Read Online Tananguard 02 - To Love a Lord by Diedre Clark - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Diedre Clark
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pleaded. Then something occurred to her. “You know my name, my real name.”
He smiled softly. “Part of it. I am still trying to decide what your last name is.”
“Meredith. My given name is Josephine Meredith, but I’ve been using my mother’s since her death,” she admitted.
“Josephine is a beautiful name, though,” he said, stepping toward her.
She inhaled sharply because she imagined him walking to her and taking her in his arms again. And how she yearned for the act! “Mr. Tananguard, please. I never meant mislead you. I was only interested in caring for your injury. I know my actions were forward and intimate, but—”
“Josephine, stop. I never thought that. I acted on impulse. I am the one who must apologize. My actions were inappropriate. Can you forgive me?” he asked. He looked as though he wished to move closer, but he held his ground.
She blinked several times, allowing his words to fully sink in. “You…you mean you’re not looking for a mistress? You’re not here because you think I would be that for you?” She flushed red. The words had just slipped out. She may have been thinking them, but she hadn’t intended to actually say them!
He laughed in surprise and grabbed at his jaw in pain. “Aw that hurts. Mistress? No, I’m not looking for a mistress. But I would court you properly if you would let me.” He had turned quite seriously suddenly.
“Court me?” she asked in surprise. “For what purpose?”
He laughed again , and again he groaned in pain. “What other purpose is there for courting?”
“ Perhaps you didn’t understand me. I will not be a mistress, Mr. Tananguard, and what you imply you cannot mean,” she argued.
“But I do. I intended it upon seeing you in Sarah’s parlor before you even played the pianoforte,” he said frankly. “And our time together yester eve only reiterated that desire.” He smiled as her cheeks flared red.
She opened her mouth to say something, but no words came. She studied him for a moment. He seemed quite serious in his confession, but it could not be. He must know that! She shook her head. “I am a commoner, Mr. Tananguard. You are the son of a lord. Surely your father would disapprove, and even if he didn’t, we are from different worlds. I would ruin your good name.”
He sighed. “I know what I want, and I know what my father would want for me. Commoner or not, I would like to see you again. I would like to know who you truly are, Josephine.”
“No,” she answered stubbornly. He couldn’t possibly mean what he said. He was looking for a way to make her his mistress without seeming to.
“No?” he asked in astonishment. “Why?”
“I am going to be frank with you, Mr. Tananguard. My brother is merely eighteen. He’s handsome, he’s charming, and he’s a scoundrel. He’s not perfect, but he tells me how it is. He frequents pubs, casinos, and other less reputable places, places where many nobles are seen doing things that make my ears burn. He mingles with these men, gambling and drinking. And to quote his words, he says, ‘All they want is a pretty woman to bed when there’s a need. Don’t be drawn in by their pretty words. You’ll only be hurt in the end.’ So I ask myself, ‘Why would he—you—risk everything to court me?’ The answer is in my brothers words.” She watched him, waiting for a response. Her foolish, romantic side hoped she was wrong in her assumption, but how could she be?
Connor seemed to be struck speechless. His face had dropped, and he seemed stunned. Finally, he spoke. “It’s very hard to argue against your logic. I could tell you my intentions are true, and I wouldn’t dishonor you in such a way. But how would you know if I was telling the truth? All I can ask is for you to trust me. Allow me to prove myself.”
“And how do you propose to do that?”
“A friendship, simple and true. You are friends with Sarah? Why not with me as well?” he asked.
“A
He smiled softly. “Part of it. I am still trying to decide what your last name is.”
“Meredith. My given name is Josephine Meredith, but I’ve been using my mother’s since her death,” she admitted.
“Josephine is a beautiful name, though,” he said, stepping toward her.
She inhaled sharply because she imagined him walking to her and taking her in his arms again. And how she yearned for the act! “Mr. Tananguard, please. I never meant mislead you. I was only interested in caring for your injury. I know my actions were forward and intimate, but—”
“Josephine, stop. I never thought that. I acted on impulse. I am the one who must apologize. My actions were inappropriate. Can you forgive me?” he asked. He looked as though he wished to move closer, but he held his ground.
She blinked several times, allowing his words to fully sink in. “You…you mean you’re not looking for a mistress? You’re not here because you think I would be that for you?” She flushed red. The words had just slipped out. She may have been thinking them, but she hadn’t intended to actually say them!
He laughed in surprise and grabbed at his jaw in pain. “Aw that hurts. Mistress? No, I’m not looking for a mistress. But I would court you properly if you would let me.” He had turned quite seriously suddenly.
“Court me?” she asked in surprise. “For what purpose?”
He laughed again , and again he groaned in pain. “What other purpose is there for courting?”
“ Perhaps you didn’t understand me. I will not be a mistress, Mr. Tananguard, and what you imply you cannot mean,” she argued.
“But I do. I intended it upon seeing you in Sarah’s parlor before you even played the pianoforte,” he said frankly. “And our time together yester eve only reiterated that desire.” He smiled as her cheeks flared red.
She opened her mouth to say something, but no words came. She studied him for a moment. He seemed quite serious in his confession, but it could not be. He must know that! She shook her head. “I am a commoner, Mr. Tananguard. You are the son of a lord. Surely your father would disapprove, and even if he didn’t, we are from different worlds. I would ruin your good name.”
He sighed. “I know what I want, and I know what my father would want for me. Commoner or not, I would like to see you again. I would like to know who you truly are, Josephine.”
“No,” she answered stubbornly. He couldn’t possibly mean what he said. He was looking for a way to make her his mistress without seeming to.
“No?” he asked in astonishment. “Why?”
“I am going to be frank with you, Mr. Tananguard. My brother is merely eighteen. He’s handsome, he’s charming, and he’s a scoundrel. He’s not perfect, but he tells me how it is. He frequents pubs, casinos, and other less reputable places, places where many nobles are seen doing things that make my ears burn. He mingles with these men, gambling and drinking. And to quote his words, he says, ‘All they want is a pretty woman to bed when there’s a need. Don’t be drawn in by their pretty words. You’ll only be hurt in the end.’ So I ask myself, ‘Why would he—you—risk everything to court me?’ The answer is in my brothers words.” She watched him, waiting for a response. Her foolish, romantic side hoped she was wrong in her assumption, but how could she be?
Connor seemed to be struck speechless. His face had dropped, and he seemed stunned. Finally, he spoke. “It’s very hard to argue against your logic. I could tell you my intentions are true, and I wouldn’t dishonor you in such a way. But how would you know if I was telling the truth? All I can ask is for you to trust me. Allow me to prove myself.”
“And how do you propose to do that?”
“A friendship, simple and true. You are friends with Sarah? Why not with me as well?” he asked.
“A
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