My Dangerous Rogue, Paula Wong [best books to read for self improvement TXT] 📗

Prologue


“After the stunt you have pulled, I do doubt that.”
She looked at him with bewilderment. How could he sit there calmly? As if this absurd decision does not affect him too. His freedom will be taken away. He is an out of control man, he would be just too much to handle. Too much for her at least.
Then in an instant, memories of their love making appeared on her mind, playing like a broken tape recorder. The way he touched, caressed, and kissed made her body tingle. Her breathing grew rigid. How could this have happened? She was a proper woman. She was not to bed men unless married. She lost her innocence to a man with low intentions.
She was stupid for letting him bed her.
“I appreciate the proposal Lord O’Conner but it seems that I have to decline. Marriage is not fit for a woman like me. I prefer to ride and explore the world before that happens,” which was completely a lie. She wants to be married, that is every woman’s dream. To love someone who would love her back. To kiss away every problem in her life, to wake up in the morning with the person you cherish more than life itself. Be with someone you cannot live without.
“Then we will travel first.” He advised persistently. “We can wait for marriage probably until next May.”
She shook her head and looked up at him. “I would rather be steeped in scandal than be married to one who had caused it,”
Richard’s calm expression suddenly turned grim. “Please do not forget that YOU were the one who caused the scandal my sweet. This was you’re doing. And let us face it, with the ton knowing what had happened to you and me, no eligible bachelor will want to marry you. So I am your only salvation ,”
That may be said, he is right. But… how can your salvation be you’re destruction?


Chapter 1

Lady Loretta Chase, the Viscountess of Wales, gently lifted the tea cup off of the plate and softly sipped out of the delicious tea. Her long brown hair, curled up into a high bun, just like other women in Victorian Era, London.
The members of the Sapphire Roses club, also single female ladies with extravagant beauty did also. Silence grew between them as the idea flooded into their mind. “So what do we indeed do? We cannot let the club fall, that is just absurd.”
Lady Jane Andres De’Lacour, the head member of the club, nodded. “Yes I would speak to the people who held us in charge of this. I am sure I can find the ransom money on my own-,”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Vivian Reignsworth, frowned. “You are not the only member of this club you know. We all will hold responsibility of it. Not just you. Just because you’re married to the king doesn’t mean that you can take full responsibility,”
“What Vivian is trying to say,” Savanna Wilkerson threw a glance over to Vivian who just looked outside of the city streets of London. “Is that you should not take all the burden to yourself. We want to help.”
Jane smiled and looked at her. “I understand. I am sorry, it is just we cannot lose this club. I will miss you all too much.”
“That is sweet indeed,” Christine Hadley smiled, setting the tea cup on the fine, white marbled table. “No need to worry, I am sure we can figure out something. Oh and by the way, how is your husband doing Vivian?”
That particular question snapped her out of her thoughts. “Sorry?”
“I had said, how is your husband? The Earl of Richmond,”
Vivian smiled, her creamy cheeks slightly changing a color of hint of red on them. “Edgar is alright.”
“Can you imagine our Vivian is the second woman to get married. Our Vivian. The Vivian who told us that love was a absurd word. That love is never wanted. Specially by her.” Savanna laughed, sending a sound of melody throughout the room.
She smirked. “Shut up Savanna. From what I have heard, you are not married yet.”
“Yes, and from what I’ve heard you are married.” she smiled, her eyes sparkling. “You have to deal with a man. I am sure he is a pain.”
“No.” Vivian said shaking her head, letting a piece of hair fall from her dark, rich colorful red hair. “Edgar isn’t like that. He cares for me. Even if I do not want him to. He always does though. And that is what annoys me.” she mumbled but smiled. “I love him dearly.”
Jane laughed. “Yes I see that. Similar with me and William. He is rather caring.” Then with a grin, she added. “Even in bed.”
The members laughed. “That is uncalled for Jane.” Avery smiled. “Not all of us have a man. Not all of us have a King or an Earl to love.”
“I know,”
The laughter died down. Continuing to smile, Avery wiped her mouth with a napkin. “Both of you are rather lucky. You have someone to love you. Handsome men at that.”
Vivian and Jane both smiled.
“I don’t think they would be the only one who is married.” Loretta said looking at all of them, before picking up a fork, and sliced off a piece of the Angel food cake. They looked at her confused. Obviously, not understand what is happening.
Then Jane smiled. “You are getting married.” The others waited for her to confirm it. Then with a sigh, she nodded. “Yes I am. My parents had arrange for me to wed in three weeks.” she frowned and looked at her lap.
“You do not look too happy.” Vivian noticed.
“I am not,” Loretta replied looking up at her. “I do not want to wed, especially not to him.”’ her voice added a disgusted tone.
“Well who are you engaged to then?” she asked in mere curiosity. Loretta don’t blame her. Vivian has always been curious.
So in a small voice, she said. “To the Earl of Frinchester,”
Gasps field the room, but everybody remained silent. Jane was the first one to break it. “You cannot marry him. He is nine and fifty. I do not mean to be rude but he is old enough to be my grandfather. Something I am not too happy about. Why in the world would your parents order you to marry him?”
“The Earl of Frinchester is a close family friend of my father. He approves of me, and my father thinks it is time for me to marry as well. My mother agreed.”
Christine looked at her. “What did you say?”
“I said nothing.” Loretta replied simply.
“But you disapproved of it?”
She nodded.
“Why would you-,”
“I could not,” she said interrupting her and mid-sentence. “Even if I wanted to,”
Loretta was raised in a family where respect and politeness matter. She cannot refuse what her parents want her to do. Even if she wants to. All her life, she had worked so hard to obtain both of her parent’s love and respect. She wasn’t about to lose it now just because of a measly wedding. But she doesn’t want to marry the Earl of Frinchester either. How to have their respect and yet not marry?
That is complicated indeed.
Avery sighed. “It is obvious to us that you don’t want to marry this guy. So what are you going to do about it?”
Now at that, Loretta smiled. “I do have a plan. But I do not think all of you will support my idea.”


“Welcome Lord O’Conner, your father is waiting for you in his study.” Patrick, his father’s butler, greeted him, taking his hat and coat.
“Thank you, Patrick. It is nice seeing you again.”
“The same as I, my lord.” he bowed. “Can I get you something while you are present. Maybe a hot chocolate, or a glass of warm water?”
The fifteen foot glass windows was covered of frost from the November snow. Bright lit chandeliers hang the ceiling. It made him feel small from how humongous it looked. The walls were the color of brown rustled leaves in the spring, making the winter season seem like a fairy tale. He was dressed in long black boots, his brown loose trousers fit his perfectly tall form, six foot two at the least. His black vest slightly filled with little white snowflakes, his shiny black hair fixed with a roughly slight matter. Like he’d been running his hand through his hair.
Even though he looked like this, his features still remained handsome. His remarkably green eyes, under those thick beautiful lashes. Almost like a woman’s and yet this made him look much more gorgeous.
His broad shoulders relaxed. His hand inside his trouser pocket and the other holding a black silver cane.
Richard chuckled. “No thank you Patrick. And please, what is with these formal greetings. Call me by my given name.”
“Lord Richard,” Patrick smiled, then bowed. His face contained of wrinkles but his eyes were the color of ice blue water.
Richard chuckled but waved goodbye as he headed toward his father’s room.
“You called for me?”
His father, the Duke Of Cambridge, was sitting on a well-furnished chair. His desk filled with neatly stacked papers.
Harold O’Conner has always been a busy man. Even before Richard was born. So now that Richard’s here, he’s wondering what his father might want.
He confesses he has done things that society doesn’t like. But he figures that the old man doesn’t care.
Looks like he was wrong by the look of he’s furious expression when he had put down the newspaper he was reading.
“Yes, I have. Sit down.” Harold motioned for the chair that was right across his desk. His eyes resembling Richard’s.
He obeyed and sat down on dark brown furnished chair.
“I suppose you know why I had called you in my home today.”
“Actually,” Richard said coolly. “No, I don’t. Of course, I have my suspicions.”
Suddenly, the Duke of Cambridge stood up and threw the newspaper at him. “Have you lost all senses that god gave you?” he yelled furiously. “Look at this,”
Richard looked down at the newspaper. It read:

Richard O’Conner, the Earl of Kent, had surprisingly lost his nerve at the bar and chose to point a gun at two of the finest Counts in London. The Count of Darton and the Count of Eaglecliffe.

He looked up at his father. “So?”
“So you ungrateful young bat, you have forever tarnished your reputation. Again! My God Richard when will you learn? You should be thankful that the public had accepted you again.”
“I do not care about their opinions of me father.” He replied calmly, looking up at the furious duke. “We have already been through this.”
“Do you not care about your family at all? About how we will look in the public?”
“They do not care about you and mother. Everybody knows that both of you are one of the highly respected people in London.” Richard stated, examining his nails.
“Yes but there will be rumors concerning us. About how the way we had raised you. How you turned into such a….disgrace.”
His son let out a fake gasp, and put his hand on his chest as if hurt. “Disgrace? Is that what