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

of course,”
Slowly, she reached her head up and gave him a quick peck on the lips. “Thank you for the necklace, it is quite beautiful,” Her lips tasted like cigars, the taste is worse than it’s smell.
She slightly shivered.
“You’re welcome my dear.” He looked at her smiling; then reached in his coat, taking out the pocket watch and frowned. “I am sorry, but I am afraid I must take my leave. I have some business to take care of. Please don’t look so down. I will be back tomorrow. At the masquerade ball. Goodbye my sweet. Until then,” he reached for her hand and bowed, kissing her middle knuckle.
As soon as the door closed behind him, Loretta exhaled and slumped down at the chair. “Masquerade ball? I thought it would be just a normal ball.”
“Oh no honey,” Joanna entered the door, sitting by the chair next to her. “I forgot to tell you that little bitty information. It’s going to be a masquerade ball. It’s going to be romantic between you two. Imagine, everybody of the ton, wearing masks. Not knowing who you encounter. That is how your father and I first met you see,”
“Oh really?” Loretta raised a brow. “That is how you and father first met?”
“Yes,” she motioned for the butler to come in. “George, I would like you to bring us some tea and lemon cake please.”
“Understood Madame,” he bowed and exited out of the room.
“Now your father was not always been so gentleman and sweet like he is now. He was the rogue of the Season. My parents forbid it to let me enter the ball because he was invited. But I sneaked out of the back and escaped, with the help of my personal maid of course.”
“Mother!” Loretta’s eyes widened. “I thought you had always acted like a lady with manners. I didn’t know you were um… rebellious.”
“Phish-Posh Loretta. I was a child once to you know. I cannot possibly be an adult all my life.” Joanna smiled and looked over at the door as George entered the room, pushing a tray of tea kettle and the Lemon Cake, adding two additional teaspoons and mini china plates.
He laid out the plates and spoons, then poured the tea to each of the tea cups, slicing the cakes, then distributing them.
As soon as he bowed and left, Joanna smiled. “But as the time passed by, I had learned my lessons and now here I am.” She noticed a sudden frown on Loretta’s expression. “What’s the matter dear?”
“Mother, why did you and father want me to marry Lord Frinchester?”
“Why, because Lord Frinchester is kind and a caring gentleman. He is the best person for you. Other than those hooligans in the ton. All of them gossiping and playing those silly games. None of them are too serious for you Loretta. That is why we decided that Lord Frinchester would be better for you,”
“But mother, he is older than father.” She said hiding the slight tremor from her voice.
“He is only five years older than your father.”
“Exactly,” she muttered.
“Your sort of behavior will not be tolerated Loretta. You will marry Lord Frinchester. Or we will be very disappointed of you. Do you want that?”
“No, of course not mother,” Loretta said slightly panicked. She worked too hard over the years for their approval. She won’t let some wedding destroy her creation. No matter how painful that is.
“You must go to you room and clean up. We do not want you all stinky and cranky at supper.” Loretta nodded and made her way up to her room.
Then with a sigh, she closed the door behind her. “No, he cannot be at the masquerade ball tomorrow. If he does, then he’ll see me. Well not really see me because of the masks. Oh please,” she strode over to her foggy window, the snow still falling gently down England. “Don’t let him be in the ball tomorrow. If he does, then I’ll die of embarrassment,”
Richard sat down on the dining table, eyeing the woman a few feet away from him. What does she want? What is she doing here?
She looked up at him and smiled. “Why, you are tense. Can I ask why?”
“What the hell are you doing here Evangeline?” he gripped the fork and spoon though she looked like she’s unaffected.
“Why? I cannot visit my younger brother from time to time?” her blue eyes sparkling in the chandelier light.
Evangeline Sternway is the second oldest sibling in the O’Conner family. Richard would be the third oldest followed by Briana and Sabine.
“No you can’t. I’m busy. And I am amazed how you threated my workers into letting you in my home.”
“Well they wouldn’t let me come in so I had to do what I needed to do,”
“If you are like this on your brother then I do feel sorry for Robert. By the way, how is good man Robert?”
The look on Evangeline’s face was enough to prove that they’re alright. Still living their happy and joyful life.
“I see,” he muttered as he sliced the perfectly well seasoned steak. “So tell me sister, what really is the reason you came here? Tell me, is it because you need money? Or what about favor?”
Evangeline’s lovingly expression changed to a grim, non-pleasant demeanor.
He grinned.
Richard liked getting on his sister’s skin.
“Save your bad talking to the Society,” she glared at him. “I came here because it’s been a long time since I saw you. Is that a crime?”
“It’s been six months. If you ask me, not that long.” He poured the champagne on the goblet and stirred it gently with his index finger, licking it after he was done.
“Oh dear brother, you are as cold as always. If you ask me, you need to loosen up. If you keep acting that way, it would be hard for you to obtain a bride. You know father’s expectations,”
“So the old man told you?”
Evangeline nodded. “I do not blame him, in this age; you should be settling down and trying to find a wife to marry. Not gamble and bet on cock fights.”
Richard laughed. “You know me really well dear sister.”
“Of course,” she nodded yet again. “I am your older sister of course. I know everything about you,”
I doubt it, he wanted to say but remained silent.
“Don’t try and change the subject Rick,” she smiled looking at him. “I am serious about you finding a wife.” She took out an envelope and showed it to him, holding it up. “I take it you have been invited also to the Chase Estate, masquerade ball.”
Chase, the name of the maiden that declared her love to him. Yes, he was invited. He has the envelope to prove it also.
Seeing the envelope on the dining table, she smiled. “Good. Now I want you to go to that ball and find yourself a wife. It is rather exciting, everyone will be in masks. The people you meet are a mystery. Who knows, maybe you will find someone there who you actually will like,”
“Sorry Evangeline but I can’t make it. I have something to do that day,”
“No you don’t.” she said simply smiling. “You can make excuses but you still are going. I might have not only bullied your workers to letting me come in.”
He raised a brow, and his grin widened. “Who was it that told you my plans for that day?”
“None of your business, and from whomever I have heard it, you don’t have anything to do that day.”
He shrugged. “So? I am not going,” he declared.
“Oh yes you are little brother,” she smiled resting her hand on her cheek looking straight at him. “Because of you don’t, then I will be forced to tell father.”
“I don’t care Evangeline,”
“Oh I think you do once you hear this. Do you remember the villa father had brought in Scotland?”
Richard raised a brow and tried to read his devious older sister. But no, he didn’t get anything out of her.
So he just nodded. “What of it?”
“He remembered that you cherish it dearly when you were young. So he decided that he would let you have it for free. No payment included.”
His jaw tightened. She was right. He did cherish it dearly when he was a child. That was the place where he can be alone for a long time and nobody would bother him about the weather, life, or his brother. That was his sanctuary. And now his father decided to give it to him for free?
A puzzle clicked into place in his mind. So that’s it. If he doesn’t go to that damn masquerade ball then he’ll sell it to another person? As if he’d care.
“I don’t care Evangeline,” he repeated yet again.
“I think you would. You see, he doesn’t need it anymore. So it doesn’t matter to him if you accept it or not. If you don’t, he’ll give it to me. And do you want to know what I’ll do with it?”
“What sister?”
“I would destroy it and build a nunnery school academy,”
His eye brow twitched. “You will destroy that villa and build a nunnery school in place? Are you mad Evangeline?”
“Oh brother, I could care less. I always wanted to own a school. Especially a nunnery school,”
Then with a heavy sigh, he stood up and made his way on the window, leaning against the wall, crossing his arms. “Alright fine. I will go to this stupid masquerade ball.”
Her eyes brightened and smiled. “I knew you would have my way brother,” she took the envelope from the table and handed it to him.
“You haven’t opened it. Here, see what it says.”
Richard looked at her and took it, bending down to get his pocket knife off of his boots. Quickly, he slashed it to the opening, putting it back in his boots again. His sister raised a brow.
“For emergencies,”
“By carrying a pocket knife? Come on Richard.”
“They don’t call me the worst man in England for nothing Evangeline,”
“Speaking of worst man, I had seen a carriage here earlier. Mind telling me what that was about?”
He looked up at the invitation. “What the hell is this?”
“It’s an invitation from the Chase Estate,” she inclined her head. “Did I not tell you that before?”
“I know that Evangeline,” He ran a hand through his hair, tugging it fiercely. What the hell is the meaning of this? This woman just told him that she has feelings for him, now this said she’s getting married?
What is the meaning of this?
“Explain this to me Evangeline,” He handed her the invitation and she took it raising a brow. “Alright, well it says that there’s going to be a masquerade ball in the Chase Estate, as I said before brother, they seem to be holding it for their daughter who is engaged.
It’s more like a party, except that this one is much more mysterious. It’s eccentric. After all, you do not see couples hold masquerade balls when they are engaged.” She looked up at her brother.
“Don’t you agree?”
“Yes,” he mumbled looking outside. “Very eccentric,”
Was this Chase