To Tempt A Rogue Read Online Free PDF Page B

“Truly.”
    â€œI know.” Harriet blew out an exasperated breath.
    â€œI was only jesting.”
    â€œJason Barrington.” Griffin repeated the name slowly. “Wasn’t he the gentleman who saved you from that madman?”
    â€œYes.” The muscles around Elizabeth’s lips tightened.
    â€œThen we must do all that we can to make him welcome,” Griffin declared. “I, for one, am most grateful for his chivalrous act of bravery.”
    â€œBut what if Harriet is right? What if he is coming here to court me?” The color washed out of Elizabeth’s face. “What shall you say if he asks for my hand in marriage? You would not agree, would you, Griffin?”
    The viscount stepped in front of his sister. “I thought you would be pleased to have such a fine young man show an interest in you.”
    â€œYou do not understand,” Elizabeth cried. “He might have been the man who saved my life, yet Jason Barrington is a constant reminder of everything I am struggling so hard to forget. The feelings of terror, of despair and utter helplessness. The horror at being kidnapped. Bound and gagged. A sharp, cold knife blade pressed against my throat.” The lovely blonde squeezed her eyes shut. “Please, oh, please, do not force me to play hostess to him. I could not bear it.”
    The heartsick tone of fear in Elizabeth’s voice took Harriet aback. She had known her sister occasionally suffered from nightmares as a result of the tortuous events in London, but she did not realize the pain was so deep.
    Harriet instinctively moved forward to offer comfort, but Elizabeth instead turned to her brother, hugging him tightly around the neck.
    â€œHush, now, Elizabeth. There is no need for tears.” The viscount’s arms encircled his sister’s shoulders. “We shall figure out a way to diplomatically cool Mr. Barrington’s ardor. I promise.”
    Elizabeth made a choking sound. She pulled back and lowered her head. Harriet felt her own throat tighten. Elizabeth appeared very young and very defenseless.
    The viscount gently ran his thumb down the line of Elizabeth’s face, brushing away a tear. “You had better run along. Faith and Georgie are no doubt wondering why it is taking so long for you to bring them a book.”
    â€œYes.” Elizabeth nodded her head, but her voice held a note of uncertainty. She gathered the two books in her arms, leaned up and placed a small kiss on the viscount’s cheek. “Thank you.”
    Silence reigned for a long moment after Elizabeth left. Harriet struggled to harness her own emotions. Their mother had died when Elizabeth was barely a year old. It had therefore fallen to Harriet to see to her sister’s welfare. It was a duty she had taken on without complaint, a duty that through the years had given her a sense of purpose and importance.
    The realization that Elizabeth now placed Griffin in the role of protector was painful and yet another reminder of how little Harriet seemed to be needed in her own family.
    â€œI know Elizabeth suffers from nightmares, but I was unaware she associated her rescuer so strongly with the events,” Harriet said. “I should have realized Elizabeth’s fragile state by her emotional reactions to the letters she received from Mr. Barrington.”
    â€œI too believed she was starting to recover,” Griffin replied. “Perhaps she will show improvement when we go to Town in the spring for the new Season.”
    Harriet widened her eyes. “You cannot be serious! Elizabeth is in tears at the notion of meeting the man who saved her. How can you possibly expect her to journey to London, the place where all her misery began, and begin a round of social engagements as if nothing had happened?”
    Griffin looked uncomfortable. “Well, she is young, barely nineteen. There will be other Seasons if Elizabeth prefers to remain at home this