Running into Temptation (Bancrofts of Barton Park) Read Online Free PDF Page A

was handsome, fun and willing to wed her right now. She knew she had to take what she could get. Philip was right—they had come too far to turn back.
    “I say I am assuredly in the mood for a wedding,” she said, and the room around her erupted in cheers.
    Philip’s smile widened, and he leaned over to kiss her again. The touch of his warm lips reassured her. Surely this was fate, this whole strange scene. Surely this was meant to be….
    “…and do you take this man as your wedded husband? Will you….”
    Philip studied the woman who stood beside him at the makeshift altar. Melanie’s golden head was bent, and he had only a glimpse of her expression. Usually, he only saw her laughing, her passionate curiosity for life lighting up her delicate features, making her eyes glow. Now she looked most solemn as she listened to the Gretna officiant. Solemn, and—startled?
    Surely she was just as amazed as he was to find themselves there. Her hand shook in his. Would she flee and break this strange dream-trance?
    Philip closed his eyes for a second to see a vision of Melanie doing just that. Melanie running out the door into the night, the pale skirts of her gown vanishing into the darkness.
    Surely he should feel relieved if she did flee. He’d always been so sure he would never find himself in the parson’s mousetrap. Instead, he found his hand tightening on hers, as if he would hold her with him.
    Very strange indeed.
    Melanie glanced up at him, and at last she smiled. “I will,” she said, softly but firmly.
    Philip remembered why he had brought her here, so impulsively. Why he had decided to marry her.
    When they kissed over the supper table at the inn, their need for each other so strong they didn’t care where they were or who might see, he’d realized that here at last was someone who could understand him.
    After his father’s death, his mother’s sending him away and then his cousin Henry’s false friendship, after all the glittering falseness he’d found on his travels, Melanie seemed real. She shared his impulsive nature, his wanderlust, his carelessness. Perhaps they could explore life together.
    Perhaps, just perhaps, neither of them had to be alone now. Philip dared to do something he had never done before. Hope.
    “Ach, lad, do ye or do ye not?” someone cried.
    Melanie’s smile dimmed a bit, and Philip realized he had just been asked a very important question.
    He smiled at her and squeezed her hand. “I will.”
    Melanie laughed, making him laugh, too. He only ever wanted her to laugh from now on. The crowd around them cheered.
    Philip slipped a newly purchased gold band on Melanie’s finger, and it was done. She was his wife—for better or worse.

Chapter Four
    “Welcome back, Mrs. Carrington,” Philip said, laughing as he swung her up into his arms and carried her into the small room at the inn. “It may not be much, but for now it’s home.”
    Melanie laughed, too, feeling giddy as he spun her around and around. As he slowly lowered her to her feet, she slid her palms down his chest until she reached the buttons of his waistcoat. She slid one free as she kissed his throat.
    Melanie Carrington . How very unreal that sounded. The whole night seemed most unreal, from the noisy procession through the streets to Philip taking her hand and repeating their vows. Had it all truly happened? Melanie wasn’t sure at all. But if it were a dream, it seemed very fun and she didn’t want it to end.
    The candlelight glinted on the new ring on her finger as she slipped another button free. Philip smiled down at her lazily, letting her play.
    Another button was free, the fine silk of the waistcoat falling away to reveal his linen shirt, and Melanie suddenly felt rather shy. Did he feel as she did, excited and scared, thrilled? Did he still want her at all, now that she was his?
    She pressed her palm flat against him, feeling the beat of his heart. “Kiss me, Philip. Please,” she whispered.
    And then