Read Online Punish Me With Roses - a Victorian Historical Romance by Juliet Moore - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Juliet Moore
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questions? She didn't want to think she had anything to fear from him, but that had always been a possibility. Since the first night, especially on that night, she'd been careful about what she'd say. She didn't like taking chances with her safety, even though it seemed highly unlikely that Alex could intend to harm her. She had to think about it logically. If he knew anything about what had happened at Blackmoore, would he really be so keen to kiss her?
She didn't think so. She also didn't think that he'd want to spend time with her. If he knew and wanted to turn her in, he would have done it already. If he knew and didn't care, well...that wasn't a possibility.
Remembering what he'd said earlier about his interest in her brought a smile to her face. Surely, he couldn't know anything or that wouldn't be true. But she also feared that he'd teased her and joked about why he was so curious about her past. Still, if that were true, would he have kissed her?
Right or wrong, the only thing she was sure of was that Alexander could never care for her if he knew what she'd done and she could never relax with that secret hanging between them.
Whichever way one looked at it, she was damned.
* * *
All Victoria knew, she'd learned at Henley House.
The stories she'd told Alex were all true, but with an important difference. Her parents had been alive and well when she'd visited Mrs. Georgia Henley. In fact, they'd stayed there countless times and it had always been...interesting. Georgia had been the only one who would talk to her about anything. Some things had been frightening, like the frank talks on sex, but usually those things were also the most fascinating. And so it was her mother's best friend who prepared Victoria for her experience with Alex...even though she hadn't known it at the time.
It was Mrs. Georgia Henley who taught her that when a man troubled and confused you, there was only one thing to do. Avoid him.
Men had a way of confusing you even more--she'd said--when one is unsure of something. Better to wait until it's all been figured out before seeing him again, no matter how difficult. And it would be difficult.
Alex came back the very next day, but she told the maid to tell him she was ill and not accepting callers. He went away dejected, or so she thought, looking down at him from an upstairs window.
She went to the next room to get a better look, then was too distracted by the room she'd entered to continue her spying.
The room she was in had been Fiona Fyn's room and it was as feminine and personal as the day she'd left it. Personal items, such as perfume, powder, and gloves, rested on the dresser. Impetuously, she opened the wardrobe and saw that it was full of dresses fashionable in the height of the Regency period. Above the fireplace hung an unfinished watercolor of Fiona.
She wanted to know something about the aunt she'd never gotten a chance to meet. It wasn't right to know nothing about her. She was family, after all.
She left the room and a little later, when she was sure Alex must be gone, decided to venture from her uncle's house. What harm could it do? He'd even suggested it to her the night before. Or maybe that was only so she wouldn't feel the need for Alex's company, or any other single male in the area. Although he hadn't actually caught them kissing, he'd seen enough.
But after she left the house, she didn't know where to go. She didn't want to ask the surly maid and her uncle was already at work. So finally, she just picked a direction and started walking. She hoped she was headed towards the main part of town, but she really couldn't remember anything about that first night.
She was tempted to use her exploratory walk as an excuse to think about Alex, but forced herself not to. Maybe a new perspective on her surroundings would enable her to understand him better. She laughed at loud at the thought.
She walked past the perfectly trimmed hedgerows and meandering patches of
She didn't think so. She also didn't think that he'd want to spend time with her. If he knew and wanted to turn her in, he would have done it already. If he knew and didn't care, well...that wasn't a possibility.
Remembering what he'd said earlier about his interest in her brought a smile to her face. Surely, he couldn't know anything or that wouldn't be true. But she also feared that he'd teased her and joked about why he was so curious about her past. Still, if that were true, would he have kissed her?
Right or wrong, the only thing she was sure of was that Alexander could never care for her if he knew what she'd done and she could never relax with that secret hanging between them.
Whichever way one looked at it, she was damned.
* * *
All Victoria knew, she'd learned at Henley House.
The stories she'd told Alex were all true, but with an important difference. Her parents had been alive and well when she'd visited Mrs. Georgia Henley. In fact, they'd stayed there countless times and it had always been...interesting. Georgia had been the only one who would talk to her about anything. Some things had been frightening, like the frank talks on sex, but usually those things were also the most fascinating. And so it was her mother's best friend who prepared Victoria for her experience with Alex...even though she hadn't known it at the time.
It was Mrs. Georgia Henley who taught her that when a man troubled and confused you, there was only one thing to do. Avoid him.
Men had a way of confusing you even more--she'd said--when one is unsure of something. Better to wait until it's all been figured out before seeing him again, no matter how difficult. And it would be difficult.
Alex came back the very next day, but she told the maid to tell him she was ill and not accepting callers. He went away dejected, or so she thought, looking down at him from an upstairs window.
She went to the next room to get a better look, then was too distracted by the room she'd entered to continue her spying.
The room she was in had been Fiona Fyn's room and it was as feminine and personal as the day she'd left it. Personal items, such as perfume, powder, and gloves, rested on the dresser. Impetuously, she opened the wardrobe and saw that it was full of dresses fashionable in the height of the Regency period. Above the fireplace hung an unfinished watercolor of Fiona.
She wanted to know something about the aunt she'd never gotten a chance to meet. It wasn't right to know nothing about her. She was family, after all.
She left the room and a little later, when she was sure Alex must be gone, decided to venture from her uncle's house. What harm could it do? He'd even suggested it to her the night before. Or maybe that was only so she wouldn't feel the need for Alex's company, or any other single male in the area. Although he hadn't actually caught them kissing, he'd seen enough.
But after she left the house, she didn't know where to go. She didn't want to ask the surly maid and her uncle was already at work. So finally, she just picked a direction and started walking. She hoped she was headed towards the main part of town, but she really couldn't remember anything about that first night.
She was tempted to use her exploratory walk as an excuse to think about Alex, but forced herself not to. Maybe a new perspective on her surroundings would enable her to understand him better. She laughed at loud at the thought.
She walked past the perfectly trimmed hedgerows and meandering patches of
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