Free A Dangerous Man by Janmarie Anello Page A

could wait for tomorrow. Tonight, he had much more pressing issues with which to contend. Such as what to do with his
lovely bride. He passed his glass off to a servant. "I bid you
adieu. I must find my wife."
    "You do that," Margaret snarled as he walked away. "But
you will come back to me, Richard. I promise you that"
    Any hope Leah had harbored for a moment of privacy
while Geoffrey fetched her lemonade disappeared as soon as
she stepped onto the terrace and saw the shape of a man lurk ing in the shadows. The torches reflecting off the tawny gold
in his hair were too far away to reveal his face.

    She glanced around the promenade. It was deserted. The
gardens beyond covered in darkness. Before she could turn
and run for the house, a rose-scented breeze swept up. The
clouds pushed away from the moon. Hazy light spilled over
the terrace.
    "Alexander?" She reached behind her, needing the solid
support of the balustrade to steady her knees. "Is that you?"
    He nodded, as if he didn't trust himself to speak.
    A shiver ran over her skin. She was so cold, deep inside,
but not from the breeze. She knew she should speak, but she
could not find any words. His features were tight. White lines
digging into his brow and around his mouth ravaged his flawless skin. His sunny blue eyes were wide and brimming with
the pain of betrayal. She had thought only her heart was in
danger from her father's perfidy. Had Alex loved her after all?
    "I returned mere moments ago," he finally said as he approached her, his movements stiff, tightly controlled. "I went
to your father's house straightaway. He told me something I
can scarcely credit. Is it true? Have you married him?"
    Her heart wrenched so painfully, she was surprised it still
beat, surprised her breath still moved in and out of her tightly
clenched throat. She did not want to add to his pain, but he
deserved the truth from her lips, rather than the lies her father
would tell him. "Yes, I am married."
    "I will kill him," he growled, turning for the house.
    Leah grabbed his arms. "Alex, do not be a fool."
    "Is that what I am to you?" He stared at her through wide
eyes, his face ghostly white in the pale moonlight. "A fool?"
    "Oh, that is not what I meant, and you know it," she cried,
turning toward the balustrade. She gripped the wall until she
could feel the cold from the stone seeping through her gloves.
She would not weep. She would not add the burden of her tears to his pain. He walked up behind her, so close she could
feel the warmth of his breath sweeping the back of her neck.

    "What happened, Leah? Tell me."
    His voice was so soft, so gentle, urging her to share her
worries and fears, but she could not. It was too late for him to
help her now. The truth would only hurt him more.
    Besides, if Richard agreed to her plans, her reputation
would be ruined, tainting any and all who sought her acquaintance, even through friendship. "There is not much to tell. My
father made all the arrangements. I found myself betrothed
and married so quickly my head is still spinning."
    "And you ... agreed?" He stumbled over the words. He
grabbed her arms, spun her around. His grip hurt, but she bit
back her cry, which would only bring the gossiping hordes
down upon them.
    She pushed her fists against his chest until he lifted his
hands and backed away. "My father was pleased with the
match"
    "And you? Were you pleased with the match?"
    "What choice did I have?" Leah cried, choking on the
words. "A daughter's duty is to do her father's bidding."
    "That is not what I asked you. Did you want to marry
him?"
    I don't even know him-"
    "That is not what I asked"
    "You do not understand."
    "You wanted to marry him, didn't you?" His chest heaved
as he sucked in his breath. His gaze raked over her face. "Did
you never love me, then? Was your tender regard a lark to
keep me dangling on a string, waiting for a better catch to
come along? A mere baronet's son wasn't good