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

infamous man. “I am not sure what you are implying,”
“I think we both know what I am trying to say.” Jane said gently. Her husband put a hand over hers which she happily took into her own. “Give me a real reason why you decided to seek her.”
“Like I had said before my queen, her family is desperately worried. They want her back home, safe and loved.”
“That is not what I heard from Lady Chase.” She shook her head. “She told me everything.”
He raised a brow. “Everything?”
“Yes,” she nodded taking a sip of hot tea. “Well, let me add. She told both me and my husband everything before she left. I can understand for you to be mad at her. I would be as well if I was in your position.”
Richard couldn’t believe his ears, she told them what happened? Everything. “So I assume how she told you of her plan of seducing me?”
Jane gave him a single nod. “But that is what she had not intended to do. You were the one who had actually seduced her.”
“I didn’t do anything. She was the one-,”
“Who decided to follow her instincts and curiosity,” She finished looking over at William who nodded in agreement. “I know Loretta. And she is like a sister to me. I do not want her making reckless decision because of her fear.”
“Fear? Loretta?” Richard laughed, not believing his own ears. “I am doubtful about that my queen.”
“You are doubtful even if the evidence is right in front of you?” She shook her head and stood up as a girl came into the room, running toward her.
“It is not in front of me. And as a matter of fact, how should I know? I have known her this week.”
“I know. And that is enough for you to know what her weakness is.”
“I doubt it my queen,” he replied beginning to take off his hat and gloves. Then stopped. But what if she gets too far? No. He won’t risk it. He will find her. “I do not have time for this. If you finally decide to tell me where she is then send word.” The November snow started to fall from the clouded skies again then suddenly, winds started blowing, the snow no longer gently falling down, but turning into a blizzard. He let out a curse but a simple blizzard won’t stop him from coming after her. He adjusted his hat and gloves then turning around and heading to the door.
“There is a blizzard, and you still want to find her?” Her voice came from behind him.
“Yes, I gave her parents my word. I will not go break it.”
“Is that all?” she asked. “There is no other reason?”
“No,” Richard replied bitterly. “Nothing.”
“Are you sure?” she asked raising a brow.
“You would ask me if I have any feelings for the woman who seduced me?”
“I didn’t say feelings. I said any reasons. But it seemed like you on the other hand have a reason.”
He grew restless by the second. How in the world can this woman be able to read him so well? He glared at her. She only smiled. “Yes. William gave me that same look when I always read him like a book. So there is no use hiding your real self with me.”
“Shut up. You don’t know anything about me.” He asked still glaring at her.
“Actually I do. Will,” she looked over at her husband who nodded, taking out of what looked like a folder filled with papers or documents.
“It seemed here,” he started looking at the paper, then back at him. “That your brother, Michael O’Conner, was murdered in the age of thirty-three. You have a sister, Evangeline O’Conner the age of thirty-one. And you, the third oldest the age of twenty-nine. Followed by Briana, who is twenty six, and Sabine, twenty-two.”
Richard breathed in and made his way on the sofa across from them. It seemed that these people are worthy opponents. He smiled. He fought tougher, stronger, and well…not really as wiser. “You had done a background check on me?” he asked laying back on the sofa.
Jane shrugged. “I asked William to. I figured I can figure you out before I met you. And it seems, like I stand corrected.”
“Which was?”
“Which was of course that you are not as bad as they say,”
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that if I were you.” He gave her a devious grin. “I’ve done things that you cannot even imagine.”
“I am sorry about your brother. It must be hard for you to take up that entire burden.” She said softly. “I am sure you can be able to manage it on your own. Especially with the inheritance.” His expressions remained emotionless. She was right, with Michael gone; he will be able to inherit the family fortune. Which means the title of his father would pass down to him. That is why he needed a bride. A bride who would stand by him in all situations. Good or bad.
But that is the thing that his father did not understand. He can do it on his own. He doesn’t need anyone bringing him down. He doesn’t need anyone to treat him. He can take care of himself.
“How is your family coping with his death?” She asked sympathetically.
“It has been three months.”
“I see that it has,” she said looking down at the paper. “How are you faring?”
“I am doing splendid as you can see.” He gave her a smile and put his arms over his chest. “Now if you don’t mind, tell me where she is?”
“It also mentions that your brother was killed, and did not die in a factory accident.” She said softly. Richard stiffened but did not say anything. “I am aware that your family do not know this particular part of information. It says here that you paid an enormous amount to the police for them not to tell your family. Why?”
He wasn’t stupid. He knows that she knew the answer. But it seemed she wanted to hear it from his mouth. He shrugged. “They had been through enough as it is. They do not need to know about the reason he died.”
“It also mentions that you were with him when it happened.” William raised a brow but didn’t say anything. He knows what they are thinking, that he might be the possible murderer and a suspect but he did not do it. He loved his brother. Even though his father and mother treated him like a piece of trash rather than their own son, he envied Michael. He couldn’t possibly have killed him.
“I didn’t murder him if that is what you are trying to infer,”
“I am not trying to infer anything Kent.” He shrugged calling him by his title name. “I am just stating the facts of what it says here.”
“I know you are and I am telling you I didn’t kill him.” He said his mouth clenched tightly. “I wouldn’t kill my own flesh in blood. I may be a lot of things but I am not a murderer,”
“We know,” Jane answered softly. “Trust me, we know.”
“So will you tell me where her location is?” he asked his voice low and emotionless. He is good at that, keeping his emotions under the radar.
“I had made a promise,” she said sympathetically. “And such a promise I won’t break. I am sure you can understand that. But tell me this, why would you want to find her so badly? Without counting any of the reason you had said before.”
Richard sighed. This woman won’t quite until he gives her what she wants. “To be honest. I do not know. I don’t know why I want to find her. I am still trying to figure that part out,”
Jane smiled and nodded, understanding.
“I didn’t make a promise,” William said softly turning around to face Jane which she smiled and nodded again. “So I do not count.”
“Where is she?”
“She is going to Scotland. She should be on the train now as we speak-.” Then the rest of his sentence faded as Richard bolted out of there and onto the carriage. Damn, he will never make it on time. He flipped a couple of coin toward his coachman’s direction and untied the horse’s reins, jumping up the saddle and thrusting it forward, him lurching off into the night.
Chapter 8

Furiously, she took out her pocket-watch and checked the time. It has been thirty-minutes and the train still hasn’t moved. “What the devil is going on?” she asked looking outside of the train window. The inside was golden clustered painted. Its seats red and comfortable, linens covered the window so she has to move it with her hand to look outside. Other passengers were getting on the train, making themselves comfortable.
“They are heating up the train mistress,” Wilhelmina explained smiling. “For us to keep warm and not die with hyperthermia,”
“They didn’t have to take thirty-minutes,” she mumbled putting her cloak hood on, crossing her arms over her chest. “I am trying to get out of England. Not stay in it.”
“Be patient mistress,” Desmond smiled returning, taking off his hat. “I was informed that the train will leave in five minutes,”
Loretta let out a sigh of relief. The soon she gets out of England, the soon she can try and forget about the problems and scenarios in England.
“Do you really want to do this mistress?” Desmond asked and looked over at Wilhelmina who let out a sigh. “She will only say yes. I already asked her once, sire. She has this habit on being stubborn.”
She smiled and looked at the both of them. “I am sure Desmond. It’s just that I-,” there was a sudden sound, like someone opening the cart door. Probably a new passenger, she thought as she heard the thud of his footsteps.
Wilhelmina looked outside of the window, while Desmond leaned against the glass of their door leading to the hallway of the cart.
Loretta yawned as the door suddenly opened. Her eyes widened as she caught sight of Richard. What is he doing here?! Her mind screamed. Before she could open her mouth to say something- anything, he took her from the collar of her dress leading her outside of the hallway train cart. “Richard! What are you doing- Hey! Let go of me!” she struggled against his grip but he his hand tightened more, making the front of her dress rip slightly. “Unhand me! You’re ripping my dress!” she looked back at Wilhelmina and Desmond who gave her a sympathetic look but didn’t go after her. Who could have blamed them? No one wanted to go against the Earl of Kent.
Once they made it out of the cart and onto the platform, he let go making her tumble down on the ground. She was breathless. Never in her life had anyone dragged