Winter Garden Read Online Free PDF Page A

rather than integrate yourself into his life,” she said pensively. “Is that prudent under the circumstances?”
    His lips drew back into a half smile. “He’ll never become a friend, if that’s what you mean, so I can’t have a go at him from that angle. The man has no close friends and keeps the villagers at a distance to a certain degree unless he’s formally entertaining many at once. I’ve stayed in the background until now, just getting acquainted with the area and people, but since you’re here to help, I think we can finally move in and become a little more aggressive in approach.”
    That was logical, she supposed, although the risk of being discovered was always greater when working in shadow rather than in open, friendly confrontation.
    â€œHave you given thought to my identity?”
    He hesitated just long enough for her to realize he had, and that he was uncomfortable with it. That piqued her curiosity.
    â€œThomas?”
    With his hands on his thighs, he pushed himself to a standing position, very stiffly, and she took note of the tiny grimace along the lines of his mouth, through the tightness of his jaw. His injuries pained him, perhaps only a little, but pained him they did.
    â€œI’ve given it considerable thought, Madeleine,” he quietly replied, walking slowly to the mantel, peering down to the music box, running his fingertips along the wooden edge. Seconds later he turned back to her. “Have you?”
    She hadn’t expected him to ask her, accepting instead that he would have it planned and ready to adopt. He seemed intent on her opinion, though, and maybe it was something they could decide together.
    Standing to meet his gaze levelly, she murmured, “I thought perhaps a companion of some kind, but you’re really a bit too…robust to need one. After meeting you that doesn’t seem plausible.”
    His cheek twitched in mild amusement. “No.”
    She gave him a dash of a smile in return as she looked his enormous, masculine body up and down. The top half of him was in perfect shape, but he did have a limp, an obvious injury, one undoubtedly noticed by villagers. Posing as his nurse might be believed, although she didn’t really look like much of one. Still, it was the best she could think of.
    â€œYour mistress?” she suggested instead in a deep whisper.
    She had no idea where that had come from. Neither did he. He actually looked stunned.
    Madeleine reached up with one hand and covered her throat with her palm, hoping he couldn’t see the pounding pulse she could feel beneath her fingertips, wrapping herself with her free arm in a measure of defense. But she never took her eyes from his face.
    His lids thinned, and once again she felt that same strange magnetic pull from him, charging the air between them, palpable and thick.
    â€œI don’t think that would be believed, either, Madeleine,” he whispered huskily, and very slowly.
    She was on the verge of asking why, as it seemed perfectly reasonable to her, when he carried on with a more logical concern.
    â€œIt might also give us problems socially, and we needto be free to accept invitations.”
    She should have considered that before blurting her thoughts. Word would spread that they lived together and alone, however, and eventually people would suspect a deeper involvement between them. Certainly he’d thought of that.
    â€œOf course, you’re right,” she agreed with a shade of embarrassment. She sighed, sagging a little. “Have you any ideas, Thomas?”
    He stared sharply into her eyes with obvious reluctance. Then he groaned softly and raised a palm, wiping it harshly over his face.
    â€œI fought in the Opium War, Madeleine,” he revealed soberly. “That’s where I received my injuries.” He shifted his body uncomfortably on the rug. “I thought maybe you could pose as the French translator of