Forever My Love (Historical Romance) Read Online Free PDF

Royal and would take care of her.
    She pressed her gloved fingers to her temples as her mind went spinning backward to the time when she had first come to the Colonies to visit her brother and niece. At that time she had been accustomed to the gaiety of London, so the parties and festivities offered by Savannah had bored her—that is, until the night of the Harvest Ball.
    Of course she had heard of Damon Routhland since he had been the object of adoration of many of the young girls of Chatham County, and she had often seen him from a distance, but she had not expected to find him attractive.
    Arabella closed her eyes and remembered vividly how Damon had looked the night he'd walked into the ballroom and surveyed the surroundings with boredom etched on his fine features.
    She had felt challenged when he'd appeared uninterested in her—men seldom ignored Arabella Bradford. She supposed she had behaved badly to him, she reflected, but if so, he was entirely to blame—he had taken their little flirtation much too seriously.
    The carriage came to a halt, bringing Arabella back to the present. She pressed a delicate foot forward and in a rustle of taffeta allowed Tobias to help her from the carriage. There was a determined sparkle in her brown eyes as she ascended the steps of Swanhouse.
    She had come to persuade Damon Routhland that Royal belonged with her, and she was willing to use any means of persuasion to obtain that aim. Royal was miserable and frightened, and Arabella had no intention of leaving Savannah without her.
    As she approached the wide double doors, they swung open, and a stiff-mannered butler greeted her with an inquisitive glance.
    "Is Mr. Routhland at home?" Arabella inquired impatiently.
    "Yes, ma'am, he is, but he isn't seeing callers this morning."
    "He'll see me," she said, pushing past the man and into the entry hall. "Where is he?" she demanded. "Take me to him at once."
    "That will be all, Davis," a commanding voice spoke up from the doorway of the library.
    Arabella glanced up to see Damon observing her with a look one would bestow on a child who had just been caught misbehaving. "Miss Bradford, are you accustomed to bullying other people's servants?" Damon questioned lazily.
    "I want to talk to you." She pushed past him and moved into the library, where she turned to face him.
    He smiled slightly. "I take it this is not a social call." He deliberately left the door open and indicated that Arabella should take a chair, which she refused with a shake of her head.
    "You know why I am here, Damon.”
    "To pretend otherwise would be to underestimate us both. I knew you would come. What took you so long? I've been expecting you these past few days."
    Arabella was not about to admit that it had taken her several days to work up her courage to come to Swanhouse. "Since you know why I'm here, it will save time. It is my hope that you will agree to relinquish Royal to me." He was standing too near for her peace of mind—his golden eyes were too piercing. She clutched her hands nervously. "Please allow me to take Royal to Paris."
    He shook his dark head. "I cannot permit that. Have you forgotten that it was your brother's wish that she be educated in London?"
    "I have not forgotten. And I will honor my brother's wishes," Arabella promised, watching him expectantly. When Damon made no reply, she dropped down on the edge of the chair, her eyes pleading. "I will see that Royal is educated in London. I will do whatever you want, but do not take her from me. I have no family other than Royal."
    "You have your cousin Victor and his family," Damon reminded her dryly.
    She held out a beseeching hand. "Do not punish me, Damon. I know I hurt you in the past, but do not make an innocent girl suffer for my transgressions."
    Damon glanced at her with a sardonic expression. "Surely you are not accusing me of an act of vengeance? Would you cast me as the villain?"
    Arabella dabbed at her eyes with a lace handkerchief, an