WitchofArundaleHall by Jennifer Leeland Read Free Book Online

and all she could see was the man she
loved.
    Everything else seemed inconsequential. She took her courage
in both hands and took Perry’s outstretched fingers.
     

Chapter Four
     
    Stunning. Beautiful. Perry couldn’t speak when she took his
hand, her gaze locked with his. His throat tightened and he resisted the urge
to drag her closer, show her exactly how she affected him. “Sarah,” he said,
his voice strained.
    “Mr. Arundale.” She curtsied and he stared helplessly. He
had to take himself to task. He was about to take her to a church and marry
her, not take her as he desperately wanted. But the beast within growled and
leaped to be free to Claim its mate in the most basic way.
    Jaimison handed her the flowers that Perry had bought for
her and she took them. Her eyes softened and she smiled at him. “A sprig of heather?”
    “It reminded me of home.” He pulled her closer. “It reminded
me of you.”
    “Mr. Arundale—” She sounded breathless and her eyes widened.
“Did you see my brother?”
    Perry sighed and loosened his hold. “Yes, I did. He was well
aware that Lady North was in town, since he was the one who summoned her.”
    Sarah’s face was pinched and bleak. “I wish I could be
surprised but I am not.”
    “He hoped to begin a bidding war, pitting Lady North’s
desire to stop the wedding against my desire to wed.” Perry gave Sarah a steady
look. “But I informed him that he could be present today or not but the
marriage would go through.”
    “He can’t stop it?” she asked, and her voice shook. Did she
hope that her selfish brother would save her from him? Maybe she did.
    “No, my dear.” He dropped his hand from hers. “I am afraid
you will have to resign yourself to being my wife.”
    She opened her mouth as if she would say more but pressed
her lips together and gripped his arm. “Shall we go?”
    He winced at the sad, bitter tone of her capitulation. Part
of him thought he should back out and not force her into this union. But he
knew it had to be done, that he would have to show her he cared for her while
she was unwillingly bound to him in holy matrimony.
    As he led her to the carriage, Louise pulled on his sleeve. “A
moment.”
    Sarah gave Louise a silent, pleading glance, then took
Jaimison’s arm to the carriage.
    “What is it, Madame?” he asked, his gaze still on Sarah’s
back.
    “I do not think I will go along with your plan for this
evening.” Her voice was serious.
    Surprised, he stared at her. “You don’t think physical
passion will lead to the connection she seeks to deny?”
    “I think physical passion will definitely lead to that
connection but not what you had in mind for tonight.” Louise placed a gentle
hand on his arm. “I am thrilled that you thought to share her with us but she
loves you. Just the suggestion that Cy and I wanted her brought out the passion
she felt for you. Take her tonight. Just you.”
    “Love me?” He snorted. “You are imagining things. She will
reject me, afraid that I will bind her to me in a much more permanent way than
words said in a church.” Perry couldn’t stop the fear from coloring his voice.
    “Perhaps,” Louise said in a thoughtful tone. She shook her
head. “You are probably correct about her sensual nature, but leave it for
another time. Tonight, show her she belongs to you.” Louise smiled and patted
his cheek. “Now go and get married.”
    “Louise—” he started, but she put her fingers over his lips
and shook her head.
    He climbed into the carriage and looked back. Louise and Cy
stood in the door, arm in arm, clearly in love with each other. He envied them.
When he turned to his future wife he despaired a little.
    Her arms were crossed and her lips were tightened into a
disagreeable scowl. She stared out the carriage window and would not look at
him.
    “What is it, my dear?”
    “Don’t you dare call me that you…you monster,” she snapped,
and her lips trembled.
    Any softness he felt