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

“And I don’t want to see you anymore Madame. In or near my estate. Or I will be force to do what I wish not to,”
Loretta stared at him with widened eyes. “Are you threatening me, my lord?”
“Threatening won’t be a rightful word, more like a promise. Now get out, I don’t ever want to see you again in my estate. He said acidly. “Flora!” he called out. “Escort this woman out of my home. Make sure not to let her in here again. Tell that to everyone in the mansion.”
The woman, Flora, appeared. “Y-yes sir.”
Loretta got up and looked at him with unreadable expression. “Do not bother, my lord. I will show myself out. And do not worry, I will not set foot in your estate ever again.” she bowed politely and existed out of the room, holding her head up high without saying another word.
Though Richard can tell that underneath those unreadable expression is a woman who is mad and about to blow off steam. He gives her credit for hiding it, though not good enough.
A grin crossed his face, as he poured himself a champagne, looking outside of the window and down toward her carriage, this Loretta Chase is interesting indeed. He can’t wait until they cross paths again.

Chapter 3

Once in her carriage, Loretta looked outside of the small tainted windows and up his mansion.
Her heart still beating fast, her breathing uneven, and her body really warm and tensed from how close he was and how is mouth felt against her skin.
Loretta’s blush deepened at the thought. There it goes her plan to seduce the Earl of Kent.
She should have listened to her friends. Seducing the earl is something she can’t do. It’s just not her.
Sure maybe if Vivian had done it she would have succeeded.
Loretta messed with the hem of her dress.
“Are you alright Madame?” Desmond asked giving her a concerned look as he resumed his position up the carriage, pulling the rein of the horses.
She smiled up at him. “I’m alright. You needn’t worry,”
He hesitated. “Well alright. Where off to miss?”
“Home,” Just then she looked to where Lord Kent’s study was, her eyes widened as he was standing by the window, looking down at the carriage. Or at least she thinks he is.
She squinted to improve her vision as she saw him. She couldn’t tell of his expression, his features hidden away by the shadows.
The carriage moved forward and she tore away her gaze just as another carriage pulled by his estate.
A young maiden stepped outside, her body slim as a stick, perfect perky breast and beautiful skin complexion. She looked like a goddess who had fallen out of the sky, crashing down to earth to win every men’s heart.
A sinking feeling rose on her stomach. The women looked a few years older than her though still looked young.
Her hair was a pale blonde, and is lose around her waist.
Eyes the color of the ocean when the sun’s at its end.
She was beautiful, in fact more beautiful than she. Loretta was a fool to think that the Earl of Kent would actually fall for her.
Painfully, she tore her gaze away and moved her gaze down her dress.
“I guess I have to marry the Earl of Frinchester after all.” she bit her lip as tears escaped her eyes.
Who was she kidding, true love happens in only novels and dreams. In the real world, there is no such things as true love.
“Honey, where have you been?” Loretta’s mother, Lady Joanna Chase, Countess of Abingdon, greeted her by the massive doorway of the Chase Estate.
The walls along the interior mansion covered most of its complex painting. Portraits surrendered the hallway. Portraits from her family line.
The floor located no carpentry except for her father’s study. It’s smooth white marbled floor stretched throughout the mansion. Red velvet curtains with golden trimmings hang every window. Loretta smiled, masking away her emotions yet again. “I was strolling down the St. James Park mother.”
“Without Lord Frinchester?” her eyes narrowed down at her daughter.
Loretta tried to hide the scowl that almost formed on her face. “I do not need Lord Frinchester’s permission to go to the park mother.”
Her mother held up a finger. “It is important to go with your fiancée out in public. So the ton knows you are engaged of course,”
“But mother, I would appreciate it dearly if we do not tell anybody for a while of my engagement-”
“Phish-posh Loretta. Your engagement shouldn’t be kept secret. It should be laid out for the rest of the world to hear.”
“…Yes mother.” She looked at the ground wishing that her mother would be somewhere else today. In fact, she doesn’t feel like talking to anyone right now.
“That is why me and your father agreed to hold a ball honoring you and the earl,”
“What?” Loretta looked at her mother like she had just gone mad. Maybe she had.
“Mother, why would you do such a thing?” Realizing her words. “I mean why had this thought cross your mind?”
Lady Joanna smiled. “Why to congratulate you of your engagement of course. We want to tell everybody of the ton. And Lord Frinchester agreed,”
Just then Emily, Joanna’s trusted advisor, appeared by her side holding up of what looks like a note. “Alright Lady Joanna, every invitation is set to every one of the ton. But not to doubt your grace though I wonder, are you positive about this?”
“Positive about what Emily?”
She positioned her glasses and cleared her throat. “About inviting the Earl of Kent. Have you seen the newspaper this morning?”
As her mother dismissed the thought, Loretta’s eyes widened. The earl will be in the ball. No, that… that can’t happen. “You invited the Earl of Kent?” she tried to keep her voice calm but seemed to fail.
“Well he is a member of the ton so yes I had invited him.” Joanna read her daughter’s expression. “You need not to worry I am sure the rumors about the earl is not that bad.”
Loretta wanted to burst out laughing but held in her laughter. Oh mother, you have no idea how those rumors are true.
Her body still quivered with anticipation. As much as she wanted to dismiss it she can’t. She wanted him to continue. To touch her in places she needs to be touch. She wants to be touched.
Quickly, she dismissed the thought. Proper women aren’t supposed to think of such dirty thoughts.
“When is the ball mother?”
“Tomorrow night, I had already picked a gown out for you. It will go very well with what the earl’s going to-. You know never mind. Speaking of earl. He is waiting for you at your father’s study.”
Loretta nodded and bowed, heading over to the massive stair way and then the hallway, turning at the corner and into her father’s study.
She cringed as she saw the earl stand up to greet her. The Earl of Frinchester is rather skinny, with a high pitch voice.
His dark brown hair, was almost filled with white locks. She gulped in a breath and smiled politely bowing. His skinny, bony hands reached out and grabbed hers, kissing the main knuckle. A uncomfortable shiver, ran up her spine as his lips touched her skin. Then after what seemed like an infinity, he raised his head and smiled.
Showing yellow and tarnished teeth.
Her nostrils flared as the strong scent of cigars filled her nose. She held in a breath as she fought to cough and sneeze.
“Hello Lady Chase,” he smiled inclining her head.
“It seems you two got a lot of catching up to do. I will see you later daughter.” her father smiled bowing.
We saw each other yesterday, she wanted to say but held in her words and just nodded.
Once he had left, Loretta faced her future husband. “Mother said you wanted to see me,”
Loretta’s skin crawled when she found him examining her body. Slowly skimming down, then back up landing on her breasts.
“Lord Frinchester,” she smirked looking at him.
Snapping out of the trance, his gaze fixed against hers again. “Oh yes,” he held out a box. Her breath caught in her throat, but this time it was different.
It wasn’t the same breath that caught in her throat at the O’Conner Estate. This was fear and disgust.
Please don’t let it be what I think it is, her mind screamed over and over again.
He opened it and held out a necklace.
Her heart relaxed.
It wasn’t a ring.
“This was a gift that was passed down generation to generation from my mother’s side and I want you to have it. As a wedding gift.”
Wedding gift my foot, she thought but smiled. “Thank you my lord. But I do not think it is necessary.”
“No I insist,” he took out the necklace and smiled. “May I?”
She hesitate for a moment, but nodded politely. “Sure you may,”
Slowly, she turned around, her back to his. to tie on the necklace.
After he was done, she turned around and gave him a polite smile feeling the heavy metal of the butterfly, sapphire and blue necklace on her pale skin.
“Beautiful,” he smiled. “Can you not wait until the ball tomorrow? I surely cannot,”
“No sire, I cannot wait.” She inhaled a breath. “Can I ask, why did you have chosen me to be your wife?”
“Why because you are lovely of course,”
And because your wife cannot bear any more children and unfortunately, your friend, which was my father, happened to have a daughter who needs a husband and is perfect because I can bear many children, she thought grimly.
One thing she hates most in the world is that how people use their other people to satisfy their needs.
And it is, however, ironic that she had decided to use the Earl of Kent to satisfy her needs. But that was in the past. He had proven that she was not as good as the other women in the ton.
“Thank you my lord,” Loretta managed to smile at the compliment.
“Now don’t your fiancé deserve a kiss?” Lord Frinchester smiled, still showing his yellow teeth.
Loretta swallowed and managed to hide her real emotions of disgust. “Yes