A Bride for Alfie (Yorkshire Brides) Read Online Free PDF

morning. What have you told your brother?”
    “Only that we are going to visit a friend. He is busy with the store.”
    *
    Audra, her mother, and Elizabeth arrived at Lockwood Farm late afternoon. Mr. Lockwood’s butler, Michaels, took care to see to their needs then Audra asked to be taken to him. Michaels informed her Mr. Lockwood was overseeing some work. A young groom walked with her a ways before Mr. Lockwood’s familiar form came into view. Unmistakably surprised by her presence, he excused himself and came towards her. Her escort turned back.
    “What are you doing here Miss Parker?”
    “I received your letter.”
    Alfie leaned toward her. “I requested you inform me of a good time to come, and visit you there.”
    I did not want you to make the trip, Mr. Lockwood. I am sure you are still experiencing some pain. Besides, I felt an urgency to speak with you, to explain...”
    He took her arm and walked further away from the men at work. “Miss Lockwood, I had an agenda. You understand”—he reached for her hand—“I wanted you to know I had fallen in love with you before you engaged in any actions that could not be undone.”
    Stunned, Audra replied. “You cannot just tell me you love me. You know Robert, and I are engaged. It is all so confusing”—she let out a big sigh—“you begged your brother’s wife to stay with you in your sleep.”
    “I did? I did not know. I dreamt of her that first night, but—”
    “You are in love with her Mr. Lockwood.”
    “I was, yes, and she will always be special to me, but it is different.”
    Audra looked away. “Did you... I mean to say, were the two of you ever intimate?” Oh goodness, why did I ask him such an inappropriate question?
    He chuckled. “No, I assure you if I had ever acted upon my feelings for her at the time I would not be standing before you now. My brother, Garrick, would have killed me.”
    His smile faded. “I am sorry if you misunderstood my relationship with Eva, but I do not see how it compares to you allowing me to kiss you, twice, yet never telling me you were engaged to the man seeing to my injuries.”
    “I allowed you to kiss me because I was overwhelmed by your interest in me, the desire I saw in your eyes. No one has ever looked at me that way, and I fell in love with you.”
    One corner of his mouth rose in a playful grin. “You love me?”
    Her sister’s young voice rang out. “Mr. Lockwood...”
    Elizabeth came running. “They told me you have a new foal. May I feed her?”
    “Yes you may.”
    “I am sorry she is a naughty girl.” Audra tugged on one of her little sister’s curls. “I asked her to wait.” Her voice quivered giving away her emotional state.
    Over Elizabeth’s head, their eyes locked for what felt like an eternity.
    He took Elizabeth by the hand then. “I will take you to see the foal if you wait until after dinner.”
    Audra quickly interceded. “I will take her. I should not have interrupted you; we can talk later.” She could see he was not pleased she was putting him off.
    “Very well Miss Parker, we will talk after dinner.”
    *
    Elizabeth kept the dinner conversation lively. Afterwards, Elizabeth and their mother retired early. Audra was in a corner now she had to talk to him. She straightened her posture. It was what she had come for after all.
    He pulled her chair away from the table. “Miss Parker would you join me in my study?”
    She followed him; he shut the door behind them.
    He set upon her immediately. “You say you love me, yet you are doing your best at avoiding being alone with me, which can only mean one thing.”
    “...and that is Mr. Lockwood?”
    “You still intend to marry your fiancé.”
    She tried to maintain eye contact with him, he deserved that much from her. “You are correct. I made a commitment to him. I will not break it. We have cared for one another since I was very young. I cannot just walk away from him for a man I hardly know, no matter my feelings for