Tempting Miss Allender (Regency Rakes 3) Read Online Free PDF

Looking down into her startling blue eyes, he wondered what she would do if he kissed her. He’d never before felt the urge to kiss Patience, but since seeing her at the ball he had thought of nothing else. Something about her had touched him, and as a woman had not done that for many years, he was intrigued to know why now, why her?
    He looked to where Charles was standing with the large footman. Good; they were not close enough to hear what he and Charles’ sister were discussing.
    “There is a great deal you need to forgive me for, Patience, and I hope that in time you will do so, as I would like us to be friends again.”
    Her breathing quickened as he spoke. She pulled her hands free and reached for the door handle of the carriage, but Mathew beat her to it and placed his palm flat on the door’s surface. Their faces were now inches apart.
    “Can we be friends again?”
    “Much has changed, my lord, and my life is now complete.”
    “Therefore you have no room for renewing old friendships?”
    “I of course wish for us to converse upon occasion,” she said quickly. “But I fail to see how we can lay claim to friendship again, when we will see so little of each other.”
    Lifting her chin, he forced her to look at him. His eyes raked her pretty face, searching for answers to the questions he had about her, but he could read nothing. Like him, it seemed she had learned to hide.
    “Your friendship once meant a great deal to me, Patience, and while it is my sins that drove us apart, be warned that I will do what I can to see the bond is reformed.”
    “If I invoke memories of your brother, why would you want that?”
    He released her and rubbed his chest.
    “Are you in pain?” She lifted a hand towards him, but Mathew shook his head.
    “’Tis nothing.” He stepped back away from her as he tried to ease the burning.
    She watched him intently, and then she turned away. “Charles, we are to leave!”
    Mathew opened the door and took her elbow as she prepared to climb inside the carriage. “I meant what I said, Patience.”
    “No.” She shook her head. “It is better for us both if we do not reform our friendship, as neither of us wishes to endure any more pain.”
    She climbed inside before he could question her further.
    “Good day to you, Charles.” Mathew shook the boy’s hand once more, then stepped back as Charles climbed into the carriage. “It was a pleasure to meet you again.”
    “And you, Mathew.”
    He closed the door, then stood back as it rolled away.
    Walking to where he’d left his horse, Mathew knew Patience was right: a friendship with her would cause him pain. It would bring back memories of his brother, and he had spent years keeping those locked deep inside him—but maybe it would be worth it.
    He’d realized one thing today as he looked down at her from his place on the edge of the pen. There was something about Patience Allender that made his heart beat a little faster. He wanted to know what had changed in the girl he had once known, the girl who had laughed freely, and had given herself openly. He wanted to find out what had caused the shadows of worry he saw in her eyes, and once that was done, he wanted to get to know the woman she had become.
    He had realized something else as well: that it wasn’t just friendship he felt towards her. Exactly what he felt, he was not quite sure, as it had been quite some time since he’d felt anything at all.

CHAPTER THREE
     
     
    “Oh, dear,” Patience whispered as she read the note that had just been delivered.
    “What?”
    “What?”
    Both Lucy and Charles looked at her. Lucy was reading a story for them, and foolishly, Patience had decided to open some of the letters that had been delivered that day. Most were for Lucy; however, this one had her name on the front.
    “Nothing,” she said, closing the note. “Go on with your story, Lucy.”
    “Why did you say, ‘Oh, dear’?” Charles was making his way to her side with a