Night Fire by Catherine Coulter Read Free Book Online

he didn’t think he could breathe. He felt such a bolt of deadening pain. He couldn’t bear it. He moistened his dry lips. “When? To whom?”
    â€œWell, she’s been a widow for some months now, since last year, I believe, though no one ever sees her. She married Paisley Cochrane when she was only sixteen.”
    Burke just stared at her. Paisley Cochrane. Good God, that lecherous old satyr had been known for his wickedness when Burke was a boy. Married to Arielle? He shook his head even as he said, “Her father allowed such a thing?”
    â€œOh, no. Her half brother Evan Goddis, was made her guardian on Sir Arthur’s death. He saw to the wedding. Havey-cavey, all of it, if you asked me, not more than six months after Sir Arthur’s death. And then, of course, old Paisley died so mysteriously—everyone was talking about it, of course.”
    But Burke wasn’t listening anymore. “Does she live at Rendel Hall?” Cochrane’s estate lay only some seven miles to the east of Ravensworth.
    â€œCertainly, it’s hers now. She inherited everything. Unlike me, who has had to live on another’s bounty and—”
    â€œThat’ll do, Lannie,” Burke said, not unkindly, as he rose.
    â€œWhere are you going?”
    â€œUpstairs for a rest. I will see you at dinner.”
    When Joshua finished clucking over him, he lay on his bed and stared up at the naked cherubs that cavorted on the ceiling moldings. She had married Viscount Rendel when she was sixteen years old. God, the man had to have been at least fifty. And he’d touched her and caressed her and—Burke had to stop this. He couldn’t change the past. He had to accept things as they were or forget her. It was really that simple.
    And during those years he hadn’t known, hadn’t considered that another man— The one lost letter —it seemed beyond irony. But now she was a widow, so it didn’t matter. Nothing mattered except seeing her, courting her, marrying her. He wouldn’t allow the past to intrude.
    He’d forgotten to ask Lannie if Arielle had had any children. If she did, he would raise them as his own. He asked at dinner that evening.
    â€œNo, she didn’t,” said Lannie. “That was why old Paisley wed her. He was wild for an heir, you know. But there was no issue. Why the interest, Burke?”
    â€œI remember her as being a very nice young girl,” he said, his eyes studiously on the Ravensworth silver. “Did you ever see her after her marriage?”
    â€œNo, not once. It was odd, really. She was wed, and then it was as if she were whisked to another country. Not a sight of her. One hears rumors, of course, but I discounted them. This is modern times, after all, not the Middle Ages.”
    â€œWhat rumors?”
    Lannie shrugged. “Stupid things, like Viscount Rendel keeping her close to Rendel Hall, not allowing her to go anywhere or see anyone or do anything—”
    â€œBut you just said that she wasn’t ever seen after her marriage.”
    â€œYes, but the viscount couldn’t possibly have held her some sort of prisoner. That is really too silly. Also, I don’t know if you ever heard of Evan Goddis, Arielle’s half brother, but he didn’t and still doesn’t have the most regular of reputations. I heard talk that he forced Arielle to marry poor Paisley for a huge settlement. I don’t know if there’s any truth to it.”
    â€œWhy do you say poor Paisley?”
    â€œWell, he had no children, did he? Just before he died—so mysteriously, as I told you—his illegitimate son was visiting him from France.”
    â€œWhat do you mean by mysterious?”
    â€œChoking to death over dinner is hardly an everyday occurrence, Burke. According to the servants—you know, Martha’s cousin is the under-housemaid at Rendel Hall—well, she said that the illegitimate son and