Castles by Julie Garwood Read Free Book Online Page A

firm grasp on the railing.
    Flannaghan hadn’t exaggerated. She did look like a princess. A beautiful one. Her hair floated around her shoulders and it really did look as dark as midnight. She was dressed in white, and, Lord, at first sight, she appeared to be a vision the gods had sent to test his determination.
    He failed the test. Although he gave it his best effort, he was still powerless to control his own physical reaction to her.
    His father had certainly outdone himself this time. Colin would have to remember to compliment him on his latest choice—after he’d sent her packing, of course.
    They stood staring at each other for a long minute. She kept waiting for him to speak to her. He kept waiting for her to explain her presence to him.
    Alesandra was the first to give in. She moved forward until she stood close to the top step, bowed her head, and then said, “Good evening, Colin. It’s good to see you again.”
    Her voice was wonderfully appealing. Colin tried to concentrate on what she had just said. It was ridiculously difficult.
    â€œAgain?” he asked. Lord, he sounded gruff.
    â€œYes, we met when I was just a little girl. You called me a brat.”
    That remark forced a reluctant smile from him. He had no memory of the encounter, however. “And were you a brat?”
    â€œOh, yes,” she answered. “I’m told I kicked you—several times, in fact—but that was a very long time ago. I’ve grown up since then and I don’t believe the nickname is appropriate now. I haven’t kicked anyone in years.”
    Colin leaned against the banister so that he could take some of the weight off his injured leg. “Where did we meet?”
    â€œAt your father’s home in the country,” she explained. “My parents and I were visiting and you were home from Oxford at the time. Your brother had just graduated.”
    Colin still didn’t remember her. That didn’t surprise him. His parents were always entertaining houseguests and he’d barely paid any attention to any of them. Most, he recalled, were down on their luck, and his father, kindhearted to a fault, took anyone begging assistance into his home.
    Her hands were demurely folded together and she appeared to be very relaxed. Yet Colin noticed how white her fingers were and knew she was actually gripping them together in either fear or nervousness. She wasn’t quite as serene as she would have him believe. Her vulnerability was suddenly very apparent to him, and he found himself trying to find a way to put her at ease.
    â€œWhere are your parents now?” he asked.
    â€œMy father died when I was eleven years old,” she answered. “Mother died the following summer. Sir, would you like me to help you collect your papers?” she added in a rush, hoping to change the subject.
    â€œWhat papers?”
    Her smile was enchanting. “The ones you dropped.”
    He looked down and saw his papers lining the steps. He felt like a complete idiot standing there with his hand grasping air. He grinned over his own preoccupation. He really wasn’t any better than his butler, he thought to himself, and Flannaghan had an acceptable excuse for his besotted behavior. He was young, inexperienced, and simply didn’t know better.
    Colin should have known better, however. He was much older than his servant, in both years and experience. But he was overly weary tonight, he reminded himself, and surely that was the reason he was acting like a simpleton.
    Besides, she was one hell of a beauty. He let out a sigh. “I’ll get the papers later,” he told her. “Exactly why are you here, Princess Alesandra?” he asked bluntly.
    â€œYour brother and his wife are both ill,” she explained. “I was to stay with them while in the city, but at the last minute they became indisposed and I was told to stay with you until they are feeling