The Untamable Rogue by Cathy McAllister Read Free Book Online Page A

really did not want to hurt Sergio’s feelings but his declaration of love took me by complete surprise.
    “Of course, you’re right. I did not, under any circumstances, wish to put too much pressure on you. I just had to tell you how I’m feeling. And I am certain that we are meant for one another. I will give you time to convince yourself of that, too.”
    I immediately felt somewhat uncomfortable. It was one thing to flirt with a nice man and another thing to give a nice man false hopes.
    “Unfortunately I have to tend to something,” said Sergio apologetically, and stood up.
    I tried not to let my relief show and managed a forced smile, avoiding his eyes.
    “See you later, my love.”
    “Yes, see you later,” I answered, without looking directly at him.
    When he had gone I turned again to my food but my appetite had now gone. I decided to stretch my legs a little and got up.
    *
    I had walked along the stream a little and watched the twinkling fishes gliding elegantly over the pebbles. I had always loved streams. As a small girl I had often played by the stream and my father once built me a little boat with a proper sail. I had played with it in the water for days until I inadvertently fell into the water. From then on my mother had forbidden me from playing by the stream. She said it was too dangerous. I remembered that I had been so sad at that time that I could barely eat, but my mother did not remove the ban.
    I suddenly heard loud laughter nearby that pulled me from my thoughts. I stopped and listened. – There it was again and I could hear the murmuring voice of a man. I returned to the protection of the forest and its dense undergrowth and walked in the direction from which the voices and the laughter had come. After I had gone some distance I could make out a man and a woman ahead of me in the forest. Quietly I crept closer under the protection of the undergrowth until I could recognise the two people. It was Ivo and one of the beautiful young women from the camp. I felt a slight stabbing pain in my chest. My heart pounding, I watched what they were doing. It was only too clear why the two of them had met here, so far from the camp.
    I watched, as if bewitched. What I saw there horrified me and yet simultaneously aroused something deep inside me. I hardly dared breathe. What if they were to hear me? The thought of being discovered by them made me blush. What was I doing here? I should turn quickly and go away from here rather than watch this sinful act, but I could not take my eyes off Ivo’s naked body, that was gleaming in the sun. As if spell-bound I stared at this muscular, tanned body; I had never before seen anything so strong – so beautiful. I felt a painful yearning for something that I could not describe in words. For an instant I allowed myself to wish that I were in the place of the beautiful woman, experiencing the animal passion of this devilishly beautiful man. Then I pushed these outrageous thoughts aside, but something remained within me – a vague yearning – an unfulfilled desire.



Chapter 5
29 th June 1888

    J ames Atkins boiled with rage when he discovered that his niece had fled. His angry shouting filled the whole house as he scared the servants off to look for Liz or some clues as to her whereabouts.
    “This ungrateful bitch! This viper!”
    James kicked a chair aside and rushed to one of the high windows. Impatiently pulling one of the heavy curtains aside, he stared outside to where the frightened servants were combing the yard and all of the buildings to find the vanished young lady.
    “I’ll break her neck! Once I get hold of her, then … then …,” James snarled, enraged.
    The sound of a person timidly clearing his throat made him turn around. In the doorway stood the stable boy, Timo, looking at his feet, full of fear. He had respectfully removed his cap and held it like a shield in front of his body, nervously playing with the brim.
    “What is it?” James