Sinderella Read Online Free PDF Page B

with.
    Of course—they were cousins.
    The man holding me looked distracted for a second and then shook his head. “I think we shall have to finish this conversation out of doors. I have a desperate desire to finish it, and yet, I can see someone is trying to catch my attention for another matter.”
    I scowled. “What conversation?”
    He laughed and danced us farther into the crowd, weaving us through the people until we reached the patio doors. He slipped through the open one and pulled me out onto the large deck. Once we were outside, he dragged me across the deck, down the steps to the veranda, and out across the lawns.
    I tugged and gasped for breath. The dress was constricting. “Please, sir. I am a lady. We must go back.”
    He pulled harder, “No, we must hide. My father is desperate for me to be acquainted with some fool of a girl. Something such as Angela or Angelique. They are all the same, I should know.” His eyes were dark when he looked back at me.
    It took me a second, but when I pieced it together I winced. “You are the prince?”
    He stopped, pressing my back against a large vine-covered lattice. “I am whatever man I need to be to win your heart. I knew it the moment I saw you—we were made for each other. You are the answer to my heart’s beating cry. You were the most beautiful girl in that room.” He seemed a bit hasty and quite drunk, but he was beautiful and I loved hearing such sweet words.
    I shook my head, “You have not imagined me, Your Highness—trust me.” I couldn't tell him I was a servant. I needed to get away from him before he realized it. My pot-scrubbing hands would give me away. I would be executed for impersonating a lady. I gulped but he ran his hand across my cheek, lighting a fire in my soul. “We are made for each other. I know this. Is there no way for me to persuade you?”
    I shook my head again, fighting tears or the deep want I had to confess my mistake in coming to the ball. How could this have been the night my mother had planned for me? Had she not been my mother, but an evil sprite from the forest, sent to trick me? Oh God. What if Drusilla had paid for me to be tricked so I might be executed? My throat went dry. Imagine the horrors she could wield if she knew a witch.
    He cupped my face. “You look so frightened. Are you upset now that you know who I am?”
    I nodded.
    He chuckled. “Have you not come here with the hopes I would wed you?”
    I sighed. “I am promised to another. A duke. I wasn't supposed to come, I snuck here.”
    He gripped my arms. “Promised to another? What duke? I will have the agreement bought out, and you will be mine.”
    My war with the hot tears filling my eyes was lost. They spilled from my eyes. I couldn't name the duke without revealing I was a servant girl. I couldn't tell him a magical sprite had sent me here as a cruel joke. So I said nothing.
    He wiped my tears, brushing his fingers along my cheeks. “You will not tell me the name of the duke?”
    I twitched a no.
    “You are the most honorable woman I have ever met.” He lowered his face, brushing his lips against my damp cheek. “You’re making me senseless. I must have you. Say you will be mine.”
    I contemplated for far less time than I should have. I nodded against the warmth of his face. “I want you to have me, first.”
    “If I have you, I will keep you. You will be my princess, I know it.” He made a growl, scooping me up into his arms. One of my shoes dropped from my feet. I pointed, “My shoe!”
    He growled louder. “We can get it on the way back.” He never spoke again, just carried me to a small cottage on the edge of the lawns. He opened the door and closed it, leaning his back against it. We stayed there like that, silent, for a moment before he whispered. “Are you certain?”
    “I am.” I answered before my fears spoke their answer.
    He carried me to a bed in the corner of the small cottage and laid me down gently. He stood over me,