Dancing at Midnight by Julia Quinn Read Free Book Online Page B

features. "Is something wrong?"

    "It isn't wise for you to keep company with me."

    "What do you mean?"

    "Don't come here again."

    "But you just said—"

    "I said don't come again. At least not alone."

    She blinked. "Don't be silly. You sound like the hero in a gothic novel."

    "I'm not a hero," he said darkly. "You'd do well to remember that."

    "Stop funning me." Her voice lacked conviction.

    "I'm not, my lady." He closed his eyes, and for a split second an
    expression of pure agony washed over his features.
    "There are many dangers in this world about which you don't know. About
    which you should /never /know," he added harshly.

    The maid arrived in the hall.

    "I'd better go," Belle said quickly, completely unnerved.

    "Yes."

    She turned and fled down the steps to her horse. She mounted quickly and
    set off down the drive to the main road, intensely aware of John's eyes
    on her back the entire way.

    What had happened to him? If Belle had been intrigued by her new
    neighbor before, now she was ravenously curious.
    His moods shifted like the wind. She didn't understand how he could
    tease her so sweetly one moment and be so dark
    and forbidding the next.

    And she couldn't shake the idea that he somehow /needed /her. He needed
    someone, that much was clear. Someone who
    could wipe away

    the pain that surfaced in his eyes when he thought no one was looking.

    Belle squared her shoulders. She'd never been one to back down from a
    challenge.

    *
    *

    *
    *

    *Chapter 4

    *

    Belle was plagued by thoughts of John for the rest of the day. She went
    to bed early, hoping that a good nighf s sleep would
    give her new perspective. But sleep eluded her for hours, and once she
    fell into slumber, John haunted her dreams with
    startling persistence.

    The next morning she slept a little later than usual, but when she went
    down to breakfast, she found that Alex and Emma had stayed abed again.
    She didn't feel like searching out something with which to amuse
    herself, so she finished her breakfast
    quickly and decided to go for a walk.

    She glanced down at her booted feet, decided that her shoes were sturdy
    enough for a bit of a hike, and slipped out the front
    door, leaving a note for her cousins with Norwood. The autumn air was
    crisp but not cold, and Belle was glad that she hadn't bothered to put
    on a cloak. Taking quick strides, she found herself heading east. East
    toward John Blackwood's property.

    Belle groaned. She should have known this was going to happen. She
    stopped, trying to force herself to turn around and head west. Or north
    or south or north by northwest or anything but east. But her feet
    refused to obey, and she trudged onward,
    trying to excuse her behavior by telling herself that she only knew how
    to get to Blondwood Manor by way of the main road,
    and here she was going through woods, so she probably wouldn't ever get
    there anyway.

    She frowned. It wasn't called Blondwood Manor. But for the life of her,
    she couldn't remember what it /was /called. Belle
    shook her head and kept on walking.

    An hour went by, and Belle started to regret her decision not to bring
    her mare. It was a couple of miles to the edge of Alex's property, and
    from what John had told her the previous day, she knew it was another
    couple of miles to his house. Her boots weren't turning out to be as
    comfortable as she had hoped, and she had a sneaking suspicion that a
    blister was forming on her
    right heel.

    She tried to keep a stiff upper lip, but the pain soon reached new
    heights of irritation. With an audible groan, Belle finally gave
    up and conceded defeat to her blister. She squatted down and patted the
    grass with her hand, checking to see if it was damp.
    The early morning dew had already evaporated, so she plopped down onto
    the ground, unlaced her boot, and pulled it off. She
    was about to get up and start walking again when she realized that she
    was wearing her favorite stockings. With a sigh, she reached up