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

is with me sir. I can assure you, she is safe and unharmed.”
Peter scowled and crossed his arms together, sitting back down on the chair in his study, Joanna put a hand on his shoulder, prying her husband to calm down. He was surprisingly plain. His overcoat and waistcoat off, his loose white shirt just remained, sleeves tucked up to his elbow.
“She is unharmed yes, but she is not safe in your care. I think the scenario that happened two days ago proved that,”
Richard looked at him with a bored expression. “Sir, let me remind you. Your daughter was the one who had started it first. I was merely following her decision,”
“Even so, you should have known better. Now tell me where is she?”
“Like I had said before, she is with me.”
Joanna looked over at him. “Please tell us where she is at the moment so we can take her home,”
“That is why I had come here,” he set the cup down and resumed to look at the both of them. “I came here to get your blessing.”
For a couple of minutes, the husband and wife took a moment to sink the information in. Joanna was the first one to speak. “I beg your pardon? What do you exactly mean Lord O’Conner?”
Richard smiled in response. “I came here to ask your blessing for your daughter’s hand,”
“Like hell you are,” Peter glared at him, as if he had gone mad.
Joanna on the other hand, was calm and collected. She laid gently squeezed her husband’s shoulder. “Maybe this is best for Loretta,”
He looked up at her, his eyes widening. “What are you saying Joanna?”
Richard was surprised as well. He looked up at her, his eyes filled with amusement and some other emotion that no one can identify or see.
“Loretta is better off in his care. I trust Lord Kent. He has three sisters; I think he understands the minds of women. Additionally, Loretta and he is a perfect match.” She smiled and their gazes meant. “He pretends to be a rogue, and she doesn’t.”
“Pretend?” he asked his eyebrow rose. “I am sure I do not know what you are talking about,”
Joanna gave him a nod. “Please Lord O’Conner; I have seven brothers and a husband. I think I know the minds of men quite well,”
“I assure you I do not pretend for whatever it is may be,”
“As I was saying,” she continued. “Even if Loretta does not love him now, she will grow to love him later toward the future. And so will you,”
His expression still remained unread.
“I know the reason you had asked for my daughter’s hand in marriage. It is with two things. One, because of your responsibility, the other is lust.”
Peter looked up at his wife, his temper seeming to calm down with the understanding. But that does not necessarily mean that he is not still opposed to the plan. He put a hand on hers and looked back at Richard. “I understand what my wife is saying and I know what you are trying to do. But it is not that way to me and my wife. We already made the mistake on choosing her future; we do not want to make that same mistake yet again. I am afraid I cannot give you my blessing, not until my daughter approves. Then, you can have my blessing,” He looked at Richard with a kindness that he never seen before. “I am sorry for the way I had acted before. I was just really shocked to see you and my daughter on the garden.”
“What made you change your mind?” He asked, amusement no longer in Richard’s eyes but curiosity.
“I guess, the way you were worried about my daughter. You searched everywhere for her, even with the blizzard,” Peter extended his hand. “And for that I thank you,”
Richard looked down at his hand; he did not want anyone to see his emotions. Did it really show that he was worried? Of course he was going to be, it was a blizzard and she ran away. Who wouldn’t be worried? Get a hold of yourself. You are not having feelings for this woman. You only decided to wed her because she used you. Now you are going to return the favor and use her. He smiled and reached out for his hand, shaking it. “It was a pleasure. Who wouldn’t be worried with a woman who had ran away from her own home? I am sure if one of my sisters had done that, I would have done the same.”
Peter grinned and leaned against the chair. “How did you convince her to come with you?”
He chuckled as memories from yesterday rewind itself. “Let’s just say, I am very good at persuading people,”
“No doubt about that, where did she decide to stay?”
“My estate,” He replied grimly as unwanted memories passed through his head. The way he showed his real self in front of her, the way he had cared about her well-being. To be honest, he didn’t know what was going on in his mind that made him want to melt his barriers in the first place. All that mattered to him at the moment was her safety and pleasure. He didn’t care about his own, just her. Richard took his pocket watch out of his newly tailored dark red waist coat, the edgings were red, but the rest was pure black, his hat and cane on the side of the chair. Tugging on his gloves, he stood up politely. “I am afraid that I must be going my lord. I have business to take care of with a friend of mine,”
Peter and Joanna got up as well. “Of course, I figured you must be a busy man.” He commented bowing in farewell, as well as his wife.
Richard bowed as well putting the cane on his hand. “Good day,” He turned and left the room, heading outside of the massive hallway and down the stairs, outside of the estate and onto the carriage.

“You have to be pulling my strings,” Richard’s friend, Cullen, laughed. He was built, the same age as he, with burning bright green eyes that made his features strike others. He carried himself with sureness and tranquility. Something that was very common to the ton. The Marquess of Jacksdale was smiling, “Why in devil’s name would you even pull a stunt like that?”
He shrugged and downed the glass of scotch his friend offered when he had arrived at his home. “It was the only responsible thing to do,”
“By asking Miss Chase’s parents for her hand? I do doubt that. I have known you too long. So come on, tell me the real reason you had decided to marry her,” He held up his glass, swirling the liquid to get a better taste.
Richard chuckled and poured himself another glass. “Maybe I decided to finally settle down. Listen to my family and marry,”
Cullen couldn’t help but laugh, tears almost forming in his eyes. “Sure Richard, and next you are going to tell me that you drink vodka instead of a champagne,”
“Okay I have to disagree on the last one.” He smiled. “But if you must know, I have to do it. I have no choice in the matter,”
“You got her with child,” he said realizing, his eyes the emotion of amusement.
He nearly choked on his drink. “Absolutely not. I thought you knew me better than that Cullen,”
“No, actually. I thought I did but now I’m not so sure. The Richard I know would never propose to any woman. He would actually choose to bed every single woman in London before that happens,”
“Considering you are already married, I doubt you would understand the circumstance,”
“Maybe if you tell me, I would understand.” He watched as his wife, Pauline the Marchioness of Jacksdale, enter his study. She was small for a woman of her age. No taller than five four. She had her long, wavy black hair in messed ringlets, framing her delicate face. Her blue eyes, stood out from her tan skin. A rare woman, was what he said to Cullen before they were married. Seeing a woman with black hair, tan, and blue eyes were oddly complicated enough. She was from Asia as well. An odd pairing, was what they whisper in the ton. But even though, Cullen didn’t care. No matter what Pauline said to him about the ton, he dismissed them. No matter how many times she tried to talk to him to marry another, he insisted her. He loved her for who she is. He loves her in his eyes, no type of rumor will ever change that. Richard was always fond of Cullen. He was a sort of man he had always wanted to become. Independent, joyful, and loved. Something he had always craved for. “Good afternoon darling.” Pauline said wrapping her arms around his neck, leaning in for a kiss then pulling away. “The blizzard out there was so strong. It nearly blew my bonnet off of my head.”
“I can see that,” he smirked, taking the locks of Pauline’s hair behind her ears. “Where have you been my beautiful? When I woke up this morning, you weren’t in bed.”
“I told you,” she smirked looking up into his green eyes. “I had to go to my mother’s to see how her and my sisters are doing.”
“You should have taken me with you, I wanted to see them too.” He whispered untying her bonnet and placing it down on the chair. Richard watched the two of them, amusement flicking her in his eyes.
“I asked you,” she replied closing her eyes as his hand traced her cheek. “But you were tired and worn out.” She smiled.
“It wasn’t my fault you had tortured me like that. A man has limited endurance, my sweet.” He whispered, leaning in to kiss her forehead. Richard rolled his eyes and crossed his arms together. “I would advise to get a room, I am sure you need it more than I do. Though with the sight, I think I need it more.”
Pauline laughed and pulled away from Cullen, sitting down on the chair across from his desk, next to Richard. “It is nice to see you again Richard. Since you are here, how is Lady Evangeline? I bid she is well?”
“Indeed,” he mumbled, taking a sip out of his scotch. “The same as ever, she is still controlling as always.”
She chuckled and pulled her gloves off. “It is a surprise for you to be here in the manor, tell me why are you here?”
“I cannot visit my friend from time to time? Is that a new rule that I had not heard about?”
Pauline smiled and glanced over at him. “I am not that clueless Richard, whenever you wish to talk to my husband the both of you will go in a bar and talk there meaning that this is urgent and not to be taken lightly,”
A wise woman, he thought, downing the drink. “I changed my agenda. We will talk in his study from now on,” he shrugged it off, placing a lie on top.
“We were talking about his bride to be,” Cullen rolled his eyes, casting Richard a glance which he returned back with a frown.
“This isn’t any of her business,” he said coldly.
“When it comes to advice and famous sayings, my wife is better than me. You should know that Richard.”
Pauline took a sip of the tea that her butler sent with the tray. “So what is the situation?”
Richard didn’t say a word he kept his mouth silent. This wasn’t any of her damn business; there is no need for her to make it her business. She is completely fine not knowing everything he