A Dangerous Love Read Online Free PDF Page A

rich cousin, eh? Even if he is half Gypsy.” The man laughed.
    â€œGod only knows how he does it.” Robert grinned. “It’s his English blood, of course, that makes him so wealthy.”
    The third man leaned close. “Have you ever had a Gypsy wench?” He leered. “They’re at Rose Hill—I heard it from a houseman.”
    Emilian stiffened in surprise. There were Roma nearby. Had he sensed them all this time?
    And suddenly a young Rom, no more than fifteen or sixteen years old, stepped onto his flagstone terrace, staring at him through the French doors.
    Emilian moved forward. “Wait!”
    The young Rom whirled and started to run.
    Emilian ran after him. “Don’t go!” he cried. Then, in Roma, “Na za!”
    The boy froze at the sharp command. Emilian hurried forward. Continuing to speak in the Romany language, he said, “I am Rom. I am Emilian St Xavier, son of Raiza Kadraiche.”
    The boy appeared relieved. “Emilian, Stevan sent me. He must speak with you. We are not far—an hour by horse or wagon.”
    Emilian was stunned. Stevan Kadraiche was his uncle, whom he had not seen in eight years. Raiza traveled with him, as did his half sister, Jaelle. But they never traveled farther south than the Borders. He could not imagine what this meant.
    And then he knew. There was news—and it could not be good.
    â€œWill you come?” the boy asked.
    â€œI’ll come,” he said, lapsing into English. He steeled himself, but for what he did not know.

CHAPTER TWO
    A RIELLA STOOD BY the fireplace, wishing she could leave the supper party and return to her room. She would much prefer curling up with her book for the evening. Pleasant greetings had been exchanged and the weather had been discussed, as had Amanda’s famous rose gardens. Dianna, who was very pretty in her evening gown, was now mentioning her mother’s upcoming ball, the first at Rose Hill in years. “I do hope you will attend, my lords,” she said sweetly.
    Ariella fixed a smile on her face and glanced at her father. Tall and handsome, in his midforties, he was still a man who caught the ladies’ eyes. But he did not notice; he remained smitten with his wife, who was as passionate as her husband about the sea, and eccentric enough to stand on the quarterdeck with him even now. Yet Amanda also loved balls and dancing, which made no sense as far as Ariella was concerned. After supper, she decided she would approach her father and see if he might allow a very bold adventure into the heart of central Asia.
    Lord Montgomery turned to her. “You do not seem to anticipate the Rose Hill ball.” He spoke quietly, seriously.
    She could not help herself. “I do not care for balls. I avoid them whenever I can.”
    Dianna rushed to her side. “Oh, that is so untrue,” she scolded.
    â€œI prefer travel,” she added. She saw her father smile.
    â€œI enjoy travel, too. Where have you been recently?”
    â€œMy last voyage was to Athens and Constantinople. I now wish to visit the steppes of central Asia.”
    Dianna paled.
    Ariella sighed. She had promised her sister to avoid any discussion of the Mongols. She debated several topics and gave in to one that interested her. “What do you think about Owen’s great experiments to help labor improve its position and place in the economy?”
    Montgomery blinked. Then his gaze narrowed, as if with interest.
    But the younger Montgomery stared at her in shock. Then he turned to her father and said, “An absolute disaster, of course, to consolidate labor like that. But what do you expect from a man like Robert Owens? He’s a merchant’s son.”
    Ariella bristled and said to his back. “He is brilliant!”
    Cliff de Warenne came to stand beside her, putting his hand on her shoulder. He said pleasantly, “I have been impressed with Owen’s experiments. I support