In Search of a Memory (Truly Yours Digital Editions) Read Online Free PDF Page A

home?”
     
    Seeing the kindness in his eyes, she didn’t take offense at his question.
     
    “Let’s just say I realized it was time I left my aunt’s charity and found a way to make a living.”
     
    “So you took off in the night and stowed aboard a train. Don’t worry,” he quietly assured. “I won’t tell a soul. Why do you think I spoke up for you?”
     
    She glanced around nervously. “Why did you? I wasn’t exactly nice.” She drew her brows together in concern. “Is it so obvious? I mean—
what I did
?” She mouthed the last three words.
     
    He studied her until a flush warmed her face. “The porter isn’t going to care one way or the other as long as the fare is covered. Don’t worry about that. As to why, let’s just say I felt the urge to… help a damsel in distress.” He grinned.
     
    At the memory of her parting shot, she lowered her eyes and shook her head in embarrassment.
     
    “Though I’m not sure anyone who knows me would call me a knight. Maybe a black knight…”
     
    At his wry, amused response, she swiftly raised her head.
     
    “No, don’t look at me like that. Your virtue is safe. I have no intention of ‘luring you to become my floozy,’ I believe is how you put it?”
     
    Rather than be insulted or injured by his light tone that gently teased, she found herself nervously laughing.
     
    “I was a bit high-strung, but can you blame me? You pulled me into the car, one that had no other passengers, asked a lot of personal questions, told the steward to knock first, then told me you wanted to get to know me better. What’s a girl supposed to think?”
     
    He chuckled, a dimple she’d never noticed flashing in his cheek. “Okay, maybe I was overfriendly. But I couldn’t get over the shock of running into you again in another strange twist of fate. It seemed… uncanny.”
     
    She nodded, deciding to trust him with part of her dilemma since he’d guessed the truth about the rest and hadn’t turned her over to the authorities. “I’ve never done anything like this before. Sneaking aboard, I mean. I’ve never taken one red cent or even a stick of candy as a child. But tonight I acted before I thought.”
     
    “I believe you.”
     
    She studied him in confusion, having been sure she would need to persuade him. “Why? You don’t know me.”
     
    “Let’s just say I have a hunch you’re the type of dame who’d never resort to such measures unless you were desperate. Again, don’t worry about them finding out.” He casually directed a thumb over his shoulder as he spoke. “Your secret’s safe with me.”
     
    “I’ll pay you back, of course.” She didn’t like being indebted to anyone, especially not this man whose name she still didn’t know. “Give me an address where I should send the money, and I’ll reimburse you as soon as I find work.”
     
    “There’s no need. It was nothing. I have plenty.” He grimaced, as if being wealthy actually displeased him.
     
    “I insist.” She vainly searched through her purse. Feeling silly, she looked up. “It seems I’ll need to borrow a pen and something to write on, too.”
     
    He eyed her a long moment. She wished she knew what was running through his mind.
     
    “Tell you what. Let’s forget all about that, and let me try introducing myself again. We got off track the first time. Hopefully the conductor isn’t as lousy at steering this train as I am at managing a conversation.”
     
    She smiled at his little joke.
     
    “I’m Roland.”
     
    “Angel.” He lifted his brows at her reply, and she added, “My name. A nickname I’ve grown used to. My full name is Angelica Mornay.”
     
    “It suits you. Pretty name for a pretty dame.”
     
    His casual compliment left her ill at ease, and she looked down, snapping her purse shut.
     
    “Did I say something wrong?”
     
    Before she could respond, the waiter returned to the table with their orders. “If there will be anything else, Mr.