Falling in Love Again by Cathy Maxwell Read Free Book Online

her.
    Their eyes met, and John saw a flash of recognition. She stepped forward just as Titus came from the drawing room.
    â€œMay I help you, miss?” the butler asked politely.
    The woman kept her gaze on John. “I’m here to see Lord Craige.”
    Titus looked up questioningly at John, but Sarah, overhearing John’s name, turned to meet this new guest. She smiled, cool and slightly distracted, as she sized the young woman up from head to toe and then dismissed her. “The servant’s entrance is in the back.”
    Anger flared in the woman’s intelligent dark eyes. She lifted her chin to a determined tilt and John felt an unexpected flash of desire. This woman standing arrow straight and proud in her modest brown dress wasn’t his usual style, but there was something about her that caught his interest.
    â€œI am not a servant,” the woman said in clear, clipped tones. The authority in her voice attracted attention. Prinny stopped speaking. Both he and Peterson turned to see who this new intruder was. Even Applegate, who had cornered an actress and had been trying to nibble on her ear, looked up.
    Sarah’s smile didn’t quite reach her eyes as she said in her soft, musical voice, “Then are you one of the dancers?” Sly snickers met her words.
    The young woman frowned at Sarah’s impertinence. “I am here to see Lord Craige.”
    â€œI’m his hostess,” Sarah said, drawing out the last word with unmistakable innuendo. “You can state your business with me.”
    â€œI’ll state it with Lord Craige.”
    Sarah laughed. “My dear, what possible business could you have with my John? I assure you, his taste doesn’t run toward the common. With those freckles all over your face, you look like you have been working in the fields.”
    The crowd rippled with low murmurs and guffaws at her cruel words. The woman suddenly seemed to become aware of the amount of attention she had drawn. Bright splashes of hot color stained her cheeks—and brought John to her rescue.
    â€œAs a matter of fact, I do like freckles, Sarah.” His mistress stiffened and her eyes turned cold.
    John ignored her and walked toward the young woman. “I’m Lord Craige,” he said, his voice one of authority. He was probably doing something foolish. For all he knew she could be Sir Everett’s wife or one of the other silly females who had developed an infatuation for him.
    The young woman took a step toward him, where the light was better. Now John could see that her hair framed by the bonnet wasn’t completely brown, that there were streaks of gold shot through it like beams of sunlight, and the smattering of freckles across her nose was very attractive. Unfortunately, the expression in her honey brown eyes had turned fierce. Their color stirred a memory inside him. “We’ve met before, haven’t we?”
    His words offended her. He could tell by theway she pulled back, her shoulders straightening. He had no idea why until she spoke and erased all mystery: “I’m Mallory Barron…your wife.”

Chapter 3
    Lie there, lie there, you false-hearted man, Lie there instead of me .
    â€œThe Outlandish Knight”
    S tunned silence met Mallory’s announcement. Ever so slowly, other guests at the party realized something was amiss and stopped speaking. They craned their necks in her direction. Even the musicians paused mid-note and brought their instruments down.
    It gave Mallory tremendous satisfaction.
    She’d dreamed of this moment, practiced for it.
    â€œ I’m your wife—you useless philanderer ,” she’d whispered countless times to her mirror, whenever the hurt, anger, and loneliness had got the better of her. “ I am mistress of Craige Castle ,” she’d reminded herself, when a crisis with a tenant or the crop made her want to break down in tears—or run away as her