Forever My Love (Historical Romance) Read Online Free PDF Page B

achievement that she had perfected for the stage. It had never failed to gain satisfactory results when practiced on unsuspecting gentlemen of her acquaintance. "The villain in this is death, because it has left Royal without parents. She has suffered so, poor dear." She peeked at him through her lashes. "Do not make her suffer more."
    Damon clapped his hands and bowed to her. "Bravo, I applaud your performance, Arabella. It is little wonder you are such a sensation in Paris. However, I believe I should point out to you that I have read Escadaux, and recognized your speech from the third act of his play Winds of Tomorrow ."
    Arabella gave a scornful toss of her head. "How was I supposed to know that you were a patron of the arts? One could not have expected you colonials to read Escadaux, since he has not been translated into English."
    "Perhaps you would have been forewarned had you known that my mother was not only French, but also had a great love for the theater. She read all his works to me one summer when I was but a ten-year-old lad. There was a time when I could quote him word for word."
    Arabella jumped to her feet and moved to Damon. "I would use trickery or anything I deemed necessary to sway you. Understand that my love for my niece is genuine, as is my desire to have her with me."
    "Oh, I believe you, Arabella."
    She placed her hand on his arm and looked up at him in earnest. "Please, Damon, forget what has passed between us. Let me have my niece. She is nothing to you. You don't even know her."
    He glanced down at the dainty gloved hand that rested on his arm. "If you have it in your mind that I accepted guardianship of Royal Bradford out of some deep need to punish you, you are deceiving yourself, Arabella." He brushed her hand off and moved away. "I admit that curiosity contributed to my attendance at the reading of the will, and yes, I even admit I hoped to see you suffer, but that is no longer my motive. Whether you believe it or not, compassion for a very sad little girl persuaded me to become her guardian."
    "Compassion? I can hardly credit that as an emotion a man would suffer from."
    He smiled slightly. "It does seem a bit out of character, doesn't it?"
    "There was a time when you were not so... cold. But now, I am not so sure."
    His expression became serious. "How much do you know about your brother's affairs, Miss Bradford?"
    "Very little," she admitted. "Douglas and I... since I became an actress by profession, my brother... chose to... he... you heard what he said about me in his will."
    "It must have come as no surprise to you that your brother decided to look beyond you and Victor in choosing a guardian for his daughter."
    Arabella appeared defeated for a moment. "It came as no surprise that he did not choose me. Nor would I have expected Douglas to leave the care of Royal to Victor." Her eyes sought his. "But why you, Damon?"
    "Ah, I see. Can it be that you have been listening to gossip?"
    "I have heard that you are a dashing rogue who sets women's hearts atwitter." Her expression hardened. "Not a high recommendation for the care of a young, innocent girl such as my niece."
    "Have no fear on your niece's behalf, Miss Bradford. Since she will be going almost immediately to England, I shall have very little personal contact with her. Do not be concerned that I shall try to seduce her. My taste runs more to older women—remember?"
    She chose to ignore his barb. "If you will not let me have her, you surely don't intend to keep me from seeing her once she is in England, do you?"
    "I have no objections to your seeing her." His golden eyes flamed. "However, I will not allow you to take her away from London."
    Arabella drew in a resigned breath. "Tell me about your plans for Royal."
    "I have no plans past abiding by your brother's wishes for her. I have written to the headmistress of Fulham School, asking that they admit Royal, and am now awaiting an answer. Until that time, you may remain with