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Chapters (44)
  1. Table of Contents
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright
  4. Dedication
  5. Chapter One
  6. Chapter Two
  7. Chapter Three
  8. Chapter Four
  9. Chapter Five
  10. Chapter Six
  11. Chapter Seven
  12. Chapter Eight
  13. Chapter Nine
  14. Chapter Ten
  15. Chapter Eleven
  16. Chapter Twelve
  17. Chapter Thirteen
  18. Chapter Fourteen
  19. Chapter Fifteen
  20. Chapter Sixteen
  21. Chapter Seventeen
  22. Chapter Eighteen
  23. Chapter Nineteen
  24. Chapter Twenty
  25. Chapter Twenty-One
  26. Chapter Twenty-Two
  27. Chapter Twenty-Three
  28. Chapter Twenty-Four
  29. Chapter Twenty-Five
  30. Chapter Twenty-Six
  31. Chapter Twenty-Seven
  32. Chapter Twenty-Eight
  33. Chapter Twenty-Nine
  34. Chapter Thirty
  35. Chapter Thirty-One
  36. Chapter Thirty-Two
  37. Chapter Thirty-Three
  38. Chapter Thirty-Four
  39. Chapter Thirty-Five
  40. Chapter Thirty-Six
  41. Chapter Thirty-Seven
  42. Chapter Thirty-Eight
  43. A word about the author...
  44. Thank you for purchasing this publication of The Wild Rose Press, Inc.

Her eyes were half closed. His lips brushed gently, soft and warm, over her mouth. For an endless moment, she stayed quite still, beguiled by the spicy sharp taste of his lips. A charge electrified her body.

Then her head cleared. She gasped. Was she mad? This was Lord Thatcham and she was nothing but a penniless waif in his power. He meant to have his way with her, just as Joseph had tried to do.

She tore herself away from the embrace. “How dare you.” Her voice shook with fury. “How dare you treat me so?”

Lord Thatcham’s arms fell away. Blood drained from his countenance, leaving the dark eyes aglow in a white face. He said not a word.

Philomena wanted to run but at the same time longed to stay. She craved the warmth of his arms but dreaded what would happen next. An intoxicating male scent choked the breath in her throat and her legs trembled. Delight turned to horror. She yearned to hold him close, to touch her lips to that pale, shocked face and brush away those wilful strands of hair. She stepped back, sick with despair.

“You care nothing for me.” Philomena threw the angry, bitter words into the cold air. Her voice shook. “My Lord Thatcham, you may be used to take your pleasure wherever you choose but believe me, sir, you may not take me.”

She stood a moment, hesitating and shaking, then stumbled away and ran on trembling legs, eyes blinded by unshed tears. She did not see the gate that rose up at the end of the path and ran hard into the gatepost. She gasped, winded by the impact.

Lord Thatcham grasped her shoulder. “You need not fear.” The words rang with contempt. “Rest assured, you will come to no harm here, despite your lies. What sort of woman can you be? I cannot read your mind, but no master of Thatcham Hall has forced himself upon any woman who does not wish it. You are quite safe.”

Philomena ran, tears streaking her face, back towards the safety of the Hall and John’s nursery.

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fourteen

As Philomena disappeared into the distance, Hugh felt sick. He shook his head, trying to clear it. What had happened? Had he been bewitched? The light, fading from the sky while the last crystals of ice in the shadow under the trees sparkled, diamond-bright, had charmed him. He had reached out to touch the strange creature who had invaded the tranquillity of Thatcham Hall. She had cast a spell on him with an air of mystery and secrecy. His desire had engulfed him, unexpected and confusing. He had forgotten his vow to put responsibility and duty before pleasure. He had made himself ridiculous.