A Valentine Wedding Read Online Free Page B

shoulders stiff, back ramrod straight.
    “I rather thought I was the injured party,” Alasdair observed, in a voice now laced with acid. “I was the one left at the altar.”
    It was no good. She could not endure it. “If you will not leave, then I shall.” Emma whirled to the door. “Harris will show you out.”
    Alasdair, with an almost leisurely movement, reached up and caught her wrist as she swept past his chair. Holding her, he rose from the chair. She was almost as tall as he, but Emma knew she couldn’t match the wiry strength in his slender frame. The fingers braceleting her wrist were not to be pried apart, and she made no attempt to do so.
    “I thought we had agreed that you were going to accept this situation with a good grace,” Alasdair said. “You will simply make yourself ridiculous if you don’t.”
    “It really pleases you to be able to taunt me with that, doesn’t it?” she said bitterly.
    “You forget, my dear Emma, that having once been made to appear ridiculous myself, I have an expert’s knowledge of its discomforts. I merely wish to warn you of them, that is all.” His eyes held hers, and they were bitter and angry, and a muscle twitched beside his thinned mouth.
    “How dare you blame me for that!” Emma exclaimed. “After what you did … you would have expected me to endure … to pretend …” The words caught in her throat and now she pulled at her captive wrist.
    Rather to her surprise, it was instantly released. Alasdair turned from her and picked up his hat, gloves, and whip. When he spoke, his voice was cool and even.
    “Whatever you may think of the situation, it exists. I have certain responsibilities for your welfare, and you are going to have to accept that I am going to be a significant presence in your life. I came this afternoon to discover if the house suits you … if you’re quite well after your journey … to ascertain that you had no nasty adventures with highwaymen and such like—the gentlemen of the road have been very busy over Finchley Common these days—and to see if you have any commissions for me to execute. I came, in short, to pay a visit of courtesy and friendship.” He bowed with ironic formality and a sweeping flourish of his hat.
    Emma stood unconsciously holding her wrist, where she could still feel the warm impress of his fingers. Alasdair was regarding her in silence, his green gaze harrowed but steady. Emma knew what he was doing. He was trying to put her out of countenance with his protestations of friendship and courtesy; trying to make her feel churlish and childish because she couldn’t or wouldn’t respond with maturity to an impossible situation.
    “I have no interest in your friendship,” she said coldly. “But I will answer courtesy with courtesy. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must go and help Maria supervise the unpacking.” She offered him a bow as ironically formal as his had been.
    Alasdair gave a half shrug as if the matter no longer interested him. “As you please.” He drew on his gloves, smoothing the fine leather over his fingers. “Since you’re clearly occupied now, I’ll call upon youin the morning to discuss how you wish your allowance to be paid. Whether quarterly or monthly. It’s up to you.”
    “We have not as yet discussed my needs,” Emma said stiffly. “That should surely come first.”
    Alasdair paused on his way to the door. “I had reached a decision on that myself. I will impart it to you tomorrow. I give you good day, ma’am.”
    The door closed behind him. Emma, flushed with anger, went to the window. She watched him emerge from the house, climb into the curricle, and take the reins from his tiger. The street was now clear and he gave his horses the office to start, his hands dropping with a motion that was almost hasty and which set his team surging forward, too fast for the narrow street. He checked them immediately, but it was clear to Emma that Alasdair was as angry as she was.
    They