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

went around her to open the door, his head outside slightly then looked down at her. “It came from O’Conner’s room,”
Quickly, she opened the door and without meaning to, pushed past him. An angry mob was gathered in that small doorway, yelling and shouting furiously. “You were the one who had caused this! You shot her!”
Loretta pushed herself toward the room, apologizing when she had stepped on someone’s feet, ignoring Alden’s voice when he called after her. “Please excuse me, I need to get through.” She said in frustration and when she made it by the doorway, someone pushed her in the room; she gasped in surprise and held out her hands in instincts to welcome the floor on her face… but was only welcomed with strong hands around her shoulders. It took a couple of seconds for her vision to focus on the person who had saved her again, even though she knew quite well who it was when he had spoken, his velvet, seductive voice filling her ears. In times, she did think that even he did not even know he was speaking this way. “What are you doing here? You should be in your room, not here.”
“I was trying to save you,” she whispered breathless. For a moment, the whole scene disappeared before her eyes, leaving her with just him. Just Richard.
“I do not think placing yourself in front of the angry mob would actually be called saving me.”
“Well it is not my fault they pushed me in here-,”
“There’s the evil woman who had helped him shoot the poor girl, in fact maybe she was the one responsible. We saw the way she looked at them when she entered the dining room. It was like she can murder someone,” One person from the group said angrily.
Richard’s jaw was set; he looked away from her and at the mob, his gaze murderous. “It is bad enough you had insulted me in my own room but you chose to insult my companion in front of me? If you want to know if I am capable of murder then you will soon find out, keep talking ill about her. I dare you and you would give me a reason to murder,” Even though his gaze was striking, his voice was deathly calm.
Loretta’s eyes widened slightly. If he keeps this up then he will be viewed as the person who had injured the woman. Does he have knowledge of that? “Fool,” she whispered. “You are making the situation worse by your absurd comments.”
“It is not absurd when they dare to hurt the person who is precious to me,” He said, his gaze still fixed on the group of people.
She looked up at him, shocked that he would say such a thing. Was she really precious to him? Or was he saying that just to say so? She shook her head, he was just jesting her.
“Miss Matilda is resting, she would want to be disturb by your false accusations so I suggest you leave her be. If you have business with me then I will speak to all of you outside of the inn,”
They all hesitated and gave him a glare then finally exiting out of the room, one particular man was standing there, his hat over his eyes. “We will all be waiting for you outside of the inn followed by your excuse,” And with that, he left.
Loretta sighed and looked at Matilda. “How is she doing?”
“Usually after a bullet wound, a fever would occur. She is heading towards that stage. I am trying to prevent infection which is actually hard to do. I applied salve on her wound two times in every hour. So far she is healing, the wound is easy for me to take care but without the proper medicine, the fever cannot be easily passed. It has to come to her will. If she wants to live then she’ll fight,”
“But what happens when she does not have the will to fight?”
Richard didn’t answer. The both of them had the answer, she knew that but it seemed unbelievable to her own ears if she did not want to live.
“She will,” he whispered. “She will,” He repeated it as if he was trying to sooth her but she knew it was not it. He was trying to reassure himself that she will be okay. Hopefully, she will be.

Three days later, Richard was right. Fever slowly consumed her, leaving her body weak and vulnerable to other viruses and diseases. She died that afternoon, just when the doctor had arrived. He was delayed because of the blizzard brewing outside, or at least that was his excuse. Loretta was in the room when the doctor took Matilda’s corpse away, a blanket covering her whole body for the people’s view. The doctor bid his farewell and apologized, exiting out of the room, leaving her alone with Richard. Alden at the moment had to take care of his business in St. Albans, complications with his business, was all he had said and left.
She frowned and called for Helena, asking her to replace the blankets with fresh fabric. After she left, Loretta walked toward him. He was standing by the window, his arms crossed, and face hidden away in the shadows. Putting a hand on his shoulder, she rested her head on his back, leaning against him gently. “How are you doing?” She asked whispering. With a still silence, she was afraid he was not going to answer her. She was afraid that he might shut himself from her.
“To be honest, I do not know.” He finally said, although his voice was dark, emotionless. So she was right, he had shut himself from the world. An emotionless soul replaced itself. “It does not matter anyway, she’s dead.”
“I think it did matter,” Loretta replied quickly, turning him around to face her. Their gazes met. “You were very worried about that girl. It is understandable that you are sad about her death. I understand, so just please talk to me. Tell me what is bothering you so,”
“Just leave me be. That is all I ask,” he whispered not meeting her gaze. “I want to be alone,”
She wanted to argue, but maybe this is for the best. He needed some time to cope. Her hand rested on her midriff. She couldn’t help the sudden pain that had occurred for the last three days. He watched Matilda as if his life deepened on it. He loved her, she knew that now. With a breath, she turned and slowly made her way toward the door. Her ears open, wishing, hoping, that he would tell her to come back. To tell her to hold him. But her heart ached, tears formed in her eyes as he didn’t say a word, closing the door behind her, leaving him alone. He didn’t need her. He didn’t want her company. If she cannot comfort him, then she would honestly doubt that no one can.
When she opened the door to her room and closed it behind her, she finally let out the horrid tears. The realization was too much, she loved him. Loretta had fallen in love with the rogue. And it hurts to see him so much in despair.
She knew very well what can this feeling do to her. She shook her head, no she cannot possibly tell him, or show any signs of emotions. Their relationship together is strictly professional. She vowed to herself that she will not let her heart break like the way it did with Drew, and additionally, she is getting married. She cannot feel for another. She had accepted, now she will live up to it.
Loretta WILL marry Alden, and there is nothing in the world, not even Richard, that can stop her.


He sat on the chair, his window opened, welcoming the blistering cold. The fire on the hearth completely disappearing. Leaving the room dark and gloomy just like what he was feeling in the inside. Richard was so hopeless, to think that he can help the poor girl. He had done everything in his power to heal her. He hoped that he could have done something right, once in his life. The image of his brother’s death replayed in his mind:

The summer heat was radiating the air. Michael, the handsome and intelligent older brother, was sitting on the carriage. His expression cool and collected, just like the emotions he always show others. Once the carriage stopped, he exited out to meet the two men who had sent him the letter, telling him where the meeting place was. “I know what you are up to,” He had said, his dark hair neatly combed, blue trouser pants tucked in his knee leather boots. Michael carried himself with confidence and sincerity. It is like he can do anything, overcome everything that people throw at him. Richard was nearby their meeting sight, wondering what the hell he is doing. For the last couple of weeks, Michael had been acting strangely, only Richard, out of the whole family can see it.
Exactly a couple of hours ago, he had arrived at his estate trying to see if he can be able to find out what is bothering his older brother. To his luck, he had found a letter stating that he would meet someone in the abandoned factory, near King Street. Richard was at the destination place exactly a couple of minutes before him, with his horse. What are you up to?
The two men pulled out each pistol, from the looks of it, Michael knew them. They were wearing different clothing from each other but the fabrics had indicated that they were part of the aristocracy. “You two were my best of friends and yet you chose to betray me? How can you be part something illegal such as this?” He said not showing any slight of fear in front of the enemy.
They laughed. “It is just business Michael. I am sure you understand. Now where is it? We know you have it,” One man said harshly.
“I will not lie to you, yes I do have it. But I will never give it to you,”
“I think we can change your mind,” The other man pointed the pistol at Michael’s chest.
Richard watched in fear, quickly he pulled out his own pistol and pointed at the man holding the pistol.
“If you do not give it to us, then you will die where you stand.”
“I am not afraid of dying, dying is part of life. We will all die eventually. But the difference is you both will burn in hell,”
The taller man laughed and nudged the short man who was holding the pistol. “You dare put philosophy in this?”
“Of course, but before I die. I would expose what you are first. Right now as we speak, the Runners, are surrounding the area. Now, you will tell me where the girl is.”
“He’s bluffing,” The man with the pistol said roughly. “We checked the area, there are no Runners.”
Michael laughed coldly. “Then you two do not know me that well,”
“The letter first and then the girl,” The tall man insisted, loading his own pistol. “Or you die,”
“That is not how I negotiate,”
Just as the man was about to shoot, Richard shot first. The short man looked at his chest which was now covered with blood and hastily dropped to the ground. Another gunshot sounded the air, the next scenes was a blur. He ran toward his older brother while the taller man claimed his companion’s body, running toward the exit. Richard paid no attention to them, both shock and scared as his brother dropped to the ground also.