Free Sinful Confessions by Samantha Holt Page A

beautiful wooden beams
fascinated her. But she also wanted to see other things.
    “I
wondered if we could perhaps take the train to London? I stopped by oh so
briefly on my journey here and saw virtually nothing of it.”
    “No.”
He snapped up his paper.
    Viola
gaped at him. “Pardon?”
    “No
London,” he said from behind the printed sheet.
    “But
why?”
    “I
do not like London.” Still, he didn’t lower his paper.
    She
scowled at the article and folded her arms. “I shall go alone then.”
    “You
will not.”
    “I
will so. I travelled all the way to England alone. I think I can manage a short
train ride to London. Besides, Jenny can be my companion for the day. I’m sure
she’d be thrilled.”
    With
a rustle, the newspaper lowered. Jaw tense, he thrust a finger at her. “You are
not going to London and you are not taking Jenny.”
    “Julian,
whilst I appreciate you showing me around and your kind hospitality, you are
not my husband.”A tiny tremor seemed to run through his body. She noted how her
words made his posture stiffen. Nevertheless, she continued. “You cannot tell
me what to do.”
    “London
is too dangerous.”
    “Then
come with me. You said yourself that I should visit London one day in your
letters.”
    “Yes,
but certainly not alone.”
    She
lifted her hands in exasperation. She wished she understood this man better.
One moment he was kissing her with a passion she’d never before experienced and
being the charming, dutiful host, then the next he was gruff and thoroughly
dislikeable.
    “Come
with me then,” she repeated through clenched teeth.
    “Goddamn
it, no!” He thrust aside the newspaper and came to his feet. “No London. No
more pestering. I won’t have it.”
    Viola
fought the desire to scrabble back in her chair and curl up into a ball. It was
not the first time she had seen his temper but last time she had run from him.
Would she do that again or should she stand tall? She had spent much of her
life bending to the will of men—her brothers and her father—even her fiancé. 
But stubborn pride didn’t dictate her reaction so much as curiosity. Why did
the idea of going to London affect him so?
    “Why
not, Julian?” she asked softly, coming to stand in front of him.
    He
glowered at her, drawing up his shoulders in a threatening manner. Indeed with
the wide breadth of his chest and the way his nostrils flared, he certainly
threatened, but Viola knew he wouldn’t harm her.
    “Will
you forget about it?” he said through clenched teeth. “Just forget about it!”
    She
took a step closer until they were almost chest to chest. His rose and fell in
aggravation while hers did the same as her heart thrummed against her ribs.
    “What
could possibly frighten you so much about London?”
    “Frighten?
I am not frightened.”
    She
tilted her head to view him and pressed a hand to his chest. Even through his
jacket, waistcoat and shirt, she felt the quick beat of his heart. He flinched
but didn’t move. Perhaps he was trying to prove his courage or maybe he felt as
she did around him—captured by her presence. That might have been wishful
thinking, but either way, she was grateful he didn’t attempt to turn away.
    “Fear
makes your heart beast fast. It makes your palms clammy.” She took his hand in
her other one and thread her fingers through them. “I don’t know what could
make a man like you scared but I should like to know. I should like to help.”
    He
snorted. “If you really wanted to help you would turn around and leave now. You
would never look back.”
    Easing
closer and holding his hand tight in hers, she smoothed her palm over his chest
as though she could ease away the pain beating in his heart. She didn’t say
anything. Viola simply gazed up at him and waited. For this man, she had all
the time in the world.
    “It’s
nothing.”
    She
waited until he heaved a breath.
    “I
cannot go to London. I cannot be around people.” He eased back and