My Runaway Heart Read Online Free PDF Page A

never allow it."
The waltz nearly done, Lindsay rushed on breathlessly, sensing at last a chance
for adventure. "I suspect she doesn't particularly like you. I'm not sure
why, but I have another—"
    "My notorious reputation?"
    Reddening a bit, Lindsay nodded. "But I don't
think you're at all as she described."
    "And how was that?"
    Lindsay sighed, their conversation not progressing at
all as she would have liked, and there was so little time. "A blackguard
and a rake and—"
    "A seducer of innocents."
    "No, no, I was going to say a spy." Seeing
his expression suddenly harden, Lindsay felt an undeniable tension in his
embrace. "I'm sorry. I'm sure that's not something you wish to hear spoken
of so freely, but I think it's wonderful! How noble to serve your country in
such heroic fashion—how thrilling it must be for you!"
    "If I were a spy, I'm sure it would have its
moments," came the dry response. Lindsay took
heart that she actually saw a glimmer of amusement returning to his eyes,
although his face remained oddly grim. Hoping she might further cheer him, she
kept her voice light and engaging.
    "Well, I'd love to hear about your adventures—and
I hope you still want to see me again no matter the dreadful things my aunt
said about you. But it can't be during the day; that won't do at all. Evening
would be better—yes, half-past midnight would be perfect. We're always home by
eleven. Aunt Winnie doesn't like staying out too late, and that would allow
plenty of time for everyone to retire. Then I could meet you outside my aunt's
town house at Sixteen Piccadilly."
    "Meet me alone?"
    "Of course, it's the only way. Oh, dear, I know it's
very presumptuous of me to even ask—" It was the most outrageous thing she'd
said since she'd been in London, but . . .
    "Half-past midnight will be fine."
    Lindsay met his eyes, exhilaration filling her. "Truly?
Tomorrow night?"
    His only answer was a brusque nod as the final strains
of the waltz surged around them. Lindsay wondered if she might have broached
every rule of etiquette, because he stepped so stiffly away from her when the
dance was done. But he still held her hand, and her hopes soared that she hadn't
made an utter fool of herself when he lifted her gloved fingers to his lips and
gentle kissed them. Yet his gaze was anything but gentle, burning into hers
even as Lindsay heard an unmistakable voice cut through the rising din of
conversation.
    "Oh, dear, oh, dear, whatever am I to tell Olympia
if she hears news of this night? She'll never forgive me, I'm certain of it!
Never!"
    Lindsay grimaced, imagining the carriage ride home. She
turned to flee to her aunt's side, then glanced back to bid Jared good night.
But he had already disappeared into the throng filling the dance floor, nowhere
to be seen, leaving Lindsay to wonder if she had only imagined the last
incredible moments that had been the most exciting of her life.

     
    ***

     
    "Will you ' ave another
drink, luv ?"
    Jared narrowly eyed the tavern keeper's wife, the woman's
huge, pendulous breasts close to spilling out of her too-tight bodice as she
leaned over the table. A plump white hand slid suggestively along his arm.
Sooty eyelashes lowered over dark, sultry eyes. The tavern keeper himself
having gone upstairs to bed some time ago, his wife clearly meant to make Jared's
stay at their establishment as comfortable as possible.
    And perhaps he might have accepted her lusty offer,
indeed had fleetingly considered taking her right here on the table as he had
last night, all the other guests gone to bed, too, but he had no stomach for
the woman's generous proportions this evening. Shrugging off her hand, he
swallowed the last of his wine and rose, barely giving her a glance as he
walked to the stairs.
    " Wot , you mean I stayed
up all this time for nothin ' to show for me trouble?"
    Jared turned to see the woman's face flushed with
outrage in the dying firelight. Digging into his pocket, he found a coin and
flipped it