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

are catching on. Yes, that is precisely right. Matilda is one of the many innocents who will get hurt, when we start the search of course.” That is just ridiculous, what in the world had happened to Anne that could have caused this whole riot?
Something must have happened. “Do you suppose she was caught in the crossfire?”
Richard frowned and tore his gaze away from her, deciding to check how the woman in the bed was doing, his fingers gently touching her face. Loretta’s heart started to ache again. She wondered if Richard would ever look at her the way he looked at the woman now. The kind and caring eyes, filled with concern and worriedness.
She shook her head as she reminded herself. Fool, you have no need to fall for him. He is no one in your life or you to his.
Ignoring her pain, she cleared her throat. “Well?”
“I do not know,” he mumbled, tracing the hollow of her neck then down to the top of her cleavage. Loretta inhaled in a breath and forced her eyes to turn away. Fighting back tears, she regained her posture, straightening her gown. “If that is all you need me for, then I will leave.”
“Of course,” he whispered, keeping his gaze on Matilda. “May I ask who is the man waiting outside?”
At her realization, she looked up at him. He had caught sight of him. She thought he wasn’t even paying attention to any of her business.
“His name is Alden Hanton. He is a dear friend of mine, since childhood.”
“Are you fond of him?”
Caught by surprised, she nearly lost her balance just standing there. “Of course I am very fond of him. He is kind, gentle, and a caring man.” Loretta smiled. “He is one of the men I hold in my heart dearly.”
He stepped back, as if he was recoiled by a bullet. She walked toward him, her hand on his back, supporting him. “Are you alright?”
Richard stepped out of her grasp and headed on the other side of the bed, opposite on where he faced her. “That would be all I had needed to ask. You can take your leave,”
Loretta looked at him with a confused expression. “But-,”
“I said you can take your leave madam,” He interrupted bitterly.
With a intake of breath, she stared at him for a moment. The fire crackling against the hearth, nothing but the sound of their heartbeat was heard. Then with her head held high, she walked toward the door, stopping slightly to turn the knob and exited out, closing the door behind her when she had stepped outside of the small hallway. Alden looked down at her, his arms were crossed. “How is she?”
She looked up at him, blinking, trying to let her brain function. “She is doing well. Lord O’Conner had managed to stitch up the wound fairly well. Can you call for Helena and ask her if she can tidy up the supplies in the room? And tell her he’ll need more blankets and fresh water.” Alden nodded looked at her for a moment. “After all I do that your highness, can I have a word with you?”
Loretta nodded and followed him as they walked through the long but small hallway, turning the corner and out of sight. “What is it Lord Alden?”
“Well I did not mean to eavesdrop but I couldn’t help overhearing the conversation between the two of you.”
She stiffened but remained silent.
“I heard what you were saying of me also,”
Loretta looked up at him with surprise. He had also heard that.
“You see, coming here to help you with Anne is not the only reason why I am here. I have not stopped thinking about you through all of these years. I do know it has been a while but I missed you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I do think what I am trying to say is… well,” His face suddenly turned red of embarrassment. “Will you spend the rest of your life with me and become my wife?”
“Oh Alden-,”
“I am a marquess. I can provide for both of us. I can provide for our future family. I swear I will never hurt you. I will treat you as my lover, my life, and my own very soul. I love you Lottie. So much. I cannot afford to lose you the second time.”
Her eyes widened at his speech. Never had she ever heard of that before. Not even with Drew. Tears stung her eyes, not from Drew and not from Alden but from something else entirely. From someone else entirely. There is no room for her in Richard’s heart. There will be no more room in Richard’s heart for her, nor anyone in that matter.
After long moments of rethinking of the irrational ideas about her saying no, she shook her head. There was nothing, nothing that could indicate that this was a bad idea. In fact it was perfect. She would be free, her family won’t have to worry about anymore and Richard would be finally gone from her life. Alden had been a very good friend to her in the past. She trusts him with anything, even her life. He was the perfect man. Kind, caring, good- mannered, and certainly not a rogue.
But there was only indeed one problem.
“Lord Alden, you see my reputation has been tainted. I am sure you had heard the gossips in the ton and I would be-,”
“I do not care about any gossips. Your mother and father had already informed me about such a thing, and I will accept any rude chatters. I will not leave you alone like that bastard did. I promise you Lottie,”
Loretta gave him a smile, he had remembered about him. He had remembered about Drew, yes he was the shoulder she cried on. He happily supported her when the tragedy hit. He has always been there for her. Always. Her decision has been made, her mind already set. He is perfect. Sure she might not feel anything for him yet but it will grow overtime. She can be able to love him in the future, just not now.
Feelings tend to grow overtime; she is sure about that fact.
“So what is your decision?” He asked seeming a little breathless.
She looked at the ground, her mind processing this. With a breath, she nodded still smiling. “Yes I will marry you Lord Alden.”
Before she can react, he scooped her up, smiling laughing planting a kiss on her lips. It took her a moment to realize he was kissing her. She closed her eyes and kissed him back. It was an odd feeling, she never intended to actually compare him but, it is not like she can help herself. He was nothing like Richard, his kisses deep, passionate, savage; him on the other hand was gentle, careful, she realized that he would not want to rush her, to hurt her.
He pulled away and planted a kiss on her forehead. “You just made me the luckiest man in England. Thank you, I will take good care of you I promise, god Lottie it has been a long time since I had wanted to propose to you, even before that bastard.”
Why didn’t you? I’ve wanted you to take me away. Someone to take me away, to save me. But no one did.
“They will be happy to know that you are getting married. I am,” he smirked and gave her a quick kiss. “I will discuss the wedding details with your mother and father. In the meantime, what will you do about Anne?”
Loretta let out a sigh and put a hand on her forehead. “I do not know. I am planning to visit this Brock Dismantle on the morrow,”
“So what had stopped you?”
“Richard was supposed to be the one talking to this person. I am only to stay in the carriage. But unfortunately, something have happened and I am forced to delay it. I cannot waste any more time. Anne’s life is in danger,”
“What will you do?”
She let out a sigh and leaned against the wall. “I have to attend to him alone. Richard will have to stay here and care for Miss Matilda. After all, with the blizzard the doctor would not be able to make it here for another day, maybe more.”
Alden nodded in response and looked at her smiling. “You were always wise.”
She laughed and nudged him on the shoulder. “Not as smart as Christine,”
“Speaking of, how is the club? It has been a long time since I have seen them.”
“They are doing fine as always,”
“I heard Lady Jane was been reunited with her past lover, the future King of England.”
Loretta nodded. “She has. She was so happy to be reunited with him after all these years.”
He nodded and took her hand, walking toward her room, the floor creaking at their every step. “How did you meet Richard O’Conner? I have heard of his reputation all the way to France. He is not a person I am fond of, based on the gossips of course, but one comment they failed to say is that he’s very skilled and calm under pressure and danger.”
She unlocked the door with her key and headed inside, closing the door behind her when Alden had come in the room after her. “Oh? I didn’t notice,”
“He was calm and seemed not surprised, if you ask me he was the one who had shot the girl,”
“But he was with us when it happened. He was standing right outside of the door.”
“Yes but that does not mean he could have hired someone to do it,”
“Richard would never do such a thing,” Loretta exclaimed, surprised that her own voice was breathless and shocked. “Sure he may be hard to get along with but he would never do such a thing. He cares for people even if he does not show it,”
“I did not assume that Lottie,” He said softly. “I just heard that particular part of information from the people. I am not the one who had spread rumors across London Square; a number of people had thought that also. I was just reviewing the facts if they were right,”
“Well they need to stop spreading rumors that are not true. Who said this?”
Alden smirked. “The main one who had started the rumors was one of the witnesses on the crime scene. He was there the entire time when the woman was injured. He claimed he saw Sir O’Conner shooting the woman,”
“Well did you tell him that he was with us the entire time that happened?” Loretta asked furiously.
He held his hand up in defense. “Do not be furious with me Loretta, I am not the one who had spread those rumors, please remember that,”
“Who was it?” She demanded walking toward him.
“A person who was residing near the inn also. He lives just across the street from here, Brock Dismantle,”
Loretta’s eyes widened. The person who had spread the rumors was the man they were looking for? “Richard would never harm anyone,”
“You seemed very protective of Sir O’Conner. If I did recall, you were practically in tears when you saw him with another woman and yet you chose to defend him? Loretta, I am going to ask you an innocent question. Do you have feelings for him at all?”
She looked up at him, he must be crazy. Her have feelings for the rogue? No way in hell. “Of course not, do not be ridiculous.”
“Then why chose to defend him?”
“Because he is innocent-,” Just then a loud thug and angry yelling filled the inn. “Oh what now,” she whispered tiredly.
Alden