Read Online Wonderland By Night (Heroic Rogues Series) by Marie Higgins - Free Book Online

know if she told you this, but we are distant relatives. I became a lady’s companion a few years ago when I needed to find employment to help provide an income for my poor family. Her father was very generous to allow me this position in his household.” She looked at him over her shoulder. “Why do you ask?”
     
    “I just wondered why some of your personality didn’t rub off onto her, since the two of you had been together for a while.”
     
    She shrugged, turning her attention back to the rose. “We have only been together a few short years, as I’d mentioned. She grew up with more privileges and I did not. Whether or not that gave me a bolder personality, I couldn’t tell you.”
     
    “Do I hear resentment in your voice?”
     
    “I don’t know. Do you?” she peeked over her shoulder.
     
    “You almost sound like you don’t like that you grew up differently than Lady Sarah.”
     
    She forced a laugh. “That’s preposterous!”
     
    He moved away from the railing and came to stand by her once again. “Tell me honestly, Miss Emmie. Do you ever wonder if you could trade places with somebody else?”
     
    She snapped her head around so fast she was surprised it didn’t come off her neck. As she stared deeply into his eyes, she wondered why he asked her that. Oh heavens! He couldn’t possibly know the truth.
     
    “Do you ever wish people would treat you differently?” he continued. “Perhaps be in someone else’s place for a while? Sometimes I wonder if people would treat me differently if I were...well, say I was a wealthy man with nice lands and a large estate. Would people treat me the same as they do now?”
     
    She couldn’t believe he was saying this. Could he read her mind? “No. You would not be treated the same. People would treat you differently because you have money.” His enchanting chocolate brown eyes met hers and she continued. “Take for instance, Lady Sarah. All available men are after her hand in marriage, even some of the married men.” Once more, Lord Richard came to mind. The arrogant fool had married her cousin two years ago, yet continued to act as if he wanted Emmie as his wife. “It would not matter to them if Lady Sarah was pretty or ugly. They would try everything to get her attention and to conquer her heart.”
     
    He nodded. “I do know how it is. That’s why I sometimes wish I was a wealthy man, and even though the women may think I’m attractive, I will never be anything more to them than just amusement. Women don’t want to marry me.”
     
    She studied him closely. From his words and tone of voice, he felt the same way she did about marriage, which made her feel closer to him. “Is that why you are after Lady Sarah?”
     
    Confusion clouded his face. “Pardon me?”
     
    “Are you trying to get Lady Sarah to fall in love with you because you are a normal man without a title?”
     
    His blank expression finally turned into a grin. “Is that what you think I’m trying to do?”
     
    She shrugged. “I have seen it before. A charmingly handsome man tries to sweep the duke’s daughter off her feet when he knows he has no liberty to do so.”
     
    He chuckled. “Is that why you followed us out to the statue tonight?”
     
    Emiline gasped, her heart hammering as heat shot up her face, nearly scalding her cheeks. How did he know? Could she lie herself out of this?
     
    “Were you trying to keep Lady Sarah from falling in love with an untitled man?” he continued.
     
    “I—I—I—” Words seemed to disappear from her mind, which rarely happened. How did he know she had spied on them? Apparently, she hadn’t hidden herself as well as she’d thought.
     
    Stepping closer to her, he grasped her shoulders, bringing her body against his. “Or did you want to watch me kiss another woman and envision yourself in my arms instead?”
     
    Shock waves crashed over her and her mouth hung open. His words were so appalling, even though it was close to