Free HisLadysKeeperfinal.wps by test Page A

could only think of Andrew. They had made so many plans, she’d been so looking forward to his nuptials to his fiancée Mary, who was a dear friend of hers, and then, he’d been killed, and the bond they had shared had died with him. She and Mallory had never been particularly close, probably because she was too much like Mallory to get along with him. Now, Mary had moved on, she’d built a good life for herself, but Gemma resented that. She resented the fact that Mary had found the ability to love someone else, and she resented the fact that Mary had figured out how to live for the future rather than living in the past. The past was safe, the present was precarious, and the future was frightening.
    She knew she lived with ghosts, and she knew she had to move on, the trouble was, she didn’t know how.
    “Gemma? Are you quite well? You look rather pale and, well—distant. Return to me, my love.”
    “That’s just it. You can’t love me! You can’t possibly fall in love with someone you’ve only known for a day. It’s not likely. You aren’t living in a true reality … no one could love me so quickly. I’m not the sort that you just fall in love with at first sight.”
    “I disagree. I’ve known a lot of women in my time, I’ve been infatuated with quite a few of them, and yes, I’ve had many ports to take my ship into, but I’ve never felt so passionately about a woman like I feel for you. I’m willing to take you despite your stubbornness, your high airs, and your ability to push me away at every opportunity. You try to use that somewhat barbed tongue of yours to turn me off, and yet, I keep coming back to you. Aye, I owe a life debt to Mallory, but I don’t have to do this if I don’t want to … I’m sure that Mallory will have other times where he’ll need my help.” He grinned.
    She lost herself in that carefree smile. Clearly, he’d endured hardship and trials of the spirit beyond her comprehension. She could tell that by the hardened glint that sometimes entered his eyes. However, whenever he looked at her that steely glint vanished. Perhaps, he was being truthful with her. Had he actually fallen for her?
    “Hart, I think you should go to your own rooms. I don’t know why you’re doing this. I can tell you’d never hurt me, I might think you’re a big pain in the arse, but you’re not the sort of man that would take me against my will.”
    His visage softened. “You know me better than you want to admit.”
    She was taken aback by the endearing expression entering his eyes. She could really lose her heart to that particular look.
    “You don’t actually want to marry Kilworth, do you? From the tales Mallory has regaled me with, he sounds like a letch of the foulest sort.” His breath tingled against her neck. He made her feel safe—and wanted.
    “I will marry Kilworth because I handpicked him.”
    “What happened to force you into that decision? Surely, there are other more HIS LADY’S KEEPER Marly Mathews 39
    suitable men in the haut ton that could strike your fancy.”
    “Alas, you don’t understand the men of the haut ton . They ran from me like I was holding a smoking pistol in my hand. They didn’t want to have anything to do with me—I tried to tell myself that it was Mallory that had turned them off … but it wasn’t. I know better than that. It was me . Most men don’t know what to think of my unconventional ways. No one but Kilworth would approach me at the grand balls. He was the only one that didn’t look at me with a glint of wariness in his eyes.”
    “I’m not one of those men.”
    “Yes, that’s true. You probably wouldn’t know what to do at one of the haut ton soirees … seeing as you are well, raised in the wilds of these rugged highlands.”
    “So says a lady that is living in the lap of luxury in the so-called wildly rugged highlands.”
    “My family has a certain affinity for Scotland, I’ll grant you that,” she relented, sighing.
    He turned