Falling in Love Again Read Online Free PDF

a night on the town but wore his riding clothes, doeskin breeches, a dark blue coat cut of the finest stuff, and polished boots sporting a single spur. He’d spend the day at Tattersall’s auction house buying new bits of horseflesh that he neither needed nor wanted. It had been something to do, something to spend money on, something to break the terrible monotony of his days, now that he’d been “retired” from the active military life he’d loved.
    â€œJohn!” Sarah’s husky voice came to him over the noisy crowd.
    Her extraordinary blonde beauty stood out in the circle of people around her. She was the reigning queen of this extravagant, self-indulgent group and loved the drama of her role. She moved toward him slowly, her walk a study in seduction. The gauzy muslin of her dress left nothing to the imagination. Sapphires sparkled in her hair, on her hands, and around her neck, while skillfully applied cosmetics ensured that she retained her youthful bloom.
    What all that artifice couldn’t hide was her possessiveness. John had started their affair because he’d expected her to make no demands upon his time or person. He’d discovered the opposite to be true and found her almost insane jealousy boring. He’d come this evening with the express purpose of breaking off their liaison.
    He’d have to postpone their discussion until tomorrow, since he anticipated her throwing one of her infamous tantrums over his rejection. A diamond collar worth a king’s ransom rested in avelvet-lined box inside the pocket of his coat jacket to ward off any unpleasantness.
    He forced himself to smile, a smile that turned genuine when he recognized the man who was coming toward him behind Sarah.
    Major Victor Peterson was one of his oldest friends. The two had served as ensigns together in India before both were ordered to Portugal. Blond and elegantly handsome, Victor wore the blue and red uniform of the Royal Artillery, the same company John had led before he’d been ordered home. Ignoring Sarah, John clasped his friend’s hand warmly. “When did you arrive in London?”
    â€œOnly this afternoon. I stopped by your house earlier but you weren’t there. Then I ran into Applegate at the club and he said you’d be here.” For a second, Peterson’s gaze lingered on the generous expanse of cleavage over Sarah’s bodice. “You lucky dog.”
    Sarah laughed, her voice deep and throaty, and started to take John’s arm, but the managed to slip away. “Come” he said to Peterson, “let’s go where we can talk.”
    Sarah stepped into their path. “And leave me?” Her lower lip pulled out in a pout, but there was a hint of warning in her voice. “You just arrived, John. You can’t leave—not yet.” She lifted her eyes to Peterson. “My John has been hard to domesticate. I fear he still prefers the battlefield and hard living to soft beds and his late father’s fortune.”
    â€œPrefers them even to your bed?” Peterson murmured gallantly, lifting Sarah’s hand to his lips.
    John rolled his eyes while Sarah basked in the glory of a new conquest. “Can you imagine it?” she asked, lightly touching one of the gold tassels decorating the chest of Peterson’s uniform.
    â€œNo, my lady,” Peterson answered warmly. “A man would be a fool to prefer French bullets to you. However, you must remember that John is one of our more decorated heroes of the war. He saved my life more times than I care to admit.”
    â€œYes, yes, yes,” she said. “Everyone knows he was not happy when Prinny ordered him to return to London after his father’s death. I have done my best to make him happy, but see? He shows up late even for my soirees.”
    Peterson “tsked” over John’s perfidy. Sarah moved closer to him, shooting a look over her shoulder to see if her