One Rogue Too Many Read Online Free PDF Page B

masculine hands. He dropped two sugar cubes into the tea, stirred with the small silver spoon, and then offered it to her.
    “Just how you like it.” He sat beside her on the settee. “Drink. It will warm you through.”
    He had never cared for tea, so he’d ordered it just for her. His thoughtfulness already warmed her heart.
    He shifted on the furniture and propped his arm on the seat back. “What did you mean when you said you wished you could do everything differently?”
    Her gaze narrowed on the gold filigree rim of the china as heat swept across her cheeks again. He had never brought up the incident in Hyde Park, and she had been beyond grateful. Yet, now she had steered the conversation in that direction without realizing what she’d been saying.
    What did it matter? Anthony already knew of her shameful behavior even if he was tactful enough to pretend he didn’t.
    She set the tea aside and cleared her throat. “I think of Lt. MacFarland all the time.”
    One golden eyebrow lifted. “Oh? I hadn’t realized. Has he written to you?”
    “No! Heavens, no. I haven’t seen him since that day.” A new concern came to mind. “Do you think he’s all right?”
    “I suspect he has had a tough go of it, the same as all the soldiers. India is not the most civilized area.”
    He needn’t add “how could you have been so stupid?” She knew how naive she had been.
    “I wish I had never met him,” she said.
    Anthony smiled and eased back against the cushions.
    “Then my father would still be alive.”
    “Gabby, what makes you think Lt. MacFarland had anything to do with your father’s bad heart?”
    “He didn’t. I did.” A severe gouge formed between his brows, and she held up her hand to stop his argument. “Dr. Campbell said there was too much strain put on his heart. When Papa learned I had tried to elope, it was too much.”
    “That’s not what the doctor meant.”
    “Maybe not, but Papa said I would be the death of him, and I was.”
    “Gabrielle, listen to me.” He gently took her by the shoulders. “Every man has said that at one time or another, but it doesn’t make it true. If so, we’d all be dropping like autumn leaves.”
    She shook her head.
    “Yes, Gabby. The strain on your father’s heart was physical. His body stopped working like it should, and it’s no one’s fault.”
    “I know I did it to him.”
    His lips set in a tight line. “Then I’m responsible too. You wouldn’t have confessed everything to Drew if I hadn’t kissed you after I ran the lieutenant off.”
    A new heat invaded her body and she wiggled from his hold. They had never talked about that kiss, and she wasn’t sure she wanted to now. “Lt. MacFarland was rather eager to leave after your arrival, wasn’t he?”
    “Well, one seems to find many excuses to be on his way when threatened with a sound thrashing.”
    She laughed, relieved to discuss something else. “I could have thrashed you for chasing him away.”
    His smile faded. “Are you still angry with me?”
    Lt. MacFarland had been so dashing in his officer’s uniform, and she had been instantly infatuated. But now she knew infatuation wouldn’t keep her warm and well fed. She had to be practical.
    “I think you saved me from making a huge mistake.”
    He chucked her on the chin. “And you, my dear girl, saved me from coming to blows with my best friend. I would have kept your secret, you know. You didn’t have to tell Drew about the lieutenant.”
    “I know.”
    When her brother had burst into the clearing and saw Anthony’s arms around her, murder had flared in his eyes. She’d done the first thing that came to mind to protect both of them. She’d pretended to swoon.
    Perhaps her performance hadn’t explained the reason Anthony had been holding her before her knees buckled, but it distracted her brother long enough to derail his attack on his best friend.
    “Drew once accused me of being too melodramatic,” she said. “Obviously,