The Blackmailed Bride by Mandy Goff

Author:Mandy Goff
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Harlequin (UK) Limited
Published: 2011-10-10T20:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

Nick rode hard through the outer reaches of Hyde Park. He was blissfully alone and had passed no one since leaving his aunt’s home.

What had he done?

Well, he knew what he’d done—the better question was why had he done it?

Why had he thought he could get away with just an innocent, comforting kiss?

He should have known the moment he took her in his arms, he was tempting himself needlessly. That he’d stoke a fire that could have consumed them both.

How could he ever ask for her forgiveness? He’d overstepped himself. But seeing her, looking so incredibly sad, he’d wanted to show her she wasn’t alone. That he cared about her. Cared about her probably more than he should. And for a moment, it had seemed to Nick that she shared his care, concern—whatever emotion it was. Things had changed quickly for her, however.

She’d been right to push him away.

His better intentions seemed to leave him the moment their lips met.

He had been nearly ready to confess feelings he wasn’t sure of…and shouldn’t have been feeling regardless.

When he approached the small lake, he slowed his pace. Reining his horse to a halt, he dismounted, leaving his steed to graze nearby. Unmindful of the damage to his breeches, Nick sat beside the lake, throwing nearby pebbles into the water. The stones broke the surface with a single plunk, and while the waters rippled, eventually they calmed.

His life had been so orderly before he’d met Olivia. He’d known exactly what he wanted. He wanted to be through with the Home Office, having discharged his duty to Crown and Country. After, he planned to turn his attentions to his estates, bettering life for his tenants. And eventually, he would marry…perhaps not someone with whom he was in love, but someone with whom he shared an easy affection. Someone who would be a good wife and mother to their children, and would help him restore respectability to a name that had been tarnished for too long. Someone who would share his code of decency and morality and—most important—faith.

That person wasn’t Olivia. At least not now.

He had no doubt a life shared with her would have been based on affection and admiration. And she certainly would make an excellent mother. Beneath her wounded exterior, she was caring and considerate.

But she had been so hurt, so disillusioned, often he felt he was wasting his time by trying to reason with her. She was so certain she didn’t need God in her life any kind of open conversation was impossible. He was in a dangerous position. He had an opportunity to help a young woman regain her faith, and he wasn’t setting the example he needed to.

Nick wondered if she would tell her brother about their kiss. Marcus trusted him to protect Olivia, to treat her like his own sister, and he’d taken grave advantage.

Well, he reasoned, if Olivia did say something, perhaps it would be the opportunity he needed to tell Marcus he wasn’t sure he was the one best suited for this particular task.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.