Love Became Theirs Read Online Free PDF Page B

was beating wildly.
    "What have you done?" she asked in wonder.
    "I've made it impossible for you to think of him without remembering me," he said with a strange smile.
    "Who are you?" she whispered. "I must know."
    But he shook his head.
    "It's better if you do not. We mustn't see each other's faces, and after tonight we can never meet again. I wish we could. I would like to remain close to you and protect you, but my path leads in another direction. I will always remember you."
    "And I, you," she said, knowing that it was true.
    How could she ever forget him, when he already lived inside her, in her memory, her heart and soul?
    He kissed her again briefly, lightly, releasing her at once.
    "Now we must return to the house," he said.
    Taking her hand, he began to walk and soon they were among the lights. She could hear the sound of music and see couples dancing through the great windows. At any moment he would leave her and she must find a way to stop him. It was vital that she knew who he was.
    On the stone steps he halted and said,
    "You must go in alone, now."
    "Wait," she implored, "Just one moment."
    He shook his head, but before she could say more she heard a man's voice behind her.
    "Hey there, Harlequin! It's Peter, isn't it?"
    She whirled and saw a merry group of people some yards away, calling and waving in their direction.
    "Hey, Peter – over here – "
    She turned back to Harlequin, starting to say, "so your name is – ?"
    But he had vanished.

CHAPTER THREE
    "I am seriously displeased with you," Papa raged. "That a daughter of mine could display such rudeness, could show me up in front of everyone – how dare you leave without a word to me!"
    "I left a message to say I'd gone home early, Papa," Rona said wearily.
    If only her parents would leave her in peace. She had fled Westminster House, desperate to be alone and come home to bed. But then she had lain awake, listening for their return, knowing they would come straight to see her.
    "How do you think it looked, leaving your fiancé alone like that?" her mother demanded.
    "Mama, please don't call him my fiancé. I will not marry Lord Robert."
    "You'll do as I say, my girl," her father snapped.
    "He cares as little for me as I for him. He only wants your money. I heard him say so tonight."
    He stared. "What are you talking about."
    "I heard him tell someone – "
    "Rubbish! You imagined it."
    "Papa, I – "
    "Not another word. Tomorrow I shall put the announcement in The Times."
    She had thought the revelation of Lord Robert's true nature would be decisive, but now she saw that her parents were simply determined to block it out. And she could not tell more of the story without compromising Doreen.
    When her parents had gone, her father in a rage, her mother in tears, Rona tossed and turned.
    'I must escape,' she told herself. 'Or they'll march me up the aisle before I know what's happening. Then I'll spend the rest of my days married to a man I dislike and despise.
    'But how can I flee? What can I do?' The questions seemed to throb in her head.
    She finally fell asleep, and awoke very late next morning. When she came downstairs her parents had both left the house.
    She went out into the garden and wandered among the flowers, wondering what was to become of her.
    If only she could tell her parents everything, but that would include what had happened at the end of the evening. There were no words to describe the mysterious Harlequin, but she knew that his kiss would haunt her as long as she lived.
    His purpose had been to wipe out the memory of Lord Robert's kiss, and he had succeeded more than he would ever know. Now she wanted no other embrace. In her heart she belonged to this one man.
    Yet she did not even know who he was.
    Except that his name was Peter.
    But there were so many men in the world with that name, that it was no help.
    Worse, she might never know his identity, for he had said they would not meet again.
    She was overcome by despair at the