes, there are many lovely ladies who live hereabouts. I am certain you will see them all very soon. I must go now. Really, I must.”
    Burke stared up at her. He saw fear in her eyes, and distaste. He tried to retrench quickly, saying mildly, emotionlessly, “Don’t go yet, Arielle.”
    â€œI shouldn’t be here, alone with you.”
    â€œThat didn’t concern you when you were fifteen. It doesn’t concern me now. Come, stay, and let’s get acquainted again. I was sorry to hear of the death of Sir Arthur. I wrote you.”
    Arielle watched him uncertainly. He seemed controlled enough, calm enough. Perhaps she’d misunderstood him. She had nothing but lovely memories of him. He’d always acted the perfect gentleman, but still, he was a man and thus unpredictable, not to be trusted.
    â€œYes, I received your letter. Thank you. Of course I couldn’t reply.”
    â€œI knew that, yes. You were very young.”
    Not only was I young, I was foolish and stupid too. “How is Lannie? And Poppet and Virgie?”
    At least she’s not bolting, he thought. He said easily, “Lannie is just the same, perhaps even more so. I shall probably become her nemesis again now that I am home. My steward, Cerlew, is the current recipient of all her melodramatic wrath. Lannie is very adaptable, as you probably remember. She said she missed you. As for my nieces, they’re really quite cute.”
    â€œExcellent,” said Arielle.
    And that was that? he thought. Burke looked out over the placid lake. “I remember thinking that you and I were friends. That is no longer true?”
    Friends . To be friends with a man was an alien thought. It required trust, a commodity that was elusive, indeed a commodity that was most unlikely in her experience.
    â€œNo,” she said honestly, “I don’t believe it is.”
    That drew him up short. “Whyever not? I haven’t grown two heads, and I am still accounted an honorable man.” He’d meant his words to sound light, humorous, but her expression remained grave, withdrawn.
    He wasn’t aware, would never have guessed, that she was seeing him in that moment as a very real threat to her. She was seeing a large man, powerfully built, so much stronger than she that he could easily break her, easily intimidate her, easily beat her with little effort on his part. As for his good looks, that made her distrust him all the more. A man who had been a young girl’s dream hero for months was likely