The Madcap Marriage by Allison Lane Read Free Book Online

Don’t you?”
    At least her tone was snappish rather than fearful. “You are Helen Thomas, my wife.” That summary was clear enough. “Why didn’t you tell me you’d cracked your skull?”
    “It’s only a bump.”
    “Hardly. Knocking it made you swoon. You have a concussion, Helen. What happened?”
    She shrugged. “It isn’t that bad.”
    “Damnation, Helen!  You have a knot on your head the size of a rat, topped with a six-inch gash. You need stitches and bed rest.” He scowled, furious at her for being stubborn, furious at himself for drinking so much he couldn’t think straight, and furious at his libido for insisting that sex would return the color to her cheeks and settle his stomach.
    It wouldn’t.
    She slowly shook her head. “I’m perfectly fine, barring a headache. It is vital that I visit my trustees, but as you pointed out last evening, I must first acquire a decent gown. Neither errand can be postponed – we discussed this in detail over dinner. I must prevent my uncle from interfering further in Audley’s operation. My tenants deserve better.”
    Stubborn wench!   But he retained enough sense to keep that thought to himself. “I’ll take care of the trustees. I have to go to the City anyway. It’s foolish to risk your health by gallivanting about.”
    She raised her chin – just like Hillcrest. “I have no intention of gallivanting . I propose a brief call on the dressmaker followed by an essential visit to my bank. If you have business of your own, I will hire a hackney. Paul can accompany me, I presume?”  Her tone was as uncompromising as Hillcrest at his worst.
    “I will not allow you to risk—”
    “Allow?”  She leaned forward to glare at him. “Stop!  Take a deep breath, then listen to yourself. I am not your servant. Nor am I your master. We are partners.”
    Green eyes bored into his. A flicker of desire cut through his fury. This was not Hillcrest. This was his wife, the woman he must learn to live with if he was to retain his sanity. “My apologies, ma’am,” he mumbled. “Not my best in the morning.”
    “Hardly a surprise after—”  She stopped to draw in her own deep breath. “I appreciate your offer, Rafe. Under other circumstances I would consider it, but I doubt that you could accomplish anything at my bank without my introduction.”
    Rafe bit back another objection. She was right. Any trustee worth his salt would look askance on a stranger arriving out of the blue with claims of marriage. This situation was odd enough without raising speculation that he’d abducted her.
    “We’ll go together, but keep the visit short. Announcing our marriage will be enough to forestall your uncle. Detailed business discussions can wait. You belong in bed.” Keeping a firm grip on Satan’s demons, he gingerly slid to the floor and reached for his dressing gown. His stomach turned over but didn’t rebel.
    “Who is Lydia?” Helen asked.
    He whirled, then swallowed hard. Nothing was going right today. Yesterday’s visit to Hillcrest marked a clear descent into hell. “Someone I used to know. Forgive me. I was still asleep.”
    She nodded, though her eyes remained wary.
    He tried to reassure her. “We parted company several weeks ago. I didn’t replace her.”
    “You needn’t explain. I can hardly expect you to disrupt your life for a stranger.”
    “Not a stranger. My wife.” He covered her hand, tracing circles on her palm in an effort to regain lost ground. Her concussion made bedding her impossible at the moment, but a day or two of recovery would give him time to gentle her – he hoped. “Marriage means more than a list of duties, Helen – at least it does to me.”
    Skeptical eyes moved from his hand to his face, clashing with his own.
    She doesn’t know you , he reminded himself. While that meant she knew nothing of his reputation, it also meant she could judge him solely on his actions, which so far were unworthy of confidence.
    Yet her