Adele Ashworth by Stolen Charms Read Free Book Online Page A

free as soon as my parents leave for the Continent.”
    “Ahh . . . well.” He scratched his day-old beard. “In that case, I’ll send word day after tomorrow, through Amy. We’ll need to travel lightly, so don’t plan on bringing too many . . . things.”
    “Thank you,” she whispered, touching his arm with her fingertips. “This means everything to me.”
    She turned and walked to the doorway. Pausing before it, she glanced once more in his direction and graced him with a beautiful smile. “The coffee was delicious,” she said sweetly.
    With a wave of her hand she was gone.

Chapter 3
    N atalie stood starboard on the steamship Bartholomew Redding in the damp, late-evening air, her forest-green traveling cloak wrapped around her like a comforting blanket as she turned her face toward the setting sun, now finally dipping below the horizon. They were well out of the Channel now, past the Isles of Scilly, heading south into open sea, and the rush of anticipation made her tingle.
    Jonathan stood beside her, tall and powerful, dressed casually in midnight-brown trousers and an ecru linen shirt unbuttoned at the neck, his only barrier to the cool sea wind which he didn’t seem to mind. It wasn’t cold, really, and in a day or two they would be quite hot. Natalie had taken that into account when she’d packed for the adventure, bringing with her only five trunks instead of the usual eight or ten. Jonathan had made a face of disbelief, or perhaps annoyance, when she’d met him at the docks, but what did he expect? She was a lady, and there were just some things one could not do without. Only five trunks for indefinite travel in Europe was incredible by anyone’s standards.
    Earlier that day, immediately after setting foot on the ship, Jonathan had escorted her to her cabin without so much as a handful of words. The room was square and small, but pretty really, with a round window at the far end large enough to allow ample daylight to enter, covered with pale, gauze curtains for appearance rather than decency. To the right of the door sat a straight-backed chair made of polished mahogany and crushed burgundy velvet, a small nightstand and lamp, and next to it was a bed of adequate size, large enough for one to sleep comfortably, covered with a thick, rose-embroidered coverlet. To the left, running parallel to the wall and bolted to the floor, stood an oriental silk screen, discreetly enclosing a dressing and toilette area.
    The cabin was perfect for her, and she made herself comfortable at once, taking time to unpack and settle in for her voyage as Jonathan, after ushering her inside, left her alone for nearly three hours, and had only returned a short time ago with a cold dinner of salmon mousse, cheese, bread, and fruit which they’d just finished in her room.
    From this point on she would need to take care of all her needs since she’d brought no lady’s maid. Traveling without one was indecent, at least in this situation, although she prayed nobody would ask why she’d left England alone, unwed and unchaperoned. She would just keep to herself until they reached France, which was what he’d asked her to do anyway.
    But now, comfortable at last and thrilled with the adventure ahead, her thoughts managed to stray constantly to her most handsome traveling companion, now standing quietly beside her on deck, peering out to the open water as well, not quite touching her, but there. She was sharply conscious of his presence, and he was probably well aware of it.
    What satisfied her, though, was the growing knowledge that he would be a marvelous protector of her innocence while on their little trip. The man was large and imposing, probably formidable and intimidating when he chose to be, yet at the same time gentlemanly and gracious. That had been proven earlier that day when she’d arrived at the dock and he’d politely nodded to her, directing where her things were to be taken, offering her his arm and helping her