A Disgraceful Miss by Elaine Golden Read Free Book Online Page B

there was one thing certain, Daniel wouldn’t harm Angelica, either with words or action. It was Julian he was furious with. If Julian knew anything of his friend, the best recourse was to allow him the chance for his anger to cool so he might see matters with some distance. Daniel would see reason. Eventually.
    With a nod, Julian moved across the room then paused at the threshold. “I’ll call in the morning, Daniel,” he said firmly, unwilling to leave matters unresolved for long.
    For a moment, it seemed that Daniel wouldn’t respond. And when he did, Julian felt his heart shatter.
    “Don’t. You’re not welcome here.”
    Julian left without another word. He was willing to yield the moment, but by no means was he giving up. Julian would fight for both his future wife and his friend. This couldn’t—wouldn’t—be the end of everything he held dear.

CHAPTER NINE
    The door closed behind Julian with the finality of a judge’s gavel. Angelica trembled, her emotions riotous, swinging like a pendulum between ecstasy and misery in mere moments.
    Daniel stood with his back to her, unmoving. Could he not stand to look upon her?
    Finally, she could take the silence no more. “Daniel?” she asked, her voice a timid thread of sound in the quiet room.
    Daniel shuddered but took a deep breath and turned toward her. His soft brown eyes were ringed with dark circles, as if bruised. His pain was a tangible thing, and her heart wrenched in response.
    “I’m so sorry, Daniel.”
    He moved across the room with surprising speed and pulled her into his arms. “Don’t. Don’t you ever apologize to me, little angel.”
    “I’ve disappointed you. Let you and Charlotte down.” For the first time, Angelica realized that it mattered to her what this man thought of her, more so than she’d ever cared what her faux parents thought. The tears flowed more rapidly, soaking his shoulder.
    “You never could.” Daniel rocked her back and forth, soothing.
    “Truly?”
    His smile was a sad, twisted sort of thing, but it was sincere. “Truly.” He cupped her cheek. “I am so proud of the woman that you have become, Angelica. Nothing will ever change that.”
    “But your anger—”
    “Is directed at Julian, not you. I thought he was a better man than to lead an innocent young miss astray. Worse, still, that it was my own he chose.”
    “What if—” Angelica inhaled deeply then hiccupped. She couldn’t let him think the worst of Julian, that he was some sort of rover. “What if Julian were the one being led astray?”
    Daniel frowned and narrowed his eyes, watching her closely. “Do you mean because you flirted with him?”
    “Or something.” Angelica tried to look away, but insistent fingers pulled her back to look at him.
    “What do you mean?”
    She braced herself. By telling him the truth, she very well might jeopardize the affinity and regard he felt for her. For good. But something told her this was the most important thing that she could do to help salvage the relationship she knew Daniel valued every bit as much as Julian did.
    “Julian tried to be noble, tried not to succumb to what lay between us, but I encouraged—nay, I invited Julian to make love to me.” Heavens, she’d got the words out, but she couldn’t meet his eye. Not yet. “And I’d do it again.”
    A long pause. “So, you care for him?”
    She hesitated to consider. The fist that squeezed her heart at the thought of doing without Julian confirmed her mind. “I do. More than anything.”
    “Do you want to marry him?”
    “He, uh, hasn’t tendered an offer.”
    Anger, still so close to the surface, flared back to life, and she could feel Daniel’s muscles tense. “Oh, he hasn’t, has he? We’ll just see about that.” He pulled away as if prepared to set off after Julian at that moment.
    “No, please. You said that you wouldn’t interfere.”
    “I’ll be damned if I do or don’t, won’t I? What would you have me do, then? Sit by